AirDates Matches You with People on Your Flight

AirDates, a new in-flight dating app, allows you to look for life’s co-pilot before, during or after your trip. AirDates launched its public beta last year and currently has 10,000 users — so right off the bat you have slim pickings.

You begin by setting up your profile using your Facebook account, tell it what type of people you’re interested in and you’re ready to go. The app has a map that looks similar to a radar that shows who’s around. If other users are actually on your flight, you can chat without WiFi as long as they are within 230 feet. Connect on the ground to chat on the plane.

First things first, is there correct protocol for approaching a potential match on your flight? Do you walk over to someone and explain they are sitting next to the guy you met on an airline dating app? Or if you’ve chatted enough in the app do you tell the person you’re in seat 22D and to stop by?

Michael Richards, chief executive officer, AirDates, got the idea while traveling during a break from work. He used Tinder frequently, yet felt he missed out while inflight. There are several features in the works on the app, soon integrating with social media platforms like Spotify, Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. An Android version is also in the works.

The app encourages users to post their travel itinerary ahead of time so they can hook up with passengers on the same flight. If travelers are looking for mile high fun, they can use the geolocation at the airport or chat with each other in the air. The app will use multi-peer WiFi between smartphones so users can skip the aircraft’s WiFi network.

Tinder, meet the Mile High Club.