Am I a weirdo? I never use the IFE

[spudseamus]

Not a lot of travel these days but usually long haul. My trip starts as soon as I step into the airport and turning left at the bridge. I must say I prefer a good book and a few tipples as I zoom along , interacting with the FA's ect. So I will use the IFE for the map mostly .

 

[Pushka]

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.

The more I travel the more I agree. I used to try stay awake to get the full experience. Now it's sleep first even if this means missing meals, then watching a movie only if I have time.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Last VA flight I actually tried the ife and it confirmed my previous thoughts, why bother! Mind you, I think VA are worse than most. I have phone, BT noise cancelling head phones and most often ... Pink Floyd! Hard to beat.

 

[justin23]

I do both. Then again if flying J I'm more likely to sleep and less likely to use IFE. I also don't tend to go to the cinema much, so Y and IFE means I watch any movies I want to see but haven't. Eventually I get sleep enough on long haul to get a couple of hours sleep in a cramped Y cabin.

 

[markir]

Usually playing chess and losing the game.

 

[timster]

I rely on IFE to keep me occupied from go to woe.

Having started flying in the days of the Sony projector showing the same movie to the whole plane on the bulkhead screen (with the rush to the loos as the credits began to roll), I just think it's the best way to pass the time. However I always carry a book and tablet just in cash it goes cactus. There were a number of years when QF and BA first installed VOD that you could toss a coin as to whether it would hold up for the whole flight. Had a number of long hauls where the CSM spent half the flight "re-booting" it, to no avail (for which I was compensated in points or inflight duty free coupon). When it only affected my seat, I got upgraded a couple of times to a cabin where an empty seat had a working system.

My current bugbear is airlines who don't change their content regularly. Once a month is just enough, except if you happen to be flying long haul twice in the same month. How may times can you watch the same season of the Big Bang Theory ? About half a dozen it seems.

I also rely on it for the mind-numbing "new age" relaxation music to send me to sleep in Y. I wouldn't listen to that cough in a fit at any other time.

 

[coco50]

Regardless of flight time using IFE is not a high priority. I will check the progress of the flight on the map and if there is a really good movie on I will watch it with my wife. Usually though, I would rather read or sleep. I like to have a meal and a couple of wines and listen to relaxing music. I will never pay for IFE. Therefore, for me it has a marginal utility of nil.

 

[Jeoffster]

I couldn't put up with a long flight without the movies. I get so annoyed if I get onto a plane that doesn't have seat back screens with a good selection. Smacks of a cheap airline. I switch it on as soon as I'm in the seat and start perusing selections. Get thoroughly annoyed with the constant interruptions from the flight crew coughping on about safety, flight times and the weather where we're landing. It freezes the picture and sound. Almost all in flight announcements are a waste of time and an annoyance, but that's another pet rant of mine and off topic. So, definitely need IFE for me. I've done six movies from Melb to LA.

 

[Tassieoptom]

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.

Do you wear reading glasses, or Multifocals, or Bifocals? The answer can help me advise you on a way to see the screen better. Of course as you said the noise cancel headphoes and sleep are an equally good option.

 

[por930]

We never go to the flicks, so our 3 some where in the world trips are movie catch up time. We always travel J or F, and as both of us like windows, we never sit next to each other, but 'some where' in the cabin. If on the 380, we will sometimes use the bar for 30 minutes are so. The one good thing about flying to/from Australia, is the long flights(other than from NZ) try some wines, great meals, then settle in for the movies. After a movie, a walk around the deck(s), if on the 380, drop into the bar, then back for another movie. For late night flights, supper and bed - wake up 6 hours later...whats to eat and check what is the remaining flight time to destination, umm just time for to see all or part of the movie, catch up on the return if needed.

Given the chance, we will book the flights so that we start in one month and return in another. Most airlines change the movies each month. On a recent JAL flight from Brisbane to Vancouver, via Tokyo, in the same month, the return journey movie selection was greatly diminished. On Emirates, their movie selection is so vast, never an issue.

 

[jetcam]

Recently flew Emirates F on the A380 and no doubt the selection is probably one of the biggest out there. Problem is, they censor they content, editing out scenes and lines with no regard for the plot. The IFE is all touch screen which is fantastic. the 777 was arrow and click which was clunky and time consuming. But i preferred to stick to content that i knew wouldn't be ruined by censorship - doco's etc.

Also few JAL J class. The IFE was really slick but the quantity of content was pretty small. Even the Japanese content was very light on.

I would usually take a book or preload some netflix on my phone as a backup.

 

[smithy]

On international flights I will use the IFE......when flying domestic I don't bother with IFE .....

 

[Duffa]

Do you wear reading glasses, or Multifocals, or Bifocals? The answer can help me advise you on a way to see the screen better. Of course as you said the noise cancel headphoes and sleep are an equally good option.

I was about to advise #DenaJordan to get in contact with you #Tassieoptom, so you beat me to it!!
(Sorry... a bit OT; well maybe not, since IFE and adequate vision are mutually dependent!!)

 

[Tortuga]

Priorities: Sleep ASAP for as long as possible - have no interest in the food.. Sometimes I manage 10-12 hours without getting out of the seat in economy. Usually I get comments about how great I was for the person next to me since I didn't get up or bother anyone. It helps with a sleeping pill - the rest of the time is a daze of trying to get comfortable. IFE on a tiny screen is of no interest unless it has new documentaries that I might find interesting.

Lets be honest airlines have turned economy into cattle class by cramming as many people into a small space and throwing food and bright lights at them to keep them entertained. The smells, dirty air, dirty toilets, seat hitting, crammed seats, rude passengers do not give a good experience. That is why I prioritise sleep - its the easiest way to make time go fast to minimise the misery.

Business class is a different kettle of fish.

 

[flybynight]

I rarely watch a movie but always check out documentaries - saw a good one on Warren Buffet couple of weeks ago! I get really peeved that everyone expects the blinds to be down regardless of the time! I like to gaze out the window and occassionslly its really interesting, like a few weeks ago flying over the north pole. Its ok for people using IFE to have their screens flashing all flight but not ok to open a blind??

 

[TheRealTMA]

Recently flew Emirates F on the A380 and no doubt the selection is probably one of the biggest out there. Problem is, they censor they content, editing out scenes and lines with no regard for the plot. The IFE is all touch screen which is fantastic. the 777 was arrow and click which was clunky and time consuming. But i preferred to stick to content that i knew wouldn't be ruined by censorship - doco's etc.

Can be hilarious sometimes! Violence is perfectly ok but other items raise censorship. I watched the movie "Turner" and the Christmas roast leg of ham on the dinner table was pixellated.

 

[Pushka]

Well, I don't watch Sex and The City 2 on my iPad when flying Emirates.

 

[Magoo]

Long haul is the only time I see movies, so I binge watch, with drinks and/or food, until my body decides it's time to sleep.

 

[Ausbt]

Can depend on the quality of the IFE. I just flew SYD-AUH-LHR with EY in J, and watched one film but otherwise used the map, looked out the window and also read on my own device. However I have to make the return trip in Y so I also knew I'd want to save some movies for that painful return trip. Should be on the A380 and EY's IFE is very good. I noted during that one movie that the word 'fudge' appeared frequently and on other occasions, random words were completely missing. I presume the studios themselves censor these films on demand, surely EY doesn't have a team that do it.

 

[Cult of one]

One year I watched the whole of The west wing on planes all 7 seasons. Started on IFE and then the rest on my laptop. Love IFE.
I can really switch off from work and zone out.