Patent ID: 8554624

Claim:
A method, in a data processing system, for bartering for a service from a fixed base operator associated with an airport, the method comprising: connecting a hand-held computing device, aboard an aircraft that is airborne and en-route to the airport, to a plurality of computing systems of a plurality of fixed base operators associated with the airport; entering a transportation request, by a pilot of the aircraft, at a graphical user interface displayed on the hand-held computing device, wherein the transportation request is entered by selecting a type of vehicle, a pickup date and time, a drop off date and time, a gate of the airport for a pick up location, the gate or another gate of the airport for a drop off location, and a negotiation preference, using a plurality of pre-configured drop down menus and a touch screen functionality of the graphical user interface; identifying, by a processor unit of the hand held computing device, one or more fixed base operators, of the plurality of fixed base operators associated with the airport, that provide a plurality of services responsive to transportation requests; transmitting, by the processor unit, a request for a quote on providing the plurality of services to each computing system of the one or more fixed base operators; and automatically negotiating, by the processor unit, with each computing system of the one or more fixed base operators based on one or more negotiation criteria until the processor unit determines a better deal on the plurality of services will not be obtained.