The United States and United Kingdom recently enacted a ban on laptop computers, tablets and other devices larger than a cell phone. The U.K. ban applies to flights from Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Turkey, while the U.S. ban enacted by the TSA is in regards to flights from 10 airports in the countries of Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.
With the new rule taking effect on March 25, organizations like IATA have called for government officials to seek alternatives to the new security measures.
While we wait to see if requests like IATA’s are addressed, Emirates took a different approach as it announced that the airline will introduce a new passenger service that allows customers flying to the United States via Dubai to use laptop computers and tablets until moments before they board.
This solution will allow travelers to use their electronic devices on the first portion of their journeys and during transit in Dubai. When it’s time to board their flight to the U.S., customers will then declare and turn in their devices to security staff at the gate.
Emirates says the devices will be packed into boxes, loaded on the aircraft and returned to the customers once they’ve reached their U.S. destination – all free of charge.
Customer service is paramount in every industry. And the plan announced by Emirates is a great example of a company adapting to serve its customers even when a situation is out of its control.
Emirate’s plan may be a short-term solution now. But perhaps it will lead to a permanent solution for all airlines flying to the U.S. or U.K. from these designated airports.
The right frame of mind can help us all solve problems. Although Emirates would almost certainly prefer to use its manpower and resources for other tasks, remaining focused on a long-term goal – in this case, continued customer satisfaction – is more important.
Now look at your work place and the challenges you need to be overcome. What is a better use of energy, time, etc. – fretting over factors out of your control, or finding a solution that will benefit your company and the customers it serves?
