I just flew to SJC and started to think about how technology could be used at airports to make flying more efficient. There are definitely implementation and privacy for some of these ideas but here they are:

1. An app/website that allows you to track where parking shuttles are. It would be great to know how long before the next one would arrive. Also the ability to check in at shuttle stops could help alert drivers which stops have passengers waiting and if they need to send more than one.

2. The ability to use iPhones and other smart phones as your boarding pass. Already being tested by airlines like Delta but something that definitely should be rolled out.

3. Geolocate/track passengers. Allow for gps tracking of passengers so you can track them to make sure they are in valid areas of the airport. Also you could use it for tracking passengers if they had checked in but aren’t at the gate and the flight is getting to leave.

4. Create a marketplace to easily trade seats. Have the ability at a kiosk or mobile app to post a price you’d be willing to trade your seat for. That way if you had an exit row seat, aisle seat etc. you could sell it for a profit if you didn’t value the seat as much as someone else. Airlines could facilitate the transaction and take a percentage for the move.

5. Offer limited free wifi on airlines to purchase content. Airlines could offer a closed system accessible by wifi to stream content to someones laptop, iPad, iPhone, etc. This could be a pay per use model to get new movies, games, ebooks, and more. You could easily change content since it’s all in digital format and you wouldn’t have to retrofit old seats with new screens.