Am I a weirdo? I never use the IFE

[wombatpatties]

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.

I will watch certain films of my liking, then off until my next choice is available. if not, then its books, crosswords and some shuteye. Hurry up 2018!!

 

[bfm]

On a recent MAS flight [ LON - KUL ] staff engaged all upper deck (Economy) pax to offer seats to lower deck as IFE had malfunctioned. We chose to stay and only the young folk took the option to go downstairs.

We rarely use IFE other than for geolocation (wish there was more detail).

The movie offerings are so bad (on all airlines). Seems cough American rubbish valued by some!

That said, a flight to NZ on AirNZ last week had IFE and we used it to order food - that's helpful.

 

[Ewing]

I'm definitely a bring my own IFE person. Before a trip I load my iPad up with movies and shows (including Netflix offline) and watch that onboard.

I've been burned by too many IFE failures, and long haul flights on certain airlines *cough* Emirates *cough* where movies have made no sense at all until I've rewatched them later and realised a good chunk of the movie has been censored (eg: Ex Machina).

I usually just use the IFE screen for the map or camera view, eg:

 

[Rugby]

I'm definitely a bring my own IFE person. Before a trip I load my iPad up with movies and shows (including Netflix offline) and watch that onboard.

I've been burned by too many IFE failures, and long haul flights on certain airlines *cough* Emirates *cough* where movies have made no sense at all until I've rewatched them later and realised a good chunk of the movie has been censored (eg: Ex Machina).

I usually just use the IFE screen for the map or camera view, eg:
View attachment 103869

Looks like you're flying over Macho Grande in that pic

 

[OZDUCK]

Looks like you're flying over Macho Grande in that pic

He will never get over Macho Grande!

 

[wandering_fred]

Well the IFE system does supply the map display and audio tracks as well as the visual output on the "cough tube". Though the flight map seems to be my most regular choice. My question has always been - You select your language preference when the system starts. Assuming you have selected English - why you still get at least one other (normally indecipherable) language on the map?

One of my most memorable flights was PER-SIN with the window shade up, as the A330 circled around the tops of the monsoon clouds, never quite having to penetrate the depths thereof. OTOH, as my travel seems to collect in periods of a few months followed by many more months of home detention, I do occasionally look through the movie selection. The children's cartoon features always seem more interesting than the shoot 'em up disaster/gangster movies that pass for adult entertainment. The "highlight" of the first half of 2017 was "Trolls". A cartoon in the Bollywood tradition aimed for 6-10 year olds (primarily girls?). But then I grew up with Mom watching Nelson Eddy re-runs on TV.

Then back to some background music (assuming I have access to NC headphones) and one of the many series of SF/fantasy books I sometimes complete on these trips. And to tie in with another thread - I do skim the in plane copy of the airline magazine, at least the first time I see an issue. But again the best part is the glance through the flight map section, to see if I have kept up with the airline's additions and subtractions.

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[ellen10]

I like to watch a movie on long haul flights, as long it is a movie that has lots of daylight or well lit scenes. I find the movies predominantly filmed at night hard to watch on the screens sometimes. After watching my one movie I like to watch a comedy series, that has half hour segments. I don't watch much TV at home so there is always some TV series to catch up on

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I don't watch much TV at home so there is always some TV series to catch up on

This comes as quite a revelation to me. I didn't realise there is such a thing as a TV series that's worth catching up on! :shock:

 

[TheRealTMA]

This comes as quite a revelation to me. I didn't realise there is such a thing as a TV series that's worth catching up on! :shock:

Oh, ah. Tv series on IFE are wonderful. It's just annoying that I've seen most of them. But there's always Buffy to rewatch!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Oh, ah. Tv series on IFE are wonderful. It's just annoying that I've seen most of them. But there's always Buffy to rewatch!

I love being a part of AFF, it's full of news! Here I was thinking "Buffy" was a form of medieval torture ... hang on, I think it was!

 

[straitman]

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.

Agreed though occasionally I find something great. On QF F once I found the movie Casablanca which I did have to watch and rewatch as I dozed off.

 

[amaroo]

This thing had me captivated for hours yesterday

 

[Deleted member 29185]

This thing had me captivated for hours yesterday

Hopefully the picture changed!!

 

[marki]

Hopefully the picture changed!!

I have found press reader that qantas give you for 12 hours download before flying really useful. Blast I use the small screen on my phone still manage somehow. It's IFE but on a personal mobi

 

[Milboo]

Agreed though occasionally I find something great. On QF F once I found the movie Casablanca which I did have to watch and rewatch as I dozed off.

I tried watching Les Mis one flight - I gave up after restarting it 4 times and never getting more than 10 mins in each time...

 

[bad]

I tried watching Les Mis one flight - I gave up after restarting it 4 times and never getting more than 10 mins in each time...

I find at times sleep to be a more powerful task master

 

[tomlee1986]

I only travelled a few times.. all international.. Always prefer to have IFE on board.. I would choose an airline that have this facility over 1 who doesn't!!

 

[gaz0303]

+ 1 weido here
I love the being able to read without the interruptions that happen at home. I was surprised on my last SYD-HKG flights how few people actually read on the flight. I'll give the eyes a rest by listening to a podcast. I use IFE mostly for the flight maps. I just wish they would use more detailed maps at smaller scales. When I've had access to onboard wifi, I've really only used the Flightradar24 app.

 

[Straubs]

I'm variable ... I do want to soak up the experience ... and watching something `just because' doesn't work for me. I'd rather savour my drink, people watch etc
But 13 hours straight might be a bit much...

However, couldn't you argue it is you that is indulging in mindfulness ... at one with your own thoughts?

 

[bfm]

+ 1 weido here
I love the being able to read without the interruptions that happen at home. I was surprised on my last SYD-HKG flights how few people actually read on the flight. I'll give the eyes a rest by listening to a podcast. I use IFE mostly for the flight maps. I just wish they would use more detailed maps at smaller scales. When I've had access to onboard wifi, I've really only used the Flightradar24 app.

I use either of HereWeGo or Maps.Me. Start both before departure and can use in flight mode without wifi. But, I have to download maps of route before departure. This way, I can see the villages and towns along the route.