Airline to offer in-flight iPad rentals

Posted on 2 Jun 2010 at 12:09

Apple's iPad is proving popular, but the high cost is putting some buyers off. Thankfully, there's a new chance to get your hands on one - simply fly JetStar.

According to a report over on ZDNet, the Australian airline plans to be the first in the world to offer its passengers the chance to rent an iPad for the duration of the flight.

Costing $10 - plus a cheeky second $10 if you want to take advantage of the in-flight WiFi service to use your temporary iPad on the Internet - the iPads will come pre-loaded with a selection of books, films, TV shows, music, and games all designed to keep you distracted during the long and boring flight.

It's a clever move on JetStar's part: by being the first to offer iPad rentals, the company positions itself as a pioneer with a unique selling point to tempt those who might be tempted by other airlines, while it offers Apple a chance to sell the product to a captive audience - which is likely to translate into a substantial discount for JetStar's iPads.

The company is looking to offer the rental service on all its flights- both domestic and international - by the end of the year, although it hasn't confirmed how many iPads will be available on each flight. While it's unlikely that every single customer will want to take advantage of the service, it could turn into a PR nightmare if there aren't enough iPads to go around.

Author: Gareth Halfacree

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