Qantas IFE for Children in Y?

[Smanfer71]

Hello, what is provided in terms of IFE for children (specifically 3 year olds) in Y, please? Daughter is very much into The Wiggles (good chance?!) and also Peppa Pig and Tweenies (less chance).

Any insights would be greatly appreciated.

If Qantas have lots of Wiggles programmes, then I may actually get to watch a film myself!

Thanks.

 

[Katie]

For QF international flights on 747s and the A380*, there should be IFE for each seat, and there's a kids channel. For my then 18mth old, the IFE was not great in Y - but that was due to her height, and ability at that age to sit still and watch TV when there was a plane to explore and people to meet. She did watch some Wiggles, and would happily watch, re-watch/re-start the same episode.

I believe, like the movie selection, what's displayed on the various channels changes somewhat every month. IIRC, the Wiggles feature.

We are taking Miss now-3yo to the US at the end of the month, and will be taking a DVD player as well, with assorted Wiggles/Hi5/Disney DVDs. On the recommendation of friends, we'll let her watch the IFE first, before bringing out the DVD player. The DVD player was invaluable on our flight home from HNL last year, as there were no other kid-friendly IFE options on that particular plane.

Depending on your child's height and the position of the screen on the back of the seat in front (for Y), you may need to prop her up while watching the IFE. Miss 3 is taller now than she was 2 years ago (of course), but back then she could only see the IFE when standing on her seat. Not the safest viewing position.

* And probably other planes, but I'm not sure, and can only speak to the IFE on these planes. The plane we flew to/from HNL last year did not have personal IFE, so not great for a 3 yo.

 

[thewinchester]

I must say I didn't spend much time looking at the IFE kids channels on my recent DOM and INT trips. The new A330's being used for DOM trans-con flights have an entirely separate kids channel, which parents can lock them to without any hassle or danger of them straying.

For kids under 7, you'll need to help them with programming selection as the touch screens are out of reach on the new A330's. For the rest, they use a corded controller stowed in the seat arm. You may need to keep an eye on it in case they start playing around with those - particularly IMHO those cords can pose a strangling hazard if extended long enough and played with improperly by a small child.

Having said that, QF's entertainment section of the website used to keep pretty good lists of that info for DOM sectors - but that seems to have gone now. I'm going to drop them a line, as I'm quite dissapointed this information has gone, and that details of kids programming isn't available.

Update: I've been on hold with QF for 15min now, and the Reservations agent has had to make several calls to come up with even the most basic of information on the topic. I've already fired off a polite missive to the QP Service Centre asking them to kick the airline in the pants - after all, having the information just adds to the unique selling proposition for parents with children needing to travel.

 

[harvyk]

You'll's) find something for kids on the IFE, provided your on a A330 \ A380 \ B747 and some int config B737 (trans-tasman only). Last year on a B747, I set up the IFE for my daughter (who was only 15 months at the time, thus couldn't control it herself), and it was quite easy to position the screen so she could see it...

There where lots of options (inc tv shows \ movies and I believe games, but I've never tried them myself) so finding something won't be a problem. It all however depends on the type of a\c you'll be on...

 

[medhead]

I recall having plenty of kids options on he ife of a 747 about 3 years ago. My 3 year old learnt to control the shows within about 2 hours. There was definitely wiggles shows plus, I think, most of the abc kids shows at the time. Plus maybe some thongs like Barbie movies and such.

 

[thewinchester]

As a side to my feedback to Qantas, it's generated what I feel safe in saying is the fastest reply to online feedback I've ever received from them - ever!

What, if any action comes from this is a different story.

My original email (via their painful RightNow online service form):

I've come here today looking to get a better idea of what Kids programming
is available on QF services, both on Domestic A330 services with IFE, and
on International services ex-PER.

However, there is virtually no information on this whatsoever. To find what
kids movies are available on International services, you have to scroll
through the entire list of movie offerings. Beyond that, there is no
details on this whatsoever necessitating a call to Customer Service.

For domestic services on A330's equipped with IFE, there is no information
whatsoever.

Additionally, on the pages in the specific travel needs section dealing
with children & infants, there is information regarding the services
provided including the kids packs on board, but nothing of the
entertainment services which may be available (subject to operational and
equipment requirements) is mentioned at all.

As such, I have had to call Customer Service to find this information - and
while the service agent was quite pleasant, it required her to make several
calls to source even the most basic information on this topic.

I would hope that QF seriously reconsiders the information, or specifically
the lack thereof, on their websites - and makes some prompt improvements to
help families or those traveling with children obtain better pre-flight
customer service & information from Qantas.

After all - having this information available simply helps up sell parents
and carers on the value of using Qantas when traveling with children
compared to other airlines.

And their response:

Subject: Website - Site Content/<redacted>
From: [email protected] [[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, 6 April 2010 2:50 PM
To: <redacted>

Dear Mr <redacted>

Thank you for your correspondence.

We are currently looking at making improvements to content of information
provided at qantas.com in regards to travelling with children. You have
raised some very valid points are I have passed your email on to the
relevant team for their feedback on this matter. We hope to provide a more
comprehensive and user-friendly site for those travelling with children in
the future.

Thank you for taking the time to provide detailed comments on this issue.


Regards

Dianne
Qantas Websupport

 

[Smanfer71]

Thanks everyone for your replies - I may actually get to watch my film after all!

Daughter will love being able to control her own TV in that case (and therefore avoiding kicking the seat back in front of her. )

18 days till we fly!

Edited to add: special thanks to thewinchester for the additional info and taking the time to speak to Qantas!

 

[yo yo ma]

ITNG is on there and my 3 year year old loved it!

In the Night Garden - Home

 

[11sjw]

Flew QF067 and 068 a couple of weeks ago and our 3 year old girl loved the IFE cartoons. Choices on Nick Jr and Playtime Disney were the favourites. We managed to get her to sleep for app 3 hours each way (4 seats between the 3 of us is a really good thing)so there really wasn't much grumbly time.

We even took some over the ear noise cancelling headphones for her. I don't think it helped with the sleep it just meant not having to blast the sound through the cheap Y headphones!

 

[NM]

I suggest ensuring the child is used to wearing headphones for an extended period.