In-Flight Entertainment: Yay or Nay?

For many travellers, long-haul flights are a welcome opportunity to catch up on the latest new-release movies. But a surprisingly large number of travellers say that they rarely or never use the in-flight entertainment.

One member recently flew to Europe and back. Despite spending almost two days in the air, they did not use the in-flight entertainment other than to check the flight map. Instead, they passed the time by soaking up the experience. They enjoyed the food and drinks, caught up on some sleep, looked out the window and pondered the many mysteries of the universe. Meanwhile, this member’s wife happily binge-watched an entire TV series.

It seems that the in-flight entertainment is similarly lost on many frequent flyers. Some members only use it to view the flight map or listen to music. Others bring their own entertainment in the form of a book or newspaper.

But many of our members do use the in-flight entertainment. In fact, some say they couldn’t live without it. One member plans which movies they’re going to watch well in advance! Another member says that they enjoy the in-flight entertainment on international airlines as it often includes movies they don’t normally get to see. This includes things like Bollywood and other foreign language films. For others, watching movies is simply a pleasant way to pass the time on a long flight.

Some airlines, such as Emirates, use their in-flight entertainment systems as a point of difference. Others, such as American Airlines, see it as an unnecessary cost and have stopped installing seat-back TV screens on new aircraft.

Do you use the in-flight entertainment? Join the discussion HERE.

The editor of Australian Frequent Flyer, Matt's passion for travel has taken him to over 70 countries… with the help of frequent flyer points, of course!
Matt's favourite destinations (so far) are Germany, Brazil & Kazakhstan. His interests include economics, aviation & foreign languages, and he has a soft spot for good food and red wine.

You can connect with Matt by posting on the Australian Frequent Flyer community forum and tagging @AFF Editor.
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