United Airlines' passengers who don't mind the eye strain can now book a ticket using WAP-enabled phones.

The airline's e-commerce division has added the capability to make wireless reservations and book tickets as part of its United Updated program. Travelers who wish to book a flight or view itineraries can call up United's WAP site (ua2go.com) to enter the airline's wireless domain.

Unplugged fliers can also pick up wireless flight-information via OAG Mobile (www.oag.com), a service offered by OAG Worldwide, publishers of flight guides and travel information.

Passengers on any airline who log onto OAG.com via a handheld or WAP phone can view schedule information for millions of flights around the world. OAG Mobile also has an "E-notification" service that allows users to request flight information updates to be sent via a handheld, WAP phone, e-mail or pager. A total of 19 airlines participate in the service.

Airport Clubs Expand Net Access

Northwest Airlines (www.nwa.com) and TWA (www.twa.com) are making their airport clubs more user friendly. Both airlines have contracted with eKiosk Corporation to install Internet workstations in airport clubs across the country.

Northwest has installed six kiosks at the WorldClub in Minneapolis, and plans to add more than 50 workstations in 20 airport lounges across the U.S. The installations should be completed by June 2001.

TWA will deploy a total of 46 eKiosk workstations at its 13 club locations. Ambassador's Clubs in eight cities will receive multiple kiosks, including St. Louis, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco.

The workstations feature wireless, high-speed connections where travelers can connect to the Net via laptops, notebooks, and handheld devices.

Onboard E-Mail Is In

Cathay Pacific (www.cathaypacific.com) recently completed the airline's first successful transmission of air to ground e-mail.

While on board a Boeing 747 en route to Hong Kong from Seoul, South Korea, representatives of the airline's Internet-service provider, Tenzing Communications, were able to send a text message and digital photograph directly to the office of Cathay Pacific CEO Philip Chen in Hong Kong.