OK - so at the moment the FAA is about as popular with the airlines industry as an American flag at a Dixie Chicks concert. But once we get past the "recent unpleasantness," there are some changes about to be rolled out that will shake things up in a good way.
Imagine this - your flight touches down, you get off the plane and walk out through the gate. You turn the corner and with a flash of your ID you pick up your made-to-order latte and sandwich. It's got your name on it and it's already paid for. You ordered it through the web site on the flight back and the barista knew when you'd be landing and when you'd be walking by. And by the way you also finished your report on the flight and ten hardcopies are at the printer kiosk as you continue toward the cab stand... where your car is waiting.
Is it reasonable to expect this anytime soon when the airlines are still sending surveys asking things like whether or not you checked luggage, whether you had a connecting flight and if it was on time? Well, the competition for your airmiles is about to get tougher as broadband rolls out to the air travel industry. See the article on Aircell here.