Cathay Pacific launches notiFLY Auto Messaging

Cathay Pacific Airways today announced that its popular notiFLY Flight Paging service has been enhanced so that frequent flyers can opt to automatically get text message updates of departure times and any status changes sent to their mobile phones or email accounts every time they fly with Cathay Pacific. Previously passengers had to make a separate request for notiFLY messages for each individual flight via either the Cathay Pacific Website - www.cathaypacific.com - or a handheld device such as a Palm PDA.

Another optional feature of notiFLY Auto Messaging is Pre-flight Email which sends an at-a-glance summary of the travel itinerary and destination information for every booking. The email includes one-click access to Cathay Pacific's unique Online Check-in and the option of sending additional notiFLY messages to confirm flight arrival times to any "meeters and greeters". Up-to-date weather forecasts and flight destination information are also included in the email message. In the future Cathay Pacific plans to expand notiFLY to include other messaging services such as waitlist confirmation.

Lawrence Fong, Manager of Cathay Pacific's e-Journey team said: "Personalised services like notiFLY Auto Messaging are possible thanks to the investment that we have made in e-Business. It is a unique service from Cathay Pacific and it offers a real benefit to frequent flyers by simplifying their travel arrangements. Because the new service is fully automated from our central computer system it also provides Cathay Pacific cost benefits allowing us to push ahead fast with other enhancements such as our exciting new Business Class product and another new premium lounge, The Pier."

Mobile phone subscribers in every country served by Cathay Pacific can receive the automatic notiFLY text messages in English, Chinese, Japanese or Korean. The service is available in Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Korea, Luxembourg, Macau, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Singapore , South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, UAE, UK, USA and Vietnam.

Both Marco Polo Club and Asia Miles members can choose to receive automatic notiFLY messages and pre-flight email as a standard part of their customer profile. The service is completely free of charge. Many thousands of people use the existing notiFLY service every month including chauffeurs collecting clients and couriers awaiting urgent packages. Long-haul flights often arrive well ahead of schedule but with notiFLY family and friends get plenty of notice when to be at the airport. During occasional disruptions such as typhoons the service has proved especially useful.