7 ms·

Does anyone really expect anything of airline flights anymore? At least those of us in commercial/economy class? Years ago great customer service was defined

by yishanl 11y ago

Does anyone really expect anything of airline flights anymore? At least those of us in commercial/economy class? Years ago great customer service was defined as giving someone the can and some free peanuts. Now it's touch screen "entertainment in-flight systems." Not like any of those things have made the flying experience any better. So I just pick the cheapest flights available. Sure, Wi-Fi is a plus, but the environment in economy isn't exactly ideal for work. I've primed myself to fall asleep as soon as I get into my seat before takeoff, regardless of time of flight.

joezydeco 11y ago
Now it's touch screen "entertainment in-flight systems"... Enjoy that while it lasts. United is moving to a BYOD system where you use your own phone or tablet to watch in-flight entertainment. The new cabins have removed all screens and armrest audio systems (oh yeah, and headphones too) http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/inflight/entertainment/personal-device-entertainment.aspx http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/inflight/ente...
- bitwize 11y ago
  United are cheapskates; they rank slightly above Spirit Airlines in my book. And at least I can get good games on my Android tablet. The ones on Virgin America flights are shitty SDL ports of old arcade and puzzle games with glitchy graphics.
  - ryan-c 11y ago
    Those "shitty SDL ports" are open source games written 10 to 20 years ago by one guy, for fun. Trash talking them is somewhat uncalled for.
- yishanl 11y ago
  Hilarious. That's why the key is not having any expectations.
- delecti 11y ago
  Honestly, I prefer that anyway. I've got no shortage of devices with plenty of my own media, and now I don't have to be stuck 12" from a screen I can't reliably turn off, that will be shining advertisements and redundant safety lessons in my face when I'm trying to sleep.
  - reagency 11y ago
    Yeah the screens suck, but BYOD with no in-Seat USB charger sucks.
    - r00fus 11y ago
      Just buy a 10-20Ah portable battery and you're set for mobile devices. I can weather a 10-12h flight with one of those and my iPad/iPhone. If you have a recent laptop, you should be able to weather 5-8hr for work; I seriously doubt you could get better on even an international flight.
      - delecti 11y ago
        Extra bonus is having the battery available the rest of the time. My phone's battery life isn't quite what I'd desire, so I just keep a spare ~10Ah battery in my purse. It gets used maybe once a week at most, but it's worth it for those occasions.
- akhilcacharya 11y ago
  But do they provide charging ports or outlets?
  - joezydeco 11y ago
    On some planes, mostly in the Economy Plus areas. Eventually all will have power outlets but, knowing UAL, it will be a very slow process. Your best bet is an international flight.
- peter303 11y ago
  In seat electronics adds a couple pounds and inch or two of seat width. Either saves the airlines a lot.
  - joezydeco 11y ago
    This is the new IFE box on the Boeing 737-800. It's massive. http://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/BN-HO911_0325mi_M_20150325120354.jpg http://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/BN-HO911_0325mi_M_...
thaumasiotes 11y ago
> Now it's touch screen "entertainment in-flight systems." Not like any of those things have made the flying experience any better. I couldn't disagree more. A fourteen-hour flight with in-flight movies is vastly superior to a fourteen-hour flight with the back of the seat in front of you.
- yishanl 11y ago
  Well, we've had movies on airplanes for a long time. And I agree it makes things marginally more bearable. But just because they've moved it from a shared television on the aisle/ceiling that everyone had to lean out to watch from to a little touch-screen in front of a chair hasn't really changed the fact that flying is a waste of time. And very uncomfortable.
  - thaumasiotes 11y ago
    You didn't say flying was a waste of time. You said the experience hadn't gotten any better. Those aren't related ideas.
    - yishanl 11y ago
      Uh, a bad experience is a waste of time. And I'd call these opinions, not ideas. Not sure if I agree with being downvoted but out of my hands. :)
      - mjcohen 11y ago
        It's not a waste of time if it gets you where you want/need to go.
      - manacit 11y ago
        You're being downvoted because you said flying is a waste of time, which is banal to the point of trolling.
- deleted 11y ago
  [deleted]
Gustomaximus 11y ago
Cheapest is the main variable but when it's a reasonable difference (probably under 10%) I'll choose based on flight experience expectations - planes,food, entertainment, wifi, FF program etc. Personally I wouldn't write off the customer value of these add-on segments.

by yishanl 11y ago

joezydeco 11y ago

Now it's touch screen "entertainment in-flight systems"... Enjoy that while it lasts. United is moving to a BYOD system where you use your own phone or tablet to watch in-flight entertainment. The new cabins have removed all screens and armrest audio systems (oh yeah, and headphones too) http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/inflight/entertainment/personal-device-entertainment.aspx http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/travel/inflight/ente...

bitwize 11y ago
United are cheapskates; they rank slightly above Spirit Airlines in my book. And at least I can get good games on my Android tablet. The ones on Virgin America flights are shitty SDL ports of old arcade and puzzle games with glitchy graphics.
- ryan-c 11y ago
  Those "shitty SDL ports" are open source games written 10 to 20 years ago by one guy, for fun. Trash talking them is somewhat uncalled for.
yishanl 11y ago
Hilarious. That's why the key is not having any expectations.
delecti 11y ago
Honestly, I prefer that anyway. I've got no shortage of devices with plenty of my own media, and now I don't have to be stuck 12" from a screen I can't reliably turn off, that will be shining advertisements and redundant safety lessons in my face when I'm trying to sleep.
- reagency 11y ago
  Yeah the screens suck, but BYOD with no in-Seat USB charger sucks.
  - r00fus 11y ago
    Just buy a 10-20Ah portable battery and you're set for mobile devices. I can weather a 10-12h flight with one of those and my iPad/iPhone. If you have a recent laptop, you should be able to weather 5-8hr for work; I seriously doubt you could get better on even an international flight.
    - delecti 11y ago
      Extra bonus is having the battery available the rest of the time. My phone's battery life isn't quite what I'd desire, so I just keep a spare ~10Ah battery in my purse. It gets used maybe once a week at most, but it's worth it for those occasions.
akhilcacharya 11y ago
But do they provide charging ports or outlets?
- joezydeco 11y ago
  On some planes, mostly in the Economy Plus areas. Eventually all will have power outlets but, knowing UAL, it will be a very slow process. Your best bet is an international flight.
peter303 11y ago
In seat electronics adds a couple pounds and inch or two of seat width. Either saves the airlines a lot.
- joezydeco 11y ago
  This is the new IFE box on the Boeing 737-800. It's massive. http://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/BN-HO911_0325mi_M_20150325120354.jpg http://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/BN-HO911_0325mi_M_...

thaumasiotes 11y ago

> Now it's touch screen "entertainment in-flight systems." Not like any of those things have made the flying experience any better. I couldn't disagree more. A fourteen-hour flight with in-flight movies is vastly superior to a fourteen-hour flight with the back of the seat in front of you.

yishanl 11y ago
Well, we've had movies on airplanes for a long time. And I agree it makes things marginally more bearable. But just because they've moved it from a shared television on the aisle/ceiling that everyone had to lean out to watch from to a little touch-screen in front of a chair hasn't really changed the fact that flying is a waste of time. And very uncomfortable.
- thaumasiotes 11y ago
  You didn't say flying was a waste of time. You said the experience hadn't gotten any better. Those aren't related ideas.
  - yishanl 11y ago
    Uh, a bad experience is a waste of time. And I'd call these opinions, not ideas. Not sure if I agree with being downvoted but out of my hands. :)
    - mjcohen 11y ago
      It's not a waste of time if it gets you where you want/need to go.
    - manacit 11y ago
      You're being downvoted because you said flying is a waste of time, which is banal to the point of trolling.
deleted 11y ago
[deleted]

Gustomaximus 11y ago

Cheapest is the main variable but when it's a reasonable difference (probably under 10%) I'll choose based on flight experience expectations - planes,food, entertainment, wifi, FF program etc. Personally I wouldn't write off the customer value of these add-on segments.