# Controversial In-Flight Entertainment Japanese Travel Agency H.I.S. Offered Pretty Seatmates By Meghan Young | Published 2016-05-13 | World Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/controversial-inflight-entertainment References: [neatorama](http://www.neatorama.com/2016/05/13/Japanese-Travel-Agency-Offers-to-Seat-You-Next-to-a-Pretty-Girl-during-Your-Flight/) As far as controversial in-flight entertainment goes, Japanese travel agency H.I.S. takes the cake -- for now, at least. For a short period, they were offering customers the chance to sit next to a pretty young college student for an extra small fee. Although this might sound like a great love matching service, it's clearly more like a geisha one. This is only exemplified by the suggested talking points such as: “I’ll teach you about the city you’re traveling to,” “I’ll tell you my favorite architectural structures,” or “I’ll help you with your homework.” The controversial in-flight entertainment service has since been shut down, but it does have some merits. Airlines can make a pretty dollar by [strategically seating single passengers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/seat-sale) together in the hope of them making a match. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.0/10 - Popularity: 57% | Activity: 56% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [World](https://www.trendhunter.com/world) > [Travel](https://www.trendhunter.com/travel) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Controversial In-flight Entertainment Services:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop a more inclusive and diverse in-flight entertainment service that caters to a wider range of passenger interests and preferences. - **Targeted Seatmate Matching:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create an advanced algorithm or platform that matches passengers based on their personal preferences, hobbies, or professional interests for a more enriching travel experience. - **Enhanced Customer Experience:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Design interactive in-flight experiences that provide passengers with personalized city guides, educational content, or assistance with tasks, tailored to their individual needs. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Travel and Tourism:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Introduce new services or technologies that enhance the overall travel experience, including in-flight entertainment, customer support, and personalization. - **Matchmaking and Dating:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop innovative platforms or services that connect travelers based on shared interests, personalities, or travel plans, fostering potential connections and relationships. - **Technology and AI:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Harness the power of artificial intelligence and data analytics to optimize seatmate matching algorithms and deliver personalized in-flight entertainment experiences for airlines and passengers. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Cheeky Sandwich Seat Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/middle-seat.md) - [Spacious Airline Seating Selections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/neighbor-free.md) - [Humorous Playful Airline Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/seat-blocker.md) - [Airline-Inspired Cocktail Lounges](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/carry-on-airlines.md) - [Personalized In-Flight Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/united-airlines-kinective-media.md) - [Double Bed Airline Upgrades](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/japan-airlines-2.md) - [Valentine's Day Flight Promotions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/valentines-day-flight.md) - [Solo Travel Matchmakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/travel-bff-matchmaker.md) - [Anime Airline Partnerships](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/crunchyroll-3.md)