Skift Take

The app's games are great, but much of the rest of the app is underwhelming. Why couldn't American have used the iPad app's image capabilities to inspire trips to its destinations?

American Airlines finally delivered a useful iPad app. The flight search feature which transfers you to AA.com to peruse flight possibilities may be underwhelming, but the app’s games which are engaging.

American Airlines’ just-released iPad app, it’s first dedicated for the Apple tablet, includes the game, Know It All, which enables players to compete against people in the air on American Airlines’ flights, including contestants on your flight, as well as other know-it-alls on the ground.

Players in flight

So, as you start the game, you can view how many players are in the air, how many are answering the trivia questions overall, and you can even optionally view their frequent flyer status and number of miles flown.

After all, some know-it-alls are show-it-alls when it comes to boasting about their mileage status.

If you don’t like the in-flight movie, and there is Wi-Fi on your flight, then you would get a few seconds to answer which movie (Cold Mountain) stars Jude Law and Nicole Kidman, and which war (the Civil War) provides the backdrop.

There are also questions, for instance, on the number of beers that American serves annually, and the author of The Bell Jar (Sylvia Plath).

If trivia is not your thing, then the American Airlines iPad app also enables you to play AA Sudoku.

Another feature of the app lets you view AAdvantage elite status qualification graphs, detailing how many miles and segments you may be short of gold, platinum, and executive platinum status.

Lost in flight

But it may be back to Know It All for you if your status shortfall gets you depressed and you are in the mood for some gaming diversion.

The app also includes a somewhat-difficult-to use and not-so-interactive globe that is geared to let users choose two cities and then view flight schedules.

The app also outlines options for seat changes, parking alerts and mobile boarding passes, among other new wrinkles.

smartphone

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Tags: american airlines, ipad

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