Travel Technology

JetBlue's first out of the gate status on permitted use of portable electronic devices below 10,000 feet isn't going to upend market share dynamics, but it definitely makes United, American, Southwest and others look pretty lethargic.

Both airlines were part of the panel that investigated the impact of devices during takeoff and landing. They were able to file their paper works when most airlines were receiving the rules. It will be a few weeks before others catch up.

If Southwest starts letting its passengers use Wi-Fi when the aircraft leaves the gate or soon thereafter that will amount to a lot more time online than other airlines are offering. That's more opportunity for increasing Wi-Fi fees, too.

This should be easy enough to understand: Good users sit in rows of three, people talking on a cellphone get their own row. Wait, that's not the message?

JetBlue and Delta will get a lot of street cred with passengers for being swift in implementing the new procedures for portable electronic devices, although it will be unlikely to change any market share dynamics.

There will be a ton of passenger confusion about what the new FAA framework on expanded use of portable electronic devices will mean for passengers, especially as it may vary airline to airline. Delta is out front in beginning to communicate these prospective changes to its customers.

We're patiently waiting for Bilton's victory lap story.

It will be race to be first, to jump on the PR value of it, until it will be commonplace...

We're all for getting rid of silly rules, but we're also fans of planes working. The FAA committee's recommendation that airlines base their decision on the age and type of planes they are flying -- even if that means we need to keep our Kindles off for 10 minutes -- seems to be the smart way forward.