IFE

[Geegeela]

The death of the seat-back screen: is this the end of in-flight entertainment as we know it?

 

[UP4014]

Funny, United ditching seat back screens before they have them. (at least on any of their planes I've been on)

 

[Denali]

6 J pax were offered tablets on our flight last week and all declined and used their phones (or nothing in my case), even though they were smaller screens.

Even on long haul, I only use the IFE to watch the flight stats occasionally.

Its when they dont provide seat screens and also dont provide power points, I get pissy. Yes, Im talking to you VA.

 

[Deleted member]

I suppose if you don’t travel with a smart phone / tablet then the death of screens in seat backs is a problem.

 

[Daver6]

I hate having to hold my phone to watch something. I don't own a tablet and not going to buy and carry one just for IFE. I wish Qantas would sort out their Q Streaming to work with a laptop.

The other big issue is battery drain. Even if there are power points provided, the trend for no 3.5mm headphone jack means you can't charge and listen at the same time.

Finally, the time I'm most likely to watch is when I'm eating. You can't hold a phone or put in on your tray table when your meal is on it too.

 

[cgichard]

I hope SQ never do this. I do not have a tablet, nor do I want one. And my mobile phone is used only overseas for emergencies and wi-fi.
When eating it's easier to watch the IFE than to read a book or a magazine, and I like being able to watch films as it's something I don't usually do.

 

[seanpodge]

I can understand not bothering for short haul aircraft (e.g. 321s/737s) but I think that they should keep them for longer flights. All aircraft should at least have proper charging ports, even if it's just (or indeed, preferably) USB (which would cover all phones and tablets).

Personally, I just flew a bunch of flights in December (CA, KA, SQ) and didn't watch anything on the IFE besides the flight map. Flying domestically in China, I wish Air China would just leave the flight map channel on on their overhead screens rather than switching to whatever rubbish programs they put on. That plus finally letting people use their phones would solve the entertainment problems for me.