No seatback IFE on long domestic flights.

[maroonone]

Flown SYD-DRW twice on a Sunday in 2 weeks and both times just the drop down sceens installed. I believe this is probably the longest domestic route with daily (or more) solely 738 aircraft operating. The aircraft planners should surely have as a priority that the longer routes get setback IFE equipped aircraft. Fortunately on both flights in J the CSMs greatly helped by providing good service.

 

[mannej]

Flown SYD-DRW twice on a Sunday in 2 weeks and both times just the drop down sceens installed. I believe this is probably the longest domestic route with daily (or more) solely 738 aircraft operating. The aircraft planners should surely have as a priority that the longer routes get setback IFE equipped aircraft. Fortunately on both flights in J the CSMs greatly helped by providing good service.

You do realise that a number of 332's that have recently returned to QF don't have seat back IFE?

They operate the longer flights to PER (along with the 737) without seat back IFE. When you have over half the 737 fleet without the seat back IFE, I think the schedulers have other priorities when placing aircraft on routes.

FWIW, checking the Qantassource, the SYD-DRW routes do have a fair share of the Seat back 737's, but I would hazard a guess that the 737's would also be doing the -PER runs on the weekend as well.

 

[Austman]

I've done MEL-BME and MEL-PER (a few times) in a 737. SYD-DRW the longest domestic 737 route??

SYD-PER seems to have 737 these days.

 

[russ]

The aircraft planners should surely have as a priority that the longer routes get setback IFE equipped aircraft

I doubt QF gives a stuff about it. They happily charge double the price of VA and still seem to be able to fill their seats.

If you are doing the flight regularly, I recommend bringing your own entertainment system - fully charged for obvious reasons!

 

[burmans]

I doubt QF gives a stuff about it. They happily charge double the price of VA and still seem to be able to fill their seats!

Of course while people accept it you are probably right!

 

[opusman]

Buy an iPad.

 

[TripleB]

I do DRW-SYD-DRW most weekends (>45 returns a year) - 43 of those trips will involve a QF aircraft at least one of the ways. I've been doing this for more or less 3 years now. I'm enough of a nerd to keep a track of which registrations are operating the flights I am on and I would say that the IFE planes operate the flights I am on in a similar proportion to the number of IFE planes in the fleet.

 

[suze2000]

At first I thought this was one of those whinges that don't have much merit, but then when I thought about it, perhaps not. Of course, I wouldn't dream of setting foot on a plane without my ipad and a book (in case the ipad wasn't allowed at points during the flight). I will use the IFE if there's something on it that takes my fancy, if not, I go the ipad. BUT imagine if I didn't own one and got on a plane expecting IFE and found none, I guess I'd be pretty narked.

I wonder if it's not unreasonable for the airline to advise pax at online checkin what's going to be available so they can make plans? Obvs, equipment can change, but most of the time, it wouldn't, and this might help some people.

To the OP though, I'd echo the suggestion above of becoming more self-sufficient with on-board entertainment. It wasn't so long ago that drop-down screens were the only thing you could hope for and no-one complained back then.

 

[tyrolean]

Buy an iPad.

Or a book. The batteries last forever!

 

[russ]

Prior to boarding a flight, I assume:

- The flight will be delayed
- Someone will be sitting in my seat
- The seat won't work
- The person seated next to me is disgusting
- The air-conditioning system won't work
- The entertainment system doesn't exist or won't work
- The seat power system doesn't exist or won't work
- The food wasn't loaded
- The amenity packs weren't loaded
- Nobody has a pen
- I will spill red wine all over my clothes
- The airline will lose my baggage

If all of the above doesn't happen, I am pleasantly surprised.

 

[aaronjames000]

Nailed it russ! Assume the worst then anything better is a bonus!

 

[fifo]

I do DRW-SYD-DRW most weekends (>45 returns a year) - 43 of those trips will involve a QF aircraft at least one of the ways. I've been doing this for more or less 3 years now. I'm enough of a nerd to keep a track of which registrations are operating the flights I am on and I would say that the IFE planes operate the flights I am on in a similar proportion to the number of IFE planes in the fleet.

with that kind of fifo mileage, seems pretty silly to not have a tablet with your own content on it

 

[TripleB]

with that kind of fifo mileage, seems pretty silly to not have a tablet with your own content on it

The cost per use on my Samsung tablet is very low ...

 

[11sjw]

My solution for this (assuming there was fabric type seats, not leather type) was to attach two male strips of Velcro to the back of my iPod touch. "Mount" the iPod on the back of the seat in front. A set of noise cancelling earbuds and I was away with my own IFE.

 

[russ]

I use some elastic with my iPad Air. Works a treat!

See Tell me where to stick my iPad

 

[Jaryd]

Flown SYD-DRW twice on a Sunday in 2 weeks and both times just the drop down sceens installed. I believe this is probably the longest domestic route with daily (or more) solely 738 aircraft operating. The aircraft planners should surely have as a priority that the longer routes get setback IFE equipped aircraft. Fortunately on both flights in J the CSMs greatly helped by providing good service.

I did this one twice last week, and again this morning. All three flights with no IFE!! I usually work but will watch one or part of a movie. My main beef is that I have now watched Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler for three back-to-back trips! It was OK the first time, but the second and third?

I wonder if there is any plans for ipads like the 767s...

Also - what the hell is going on with Rosie Beaton? The music channel is called 'billboard'... perhaps it should be called Rosie's Library?

 

[Jaryd]

I do DRW-SYD-DRW most weekends (>45 returns a year) - 43 of those trips will involve a QF aircraft at least one of the ways. I've been doing this for more or less 3 years now. I'm enough of a nerd to keep a track of which registrations are operating the flights I am on and I would say that the IFE planes operate the flights I am on in a similar proportion to the number of IFE planes in the fleet.

Just to clarify - you have a list of the plans which do and don't have IFE?

If so... care to share?

 

[PaulST]

Or a book. The batteries last forever!

Yeah but you only get one book in a book. And not movies or music.

But I do agree that SYD-PER without IFE would suck.

 

[mannej]

Just to clarify - you have a list of the plans which do and don't have IFE?

If so... care to share?

Here you go
http://www.theqantassource.com/aircraft.html

 

[Jaryd]

Here you go
http://www.theqantassource.com/aircraft.html

Made my day! Thanks!