Am I a weirdo? I never use the IFE

[OZDUCK]

Another one who uses it to catch up on movies that I have heard about but not seen. My pet peeve is that airlines now don't seem to think that pax will listen to comedy on board planes - i remember the days of listening to old episodes of British Radio Comedy shows etc in the 1980's & 90's.

 

[Strategic Aviation]

I LOVE looking out there and, as a side, it makes me feel much safer when I do for some reason.

Because you can see if there are gremlins on the wing.

 

[JMEL]

It completely depends on whether I'm flying a red-eye or daytime flight, and what the time zone adjustment will be. If I'm meant to be asleep per my destination, then I'd much rather sleep the whole way and wake up already adjusted to the destination.

The one recent exception: I was on a transcon from New York to San Francisco and was supposed to sleep the whole way, but I noticed a kid near me having an absolute blast watching "The Secret Life of Pets". So, like the mature adult I am supposed to be, I decided to check out the same movie. Enjoyed it so much that I gave up my sleep and spent half the flight having a good belly laugh instead :mrgreen:

 

[Renato1]

The IFE is pretty useless with the headphones supplied by the airlines.
But with noise-cancelling headphones, the flight becomes a joy - and I start whinging when plane is landing and my program or music starts getting interrupted.
Regards,
Renato.

 

[kermatu]

I tend to spend 10 minutes setting up a decent and varied music playlist (most long haul airlines have enough to suit my tastes), then switch to the map and/or external cameras.

with a rare exception if flying QF or VA A330s, I never use IFE for domestic flights any more. Much happier reading and relaxing.

 

[love_the_life]

I'm another who generally doesn't use the IFE much - certainly on domestic. On longer flights I sometimes just listen to music (depending on what they have) but almost never watch a movie. I usually have the map on the screen. I read or play games on the iPad more often than not.

 

[Pushka]

Most of the movies I see are on the IFE. Must work on that.

 

[cambriamarsh]

Ditto, HNL - AKL 9 hours daylight flight over water, 3 movies (McLaren, Pork Pie remake and another I've forgotten), but Dom in NZ or AU, don't bother (Don't do AU transcons atm).

Yeah, it's my opportunity to catch up on all the movies I wanted to see

 

[Milboo]

Watching movies on the IFE is pretty much the only time I watch a movie so I play catch up.

Domestically I use my iPad and watch TV series or use the VA IFE.

 

[Tassieoptom]

Shorter flights will be NC headphones, music playlist and a new book. Long haul however, I will binge watch movies, breaking that up with meditation sounds in the NC headphones to help me sleep.

 

[QF WP]

I rarely used the supplied IFE as I now watch it on my iPad. Or do most of the things that the OP does if its long-haul international.

My kids - now that is another matter, they will immerse themselves it it from the moment they sit down until the moment they get up (unles there s a spare iPad or iPhone to use). They don't get as much availability at home, so they make use of it onboard. Each to their own

 

[Tallfont]

I have gone through stages. These days a good book and the map on the screen is the usual for me.

I did have a gig back in 2009-2011 where I was travelling PER>ALK>WLG return every two weeks and out of sheer boredom I watched the IFE. The trouble was that by the end of the month before AirNZ changed the programming over I had watched everything that was of interest to me!

With regards to other passengers asking for the blind down I always tell them that I suffer from acute motion sickness if I cannot see outside of the aircraft. That usually fixes any issues....

 

[Tassieoptom]

With regards to other passengers asking for the blind down I always tell them that I suffer from acute motion sickness if I cannot see outside of the aircraft. That usually fixes any issues....

I must say I often have the blind adjusted, ie partly down to limit glare in my eyes. Being a spectacle wearer I find glare in my eyes/specs very annoying, but drop the blind only partly. How do others feel about this?

 

[bobbyjo]

Hell Yes I use it, all the way and all the way back. I try to enjoy every trip from the moment I leave home till the moment I get back, otherwise I couldn't stand all that nonsense at the airport hanging around etc, as for the flight, I board, make myself as comfortable as possible (unfortunately turn right at the top of the stairs) get everything I need for the journey, then have a drink, usually some food and then settle in to watch at least one movie (I have been known to do 4 in one trip).

 

[Berlin]

With regards to other passengers asking for the blind down I always tell them that I suffer from acute motion sickness if I cannot see outside of the aircraft. That usually fixes any issues....

This is a good one, must try this next time! I used to always tell the crew that I get bad panic attacks when I can't see the ground below me but that always feels a bit over the top!

 

[Meggsy]

I'm a little in both camps on this subject. When flying internationally, which is only a few times a year, I always use the IFE to pass the time and catch up on latest movies. When flying domestically, which I do a few times a week, I find the IFE content does not get refreshed that often so I tend to use my iPhone/ipad and watch or listen to my own content.

 

[Pushka]

But the glare from the window can be blinding at times. I like taking photos from that seat but I also dislike bright lights - brings on a migraine if I'm not up to par that day. So guess I'm seeing and raising travel sickness with a migraine then! Being in the aisle seat makes no difference.

 

[fiscal]

This conversation gives you a clue -

Wife - how long did you say the flight is

Me - 7 movies

 

[FirstClass]

Another weirdo here... In the 60 years I've been regularly flying, have not once felt the inclination to use IFE. A little reading and a lot of sleeping seems the most painless way to endure longhaul travel.

 

[DenaJordan]

I've just completed a European holiday, flying
MEL - MAN SQ J
and
DUB - MEL EY J

Approx 20 hours each way (airborne) - so I spent a total of almost a two days in the air!
AND I didn't use the IFE on ANY leg!!
(well, that's a little lie because actually I watched one and a half episodes of Family Guy on the final descent into Manchester; out of sheer boredom)

Mrs D watched the complete collection of some "chick-series" with Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon on the outbound legs and then about 4 movies on the way back.
(I glanced over occasionally - and was surprised that SQ didn't censor ANYTHING!)

Me; I just soaked up the experience.
Pre take-off drinks; look at the flight map; fiddle with the seat options (but never do a full recline in case the CSM just happens to walk past at that exact moment); check the menu (especially the wines); order the post take-off drink; drink it; do the 5-7 course menu whilst choosing wines to suit; ask for another glass of port; sneak open the window blinds and marvel at the rugged, inhospitability of Eastern Turkey; think about Cove, Cruiser Elite and other AFF legends; sleep for 5 hours; wake up for breakfast; think about what a great holiday I'm about to have, or just had....

Then Mrs D looks across at me and asks what I've been doing for the past 13 hours?
Mrs D is a therapist and is always banging on about "mindfulness"
Hmmmmmm......

I am with you Duffa, I recently travelled from Brisbane to Heathrow via Hong Kong and return, a total of about 40 hours in the air. As a long-sighted mature person, I find the IFE screens impossible to watch, even the larger ones in PE and Business, (although the person in front's IFE screen is easier to watch). Latest movies are much better viewed on the big screen and have not been doctored to fit the small screen. It is also a pain to have the IFE continually interrupted by inflight announcements which are also repeated in several languages.

When not eating or drinking, I don eye mask and noise cancelling headphones and try to get some shuteye when the lights go down.