[yishanl]

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]

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/ente...

[delecti]

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]

Yeah the screens suck, but BYOD with no in-Seat USB charger sucks.

[r00fus]

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]

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.

[bitwize]

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]

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.

[akhilcacharya]

But do they provide charging ports or outlets?

[joezydeco]

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]

In seat electronics adds a couple pounds and inch or two of seat width. Either saves the airlines a lot.

[joezydeco]

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_...

[yishanl]

Hilarious.

That's why the key is not having any expectations.

[thaumasiotes]

> 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]

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]

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]

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. :)

[manacit]

You're being downvoted because you said flying is a waste of time, which is banal to the point of trolling.

[mjcohen]

It's not a waste of time if it gets you where you want/need to go.

[Gustomaximus]

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.