The mobile phone and laptop are not just tools to stay in touch with the office or home anymore while travelling. A growing number of frequent fliers are using their mobile devices to create an informal travelers’ community in airports and aloft. Airlines are beefing up their presence on networking channels, and travelers’ groups like FlyerTalk.com have created new applications that allow members to find one another while on the road. Business travelers can use these services to share cabs to the airport, swap advice or locate colleagues in the same city. For those who want to connect, few airlines can match Virgin America for mingling opportunities. In addition to its Internet service, it offers seat-to-seat messaging via its seatback video screens.
