Declining levels of IFE

[markis10]

As a service company that is an extremely poor decision. I don't care that the smartphone/tablet penetration in market is ~70%.


That is a great idea but I think you and I do totally different things when we are overseas.

What do I do with my laptop/notebook etc when I am playing golf. Leave it in hotel safe? Take it with me and leave it in locker in Golf club? Not that smart either. Then I have to keep it with me for a long time as sometimes I am not back into hotel room until 4:00am.

Yes I know this is a different type of issue.


I guess I could just buy 10-15 of these devices and budget an extra $330 every trip and if I come back home with device in tact all is fine otherwise I have only thrown away $330 extra.

Just so Virgin can save costs providing IFE, continue to charge the same airfares and give a bigger bonus to senior management. Hmmm....

An iPad min is $300, has a battery that last 10 hours, fits in four of the 8 pockets my Golf bag has and would allow you to print at the SIN QF lounge as well as enjoying email, VAs IFE and entertainment wherever you want. Little wonder they have been popular, if you go back a few years I was not an iPad fan, now I think it's surgically attached! IT is all about BYOD in the corporate world, and soon the airline industry will be the same be it LCC or full service when it comes to IFE and other areas. I would suggest one gets used to it no matter who you fly, I expect in 2 years seat back IFE will be consigned to the same place as projectors, tape and CDs...

 

[serfty]

FWIW, in January I purchased another 10.5" Acer at officeworks for $248.

I use it mainly in the lounge room for quick email lookups and other important tasks such as live timing on F1.com while watching writing our the race.

It too can travel.

 

[davidj]

My two cents....

Long time traveler with Virgin. Loved their in-flight entertainment (in-seat), particularly live to air. It seems in-seat offerings are a thing of the past, the last year or two I noticed their new fleet missing out on in-seat screens. Very sad move. Yes plenty of people have their own devices... but whats next, BYO seating?

At least offer tablets complementary to those who don't have their own devices? If people are suggesting 'everyone' has an iphone/ipad/*enter device here*, there should be very minimal demand for tablet device handouts, therefore satisfying those who don't bring their own device on board. Don't charge $15 for a device!