AVOD - Audio Video On Demand

[Reggie]

Surely no one purchases an airline seat based on whether the IFE works 100% of the time. I know I don't. Off to find my parallel universe....

I suspect there would be pax who do. If you had the choice of Airline A and B, flying from LAX to SYD, same price, same seats, same service and both have IFE. Only difference is Airline A knows that being a 14 hour flight pax will want to watch some IFE so ensure that it works, however Airline B has had technical problems, but cant guarantee it to work, and have since taken the tech guys off the flights, because it is costing too much. Which Airline are you going to choose.

 

[littl_flier]

I suspect there would be pax who do. If you had the choice of Airline A and B, flying from LAX to SYD, same price, same seats, same service and both have IFE. Only difference is Airline A knows that being a 14 hour flight pax will want to watch some IFE so ensure that it works, however Airline B has had technical problems, but cant guarantee it to work, and have since taken the tech guys off the flights, because it is costing too much. Which Airline are you going to choose.

If only this was the case. Makes me think of SQ plans to cross the pacific..... QF might have a change of plan if the protectionism from the govt changed.

Back to my parallel universe too.

 

[JohnK]

I suspect there would be pax who do. If you had the choice of Airline A and B, flying from LAX to SYD, same price, same seats, same service and both have IFE. Only difference is Airline A knows that being a 14 hour flight pax will want to watch some IFE so ensure that it works, however Airline B has had technical problems, but cant guarantee it to work, and have since taken the tech guys off the flights, because it is costing too much. Which Airline are you going to choose.

Using your example we need to compare QF and UA across the Pacific. In economy, which is all I can afford, I would take my chances with QF anyday even with suspect IFE.

I know there are other routes to consider, and with other airlines offering much better product than UA, but again IFE for me is only one of the criteria for choosing an airline. Many would disagree, which is their right, but given a choice I would prefer to travel with QF regardless of the perception of having suspect IFE. It has only really failed me once, not really I could have had a middle seat down the back of the place but chose to be without IFE, and I received $150 in compensation.

 

[garyjohn951]

" Surely no one purchases an airline seat based on whether the IFE works 100% of the time. I know I don't."

If I buy a leg of lamb I expect it to be fresh
If I rent a car and they say it will go, I expect it to happen
If I buy a ticket to X and the airline avertises AVOD I bloodly well expect it to work.
I agree their can be the one of fault, but Qantas have a problem, and it is on going and they hope not enough pax will complain.

Have had twice happen no Avod, stinks. as in Y there is no power to laptop , only 2 hr battery, ok for business company paid J.......................

 

[Reggie]

Using your example we need to compare QF and UA across the Pacific. In economy, which is all I can afford, I would take my chances with QF anyday even with suspect IFE.

I know there are other routes to consider, and with other airlines offering much better product than UA, but again IFE for me is only one of the criteria for choosing an airline. Many would disagree, which is their right, but given a choice I would prefer to travel with QF regardless of the perception of having suspect IFE. It has only really failed me once, not really I could have had a middle seat down the back of the place but chose to be without IFE, and I received $150 in compensation.

As with you, I would, and still do choose Qantas, and have been lucky enough to not have had a problem with the AVOD.

However I do believe there are people around that would not fly Qantas due to the problems with AVOD. My choice may alter after a bad experience with AVOD.

 

[simongr]

If I used AVOD then I would use it as part of my decision on travel. I personally use my lepop to watch TV and catch up on stuff that I havent watched. On my upcoming trip(s) I wont have much to catch up on (off season in the US) so I might be forced to watch IFE. Thankfully i am not on QF for most of the flights and wont be that disappointed not just with the risk of unavailability but also the poor selection - CX does a much better job.

I actually find QF/CX/BA all pretty much the same in terms of an overall rating - they all have + and - that on average leave them about the same in J - so having a risk of no AVOD is a decision factor. Thankfully all of my BA flights are overnight (or very short - under 5 hours) so the poor quality of IFE on BA isnt a factor

 

[garyjohn951]

Simongr, you answer is fine for J+ travellers, but 12+ hrs to USA in Y with no battery power sees 1 only dvd. If the AVOD doesn't work in J then Business travellers can alway catch up on a bit work.

 

[simongr]

Completely right there garyjohn951 (who would have thought that there were 950 other garyjohns ) - the last long haul flight I had in whY was on Gulf Air in 2004 (LCA-SYD) and I am trying to recall what I did for entertainment - I think I read a couple of books - I dont recall there being AVOD...

I actually think that AVOD would be less of an issue for me in whY than J. If i am travelling whY then I will be aiming for cheapest and quickest (to limit time taken traveling when on Vacation) with very low expectations of the AVOD...

 

[Reggie]

If I used AVOD then I would use it as part of my decision on travel. I personally use my lepop to watch TV and catch up on stuff that I havent watched. On my upcoming trip(s) I wont have much to catch up on (off season in the US) so I might be forced to watch IFE. Thankfully i am not on QF for most of the flights and wont be that disappointed not just with the risk of unavailability but also the poor selection - CX does a much better job.

I actually find QF/CX/BA all pretty much the same in terms of an overall rating - they all have + and - that on average leave them about the same in J - so having a risk of no AVOD is a decision factor. Thankfully all of my BA flights are overnight (or very short - under 5 hours) so the poor quality of IFE on BA isnt a factor

Simongr, you answer is fine for J+ travellers, but 12+ hrs to USA in Y with no battery power sees 1 only dvd. If the AVOD doesn't work in J then Business travellers can alway catch up on a bit work.

I think we agree then that reliabilty of AVOD is a problem and can affect choice of airline. However as JohnK says he will still fly QF over UA. Simongr and I have the flexibility due to inseat power so our choices may differ.

Garyjohn951 knowing that there is a problem with AVOD, does this cause you to look at other options in terms of carrier, or do you take the risk on QF?

 

[garyjohn951]

Had two trips to USA. One I booked in Y on QF, and upgraded to J on all sectors.
Second trip, was only ever going to be in Y, so I went vis Hong Kong and broke the trip up. Went with CX, never, never had a problem with there AVOD, plus I think they have much better staff in that it is not a hit and miss on where they have had a bad hair day [ and that goes for both M and F with QF staff]

 

[garyjohn951]

On QF29 last night while reading the booklet on the Video's etc, at the back they now ask people NOT to keep hitting select if there is a delay in loading a movie as in many PAX do it at once it will crash the system. It also states they know the cause and will endevear to fix it.
Also when Purser came around it told us he opens the system up to the plane in blocks as the start os when the problem usually oocurs.

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

Does anyone have a link to a listing of what airlines offer AVOD?

Recently flew British Airways World Traveller Plus and was very disappointed to discover the viewing selection was limited to 18 channels cycling every 3 hours.

 

[NM]

Does anyone have a link to a listing of what airlines offer AVOD?

Recently flew British Airways World Traveller Plus and was very disappointed to discover the viewing selection was limited to 18 channels cycling every 3 hours.

Don't know that there is a published list anywhere. NA are in the process of rolling out AVOD with their new interior product.

 

[JohnK]

Recently flew British Airways World Traveller Plus and was very disappointed to discover the viewing selection was limited to 18 channels cycling every 3 hours.

I flew BA15 SIN-SYD in world traveller plus last night and the IFE did not cycle automatically. I asked a FA and they manually restarted it. Only 2 movies of any interest to me and games are OK. Glad the flight was only 7 hours.

 

[Evan]

Yep, BA,CX,JL etc are not big on entertainment choice.
I actually like the QF system and the wide selection (wide selection compared to other airlines anyway)
E

 

[tscharke]

...I actually like the QF system and the wide selection (wide selection compared to other airlines anyway)
E

yeah but how many times can a man watch Borat and still be entertained???.....

(er well! last count was double digits )

 

[simongr]

Recently flew British Airways World Traveller Plus and was very disappointed to discover the viewing selection was limited to 18 channels cycling every 3 hours.

Just flew BA in J LGW-BGI and was stunned that the IFE was cycling IFE - at least it wasnt the minature screens that I had on LHR-DXB-LHR flight - they were size of a watch!

 

[simongr]

yeah but how many times can a man watch Borat and still be entertained???.....

(er well! last count was double digits )

Zero and still counting

 

[tscharke]

Zero and still counting

i was waiting for your response to that one - as I know you fully loathe Sacha!!!

 

[serfty]

OT

... - as I know you fully loathe Sacha!!!

... I don't mind his missus however.

Sacha Baron Cohen and Isla Fisher