One knows one is getting old when one has seen whole waves of tech come and go. Big cabin movie screens, monitors in the aisle space, flip down screen, seat-back screens, and, now …
'The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports that new American Airlines planes expected to go into service this year will come sans seatback TVs. The four new Boeing 737 MAX planes, which will be used for domestic travel, are a sign of the times for airlines. American said in a memo to employees that nearly 90% of its passengers bring a device or screen with them when they fly.'
So if you're the type that brings a tablet (or doesn't mind watching a movie on your phone), this is fine for you. And because American says folk can stream movies via WiFi to their devices for free (some wireless saturation may apply), it's not like you're stuck with just the movies you downloaded. Assuming you can download movies.
I can see this as a cost saver for the airlines (who won't charge us less, of course), but it's net an inconvenience for folk who aren't already doing this. Not only does it require you to now find a place for your tablet while you watch a film (a challenge, especially during meals or when the guy in front of you reclines 30 seconds after takeoff and doesn't sit up until 30 seconds before landing), but most steerage class cabins don't have power, which means either movie interruptus or arriving at your destination with a low charge on your (presumably important) tablet.
Also, you kids get off my lawn.
I guess we'll see how this works out, as I doubt we'll have any choice.
American Airlines Ditching Seatback TVs In Some New Planes. Will They Be Missed?
Not that long ago, “in-flight entertainment” consisted of having to crane your neck to watch a bland, inoffensive movie on shared screens — and that’s assuming your headphon…
So it took them this long to figure out what Southwest did years ago.
I won't miss them. I'm not interested in the TV sitcom, chick flick mush they shovel anyway. I have my laptop, tablet, phone… imagination.
On short haul flights I don't often use them (esp. if there's a charge), but for longer ones it's nice having a screen that I don't have to worry about the power for, or where to set it while eating my meal.
Seemed like a massive waste from the start (most of the screens are tiny and low quality (highly durable I'm sure). Just give me a tablet mount, ac outlet, and a network connection 🙂
+Dave Hill Considering this is just for the 737 MAX, that is at most just going to domestic flights, no more than 6 hours coast to coast.
Sorry guys most of my flights are coast to coast, that's 4.5 hrs plus. I don't want to do them bring out my laptop. Look at Delta that are outfitting them on all planes and it's free. I have flown AA and the products is inconsistent crappy us airways plane with slow gogo wifi, The the new AA planes with IFE that is decent but make the whole fleet the same. Also delta profit last year was 6B and aa was 3.2B. Delta is reminding me of Pan Am true class airline.
+Stan Pedzick That's too long for most laptop or tablet batteries (at the outer edges — but even for a 3 hour flight, who wants to get there with 1/4 battery?).
So, yeah, if they provided AC power at all seats, that would help.
But all that said, when will the same assumptions be made for long haul / trans-oceanic flights?
Does that mean I get back the foot room taken up by the entertainment center?
The best use of those is Virgin America's ordering system, which replaces of aisle carts with order on demand.
+Kee Hinckley I tend to find it's power systems that take up more foot room than entertainment systems. But if the latter then, presumably, yes.
+Dave Hill I'm not entirely sure what they are, but they started showing up a few years ago with one for every three seats, and they meant that my laptop bg no longer fit under that seat. I've never found a way of predicting which seat the plane has them under.
A quick Google says that, as you suggested, they are part of the entertainment system (from some vendors). And, yes, they are a major pain.