From Inflight Map to Intelligent Travel Companion
You’re settled into your seat, the plane has just taken off, and you see it:
“Hi, I’m Luci, your inflight assistant.”
Set against a 3D globe and live flight path, she shares how long until you land, highlights what you’re flying over, and suggests things to do when you get to your destination. Later, she tells you it’s a 25-minute, $50 Uber ride downtown, surfaces loyalty offers, and points out Instagrammable hotspots at your destination.
Your mobile phone syncs to the seatback screen so you can download destination details, plan your visit while in flight, and take the results with you to enjoy. Your kids explore a map filled with games and puzzles. The person next to you uses a high-contrast version for a fully accessible experience.
This isn’t futuristic. It’s flying today.
The Most-Used Experience Onboard
According to Delta, the map is now the #1 piece of content, beating out movies, live TV, and games.
Over half of passengers on every flight use the seatback map at some point in their journey. The average session time is 52 minutes on seatback, 18 minutes on mobile. The map has become the most used — and most personal — digital platform onboard.
From Feature to Platform
The inflight maps journey echoes that of internet apps: from flat to immersive, from pictures to video, and now integrating artificial intelligence (AI).
What began as a moving map is now the platform for passenger engagement.
A Smarter, More Connected Journey
Today’s inflight map is more than a view of where you are — it’s a real-time travel assistant, helping passengers make decisions with:
AI-narrated journeys with live flight data
Destination ideas, city guides, and video reels
Rideshare pricing and drive times to downtown
Loyalty offers, inflight upgrades, and future trip inspiration
Kid-friendly maps and accessibility features
What sets this experience apart is how and where it’s delivered.
Airlines operate fleets with a mix of seatback systems, Wi-Fi providers, and passenger devices. To truly meet traveler expectations, the inflight experience must span every touchpoint — seatback, mobile, and now cloud. It needs to be platform-agnostic, integrated across diverse IFE systems, and designed with a mobile-first and accessible-first mindset. Content should move seamlessly between screens, ensuring continuity from takeoff to touchdown.
In short: it’s not just smarter, it’s wherever your passengers are.
Why It Matters
The map is no longer a feature. It’s a monetizable, brand-forward platform:
Promote Wi-Fi, credit cards, and route expansion
Drive bookings for tours, transit, and hotels
Capture rich analytics on trending destinations and passenger interest
The future of inflight is super exciting.
And it starts with the map.
