United Airlines Giving Customer Service Reps iPhone 6 Plus

Holiday travel still might be hell, but United Airlines is aiming to improve customer service in the new year with the help of Apple's iPhone 6 Plus.

The airline on Wednesday announced plans to outfit all its U.S. customer service representatives with Apple's phablet in 2016, giving them access to additional flight information so they can more quickly and effectively assist customers. With the iPhones, agents will be able to check you in right at the airport lobby, print your boarding passes and baggage tags anywhere in the airport, as well as assist with alternate flight options when necessary.

United said this will allow employees at its actual customer service locations to focus on travelers with more complex issues.

"Our employees told us they needed better tools to serve our customers, especially during severe weather and busier travel times," United's Senior Vice President of Airport Operations, Jon Roitman, said in a statement. "We have seen great success with the custom-made tools on the iPhone 6 Plus and believe expanding the use of a smart phone device with other applications is a great investment in our employees."

The move comes after United gave all its flight attendants iPhones last June and equipped its pilots with iPads in 2011. The airline said it will start distributing the iPhone 6 Plus($90.24 at Walmart) to its more than 6,000 U.S. "hub-based" customer service reps next year.

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Meanwhile, United last summer became the first airline to start accepting digital passports for faster check-ins. Customers can scan their passports via United's mobile app to check in for international flights via their iOS and Android devices.