NB: This is guest post by Daniele Beccari, vice president at Isango and a technology consultant.
Italian carrier Alitalia has announced a further step into mobile with a new version of its webapp and a new iPhone app to be released in the next few days.
As with most airline apps, the focus is on road warriors and business travellers who need mobile and last minute access to check-in, flight status or timetables. Mobile check-in and boarding pass works in Milan MXP and a couple of other Italian airports.
But the service includes also a couple of goodies:
- Booking of airport parkings (available in 8 Italian airports), with choice of valet parking/outdoor/indoor, car wash and fuel fill up.
- Luggage tracking - a simple way to see if your bag made it to destination or got lost in transit (you have to punch in the luggage ID).
Also announced is flight rebooking functionality. Rebooking through airline mobile apps is a function being closely scrutinized by corporations and travel management companies around the world for fear of losing control over policy.
According to Alitalia, iPhone app v1.0 has been downloaded by 70,000 users.
Meanwhile, the carrier also highlighted its social network activity on Facebook, with the official page giving out Euro 50 coupons to celebrating topping 55,000 fans.
The FB page also includes a "book" tab, but at this stage it's nothing more than a static form redirecting to the main website or to ancillary products (powered by Expedia offshoot WWTE).
NB: This is guest post by Daniele Beccari, vice president at Isango and a technology consultant.