14 DAY TRIAL // Emirates has turned to Microsoft’s Surface tablets to get around the electronics ban instituted by the United States on flights of nine Middle Eastern airlines, so every passenger on board can continue working for the duration of the flight with a complimentary device.
According to the mid-March restriction, travelers are no longer allowed to carry electronics bigger than a cellphone on board, as the United States was trying to prevent terrorists from hiding explosives into tablet-size devices.
Office 2016 installed on tablets
To circumnavigate the ban, Emirates will allow its customers to borrow Microsoft Surface tablets, with the airline allowing them to copy documents on a USB stick and then continue working until they arrive at the destination.
“The new service is in response to the US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) directive which requires all passengers traveling on non-stop flights to the US from Dubai to check-in their laptops, tablets, and other personal electronic devices larger than a smart phone,” Emirates announced today.
“As part of this latest service, Emirates premium customers will have Microsoft Surface tablets equipped with Microsoft Office 2016 available for loan on board. Customers can download their work on to a USB which can be brought on board and plugged into the devices to continue working seamlessly.”
The service is offered as complimentary and the airline guarantees that all travelers will be able to borrow a Surface tablet during flights from Dubai to any US destination.
This is obviously an important move that benefits Microsoft as well, as it’s not only a partnership that generates additional revenue for the company but also a major marketing effort, with travelers allowed to try out the Surface device for the entire duration of the flight.
For what it’s worth, Emirates operates flights to 12 different American airports, namely Newark (EWR), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Orlando (MCO), Chicago (ORD), Boston (BOS), San Francisco (SFO), Los Angeles (LAX), Seattle (SEA), Dallas (DFW), Houston (IAH), Washington (IAD) and New York (JFK).
