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Inspiration

Since the start of public airline services, passenger experience has been of utmost importance. Passengers must participate in a lengthy process to board a plane, and many will go through all the trouble just to end up unsatisfied with their seating positions. They might be placed in physically uncomfortable situations, in positions away from their loved ones, etc. On the flip side, some passengers may prefer monetary compensation in exchange for their seat. With so many passengers being unhappy with their seating position, a market arises for a seat exchanging platform. Our vision was to provide a space for all passengers to benefit, helping both the compromising passenger and the discontented passengers.

What it does

American Airlines Seat Exchange gives AAdvantage members a platform to buy and sell their seats through auctions. A passenger can choose to downgrade and sell their seat, setting a "buy now" price. Our curated algorithm then provides an estimated starting bid that will entice users to bid on their auction. A passenger can also choose to upgrade and buy a seat by either placing a bid in the auction or by instant buying at a higher price.

How we built it

To develop AA:SE we employed a robust tech stack that seamlessly integrates Vue.js for the front-end and Golang with the Go-Chi framework for the backend. The Vue.js front-end provides a user-friendly interface for passengers to easily trade seats and interact with the applications. Our backend framework ensures high-performance, scalability, and efficient data processing, making the app responsive and reliable. One of the standout features of our app is the advanced SQL database supporting the application. This database provides the efficient and fast paced environment needed for our auction house. This database was also created to support the AAdvantage user base for the application. This powerful combination of technologies enhances the user experience, making it easier for passengers to improve their seating position or generate some cashflow.

Challenges we ran into

Our team of hackers possesses a very diverse skillset, making it difficult to settle on a singular framework without multiple members being disadvantaged. We also are a very interdisciplinary team, with 2 ELEN, 1 ECEN, and 1 ESET Major. However, our education and tenacity helped us to navigate through the development of the project.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Value to all passengers: We take pride in our catering to all passengers, ensuring both parties are satisfied. Buyers are guaranteed a streamlined process to find a more optimal seat, and sellers are guaranteed a secure and robust way to trade their seat for monetary value. Another hidden benefit is for business travelers who hold upgraded seats, as they have the option to generate extra cashflow for free.

Improving employee livelihood: This app also will take some weight off of the flight attendants' shoulders as they will not have to deal with seat change requests. This will also convince more people to digitize their boarding passes, streamlining the check-in and boarding processes.

Teamwork: We are proud of the entire team for doing their due diligence in collaborating effectively. Our collective effort and great synergy during the hackathon played a pivotal role in our success. It was inspiring to witness the team's dedication, creativity, and the way we seamlessly worked together to achieve our goals.

What's next for AA:SE

Forward-looking we are hoping to integrate with the AAdvantage user database or even join the American Airlines app, providing this exclusive feature to AAdvantage members. This will also help streamline many processes, ensuring better user experience. Another attractive feature is the addition of an extra payment method that uses American Airlines miles.