New airplanes come with a surprising range of ingenious devices that make your journey just that little bit more efficient, pleasurable and simple
. Just like how high-end luxury cars have minor flourishes that separate them from other cars of similar price, you'll increasingly find the planes do the same.
One the latest cabin set-up of the latest new jumbo jet, Airbus A380, you might if you fly Emirates find a beautiful gyroscopic cup holder. After all, what's customer service if the pilot's manoeuvres leave hot coffee on your suit pants. Emirates and Airbus came up with an excellent solution to the problem of spillages: gyroscopic cup holders. You won't see them on any domestic flights from New York to Fort Lauderdale any time soon, but they could become industry standard very quickly as an increasing number of people notice what a big impact they make on the experience of flying.
The cup holders work to stay upright no matter what tilt or angle the pilot is currently engaged in. The cut holder will pivot to remain flat, that it is to say flat relative to the ground, rather than the plane. Most importantly: the drink won't spill. No longer will passenger on the long flights from Washington to Dublinhave to sit there with wet pants. It's an excellent invention and the sort of thing that customers will come to expect on any aircraft that they board and then be disappointed if the aircraft does not have the newest technology. That's one way to build brand loyalty.
Gyroscopic cup holders are just the start. A solution for jet lag would be nice next. But more importantly, significantly better in flight entertainment options. Even short flights from Manila to Hong Kong become tedious once you've marvelled at the gyroscopic cup holder for a little while.