Seating accessory
A seating pad assembly is provided for use by travelers to increase the comfort for a seat on a public transportation vehicle or at a public transit terminal. A system and method for ordering the seating pad assembly for a transportation seat includes at least one terminal configured for entering an identifier indicative of a type of transportation seat purchased, e.g., a class of service; a server configured for receiving the identifier, determining dimensions of the seating pad assembly based on the identifier, and generating an order to acquire the determined seating pad assembly; and a communications network for coupling the at least one terminal and the server. The terminal may be configured in the form of a computer, a kiosk or a mobile terminal. The system will allow a purchaser of a transportation seat to either purchase or rent the seating pad assembly.
1. A method for ordering a seating pad assembly for a reserved transportation seat, the method comprising:
receiving, by a server, an identifier indicative of a type of transportation seat reserved;
determining, by the server, dimensions of the seating pad assembly based on the type of transportation seat reserved;
generating, by the server, an order to acquire the determined seating pad assembly;
charging, by the server, a purchaser of the transportation seat against a loyalty program account for a predetermined acquisition amount of the seating pad assembly; and
fulfilling, by the server, the generated order to complete acquisition of the seating pad assembly.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifier is a class of service.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the dimensions include at least one of a width, length and thickness.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a second identifier indicative of a transportation seat provider and selecting a cover assembly for the seating pad assembly bearing an indicia of the transportation seat provider.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fulfilling step further comprises selling the seating pad assembly to the purchaser of the transportation seat for the predetermined acquisition amount.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein charging against a loyalty program account includes accepting frequent fliers miles for the predetermined acquisition amount.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fulfilling step further comprises renting the seating pad assembly to the purchaser of the transportation seat for the predetermined acquisition amount.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein charging against a loyalty program account includes accepting frequent fliers miles for the predetermined acquisition amount.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transportation seat purchased is an airline seat, further comprising delivering the seating pad assembly to a the purchaser of the transportation seat after the purchaser has passed through security at the airport.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising reclaiming the seating pad assembly from the purchaser at a point of disembarkation.
11. A system for ordering a seating pad assembly for a reserved transportation seat comprising:
at least one terminal configured for entering an identifier indicative of a type of transportation seat reserved;
a server configured for receiving the identifier, determining dimensions of the seating pad assembly based on the identifier, charging a purchaser of the transportation seat against a loyalty program account for a predetermined acquisition amount of the seating pad assembly and generating an order to acquire the determined seating pad assembly; and
a communications network for coupling the at least one terminal and the server.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one terminal is a computer, a kiosk or a mobile terminal.
13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the identifier is a class of service.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the dimensions include at least one of a width, length and thickness.
15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the server is further configured to receive a second identifier indicative of a transportation seat provider and selecting a cover assembly for the seating pad assembly bearing an indicia of the transportation seat provider.
16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the server is further configured to sell the seating pad assembly to the purchaser of the transportation seat for the predetermined acquisition amount.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the server is configured to accept frequent fliers miles for the predetermined acquisition amount.
18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the server is further configured to rent the seating pad assembly to the purchaser of the transportation seat for the predetermined acquisition amount.
19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the server is configured to accept frequent fliers miles for the predetermined acquisition amount.
20. An apparatus for ordering a seating pad assembly for a reserved transportation seat, the method comprising:
means for receiving an identifier indicative of a type of transportation seat reserved;
means for determining dimensions of the seating pad assembly based on the type of transportation seat reserved;
means for generating an order to acquire the determined seating pad assembly;
means for charging a purchaser of the transportation seat against a loyalty program account for a predetermined acquisition amount of the seating pad assembly; and
means for fulfilling the generated order to complete acquisition of the seating pad assembly.