JetBlue has relaunched its iPad application, adding 100 percent native booking and making it easier for users to quickly search for a flight without the need to create an account, part of a wider mobile upgrade that updates the airline’s iPhone and Apple Watch offerings as well.

With native booking, the iPad app saves users’ last seven searches for quick results and integrates booking in multiple areas within the app so users can take advantage of the feature without having to create an account. Users of the iPad app can also make updates to their reservation directly on their device – something that previously would have required communication with an agent at the airport.

“As a technology leader in the airline industry, JetBlue knew the importance on being available on different platforms and wanted to bring even more convenience to their customers,” said a Possible Mobile spokesman.

“The new iPad experience has been completely rebuilt for the larger iPad interface,” he said. “Customers can explore destination guides which feature rich content and then book their travel using the new native booking.

For the iPad app, JetBlue partnered with Possible Mobile, which helped the airline develop its other iOS as well as its Android offerings.

Enhanced check-in
Enhancements to the iPad app include enabling users to add their known traveler number for TSA Pre to their reservation to get through security at the airport faster. Users can also change or upgrade seats up to 30 minutes before domestics flights and up to 60 minutes before international flights, cancel check-in if they need to rebook and pay baggage fees or purchase extra baggage.

Additionally, users can add extras, such as Even More Speed and JetPaws, and leverage the app’s scan functionality to scan passports and credit cards with the iPad’s camera.

The enhanced check-in functionality was also added to the JetBlue iPhone and Android apps.

Taptic functionality
JetBlue also recently added several new features to its Apple Watch app.

New complications – or visual cues on the watch face – enable users to track their flight status or track TrueBlue points.

Users can also now tap to add their mobile boarding pass to an Apple Wallet directly from the Apple Watch. There is also now a fixed Glance and Countdown loading bug and taptic functionality for messages.

JetBlue has been a consistent leader among airlines in advancing the mobile user experience, with the latest update reflecting how, as mobile use gets more sophisticated, consumers are looking for the next step in mobile convenience.

In January, JetBlue Airways bolstered its mobile offerings by enabling travelers to purchase snacks, beverages and upgrades to premium seats via Apple Pay, making it the first airline to roll out this feature (see story).

“The app provides native booking as well as extra features with check-in – extra baggage, change/ upgrade seat, add your pet, etc.,” the spokesman said. “Flyers can also use the iPad’s camera for passport and credit card scanning.

“This means that flyers can plan their entire travel experience without using another device as they had to do previously,” he said.