Quick POLL

[BuffaloJoe]

Here is a Clip of the NEW US AIRWAYS IFE.
US Airways New IFE

 

[FlyDCJets]

The new aircraft arriving in July will not have Power Outlets or IFE. The new IFE AVOID System tested in the spring, will configured on the new aircraft, at a later date.
Regards
DC

 

[rjh]

Why "options"? Why not include all in some manner?

Why can't I pick all three. A forward thinking airline would have all three for the different needs of different passengers.

It's called Virgin America 🙂

 

[SS255]

The new aircraft arriving in July will not have Power Outlets or IFE. The new IFE AVOID System tested in the spring, will configured on the new aircraft, at a later date.
Regards
DC

Why would they take delivery on new aircraft without IFE....and then retro-fit? That doesn't make any sense.

 

[YVINTERN]

SS, it's Tempe...high cost of cheap...

 

[PHL]

I never understand why regular travelers have these huge workstation sized laptops. My 13" Macbook gives me about 3.5-4 hours of battery time to watch movies (DVD's ripped to my HD). If I'm doing basic work, I get more. I see the guy in the seat next to me with his 15-17" laptop and his battery is dead before we level off at FL350.

That being said, power is important to a lot of people these days. But if internet is tied for importance, it needs to be an unrestricted connection that I can use to connect to my corporate VPN, run apps that rely on internet connectivity, etc. I'd be annoyed if I were constrained to just limited functionality.

But if Boeing/Connexion couldn't make it work with a few airlines a couple years back, what makes people think it will work this time around?

 

[BuffaloJoe]

I never understand why regular travelers have these huge workstation sized laptops. My 13" Macbook gives me about 3.5-4 hours of battery time to watch movies (DVD's ripped to my HD). If I'm doing basic work, I get more. I see the guy in the seat next to me with his 15-17" laptop and his battery is dead before we level off at FL350.

That being said, power is important to a lot of people these days. But if internet is tied for importance, it needs to be an unrestricted connection that I can use to connect to my corporate VPN, run apps that rely on internet connectivity, etc. I'd be annoyed if I were constrained to just limited functionality.

But if Boeing/Connexion couldn't make it work with a few airlines a couple years back, what makes people think it will work this time around?

When I got my first Laptop/Notebook, I forgot to change the settings on it at first. I usually keep it plugged in, but on the first few trips I took it with me and actually used on board, I wondered why I didn't have that much of battery life. Then I played around in the control panel one day and I saw settings for power management. Dummy me, never looked for something so obvious. I had desktops for years and I never used a notebook till about 5 years ago. I have different settings for what I am doing, and on most flights, It is usually just watching DVD's, so I don't even have to power up the PC completely. I havea 15.4" Toshiba and it last me most of my flights to the West Coast. I had it running on Full Power when I first got it and that drained it fast, also learned of the Toshiba that I can watch DVD's without powering up the system. I find wonders when I read the instruction manual.

 

[SS255]

Well, the battery on my Sony Vaio has now been charged so many times that it will no longer hold a charge. I put in for a replacement battery, and what they gave me does not properly fit the laptop! So I asked my IT department for a replacement of the same battery model, and they claimed they don't make those batteries anymore. So this is one instance where (until I resolve this issue with my IT department) an actual power outlet would be most appreciated!

 

[BuffaloJoe]

Well, the battery on my Sony Vaio has now been charged so many times that it will no longer hold a charge. I put in for a replacement battery, and what they gave me does not properly fit the laptop! So I asked my IT department for a replacement of the same battery model, and they claimed they don't make those batteries anymore. So this is one instance where (until I resolve this issue with my IT department) an actual power outlet would be most appreciated!

See Post #16 for not wanting IFE! .
I don't blame no one if they don't want IFE after that.

Myself personally would rather have in-flight Wi-Fi. I was on a UA last Month that had a ground hold in LAX to ORD for almost 3 hours. We sat in the plane and I luckily had a versions of Desktop Timetables loaded, I talked to the FA and she went and talked with the captain to see if we could return to gate. I had several options that would have gotten me into EWR alot faster. Even with UA. The Captain came over the intercom and said that the delay could be released and we would have to be ready to go. I understand that and respect that since he did acknowledge us connecting passengers that would have had other options. We could have went back to the gate and we could of had a window for take off that would have been missed. I have been on several ORD flights and I know that they get released quicker at times. This time wasn't the case. Luckily I had the full 3 seats in the Center to myself (763). We departed and arrived in ORD about 2 1/4 hours behind schedule, and luckily my flight that I was scheduled to connect to was just about 3 gates down and was late also. I just seem to get lucky as all can be going thru ORD.
I hate the hassle of going thru security with my laptop, but on flights like these it makes time go by fast.

 

[IluvLOA93]

Management has been talking IFE for years. I'll beleive it when I see it.

 

[N965VJ]

I’m getting around four hours of battery time on my 10 month old IBM Lenovo T60p. One nice thing about this machine is a small switch to turn off the WiFi and Bluetooth when not needed, which for me is most of the time since I have an EVDO card for my internet access. Every now and then I’m in a hotel that’s in a 1X/RTT area so I’ll use the hotel’s WiFI instead.

I know the idea of having the ability to use cellphones onboard is widely derided, but a cellular signal would give me my internet.

 

[EMBFA]

The new aircraft arriving in July will not have Power Outlets or IFE. The new IFE AVOID System tested in the spring, will configured on the new aircraft, at a later date.
Regards
DC

Oh big shock. I wouldn't be surprised if they were delivered without toilets or overhead bins. How stupid but unsurprising to have new a/c delivered without it. If they were serious about it, they'd be testing it now, in anticipation of having new deliveries already equipped. What's the hold-up? Wait ten years until today's technology is outdated and therefore cheap?

What about the A330s? Are they going to be delivered with no IFE?

I think you mean AVOD, but avoid is probably what the customers will do if it's an antiquated system and they are asked to pay for it.

On a 321 transcon we sell maybe four or five headsets. The rest sneer at us and ask if we are seriously charging $5 for a headset, and remind us how on other carriers theres a complimentary headset in the seat when they board. On transatlantic they are even more appalled.

No ones holding their breath for this place to introduce IFE. Until then here are some ways to keep yourself 'entertained' during your US Airways flight.

- Examine the lice on the head of the pax in front of you. This will be easy when they recline.

- Mess with a pax three rows ahead of you by flashing what was designed to be your call light, but is now over their head.

- Place bets on what row meals will run out at.

- Sit in the aisle seat under the video player, examine crewmember's crotch up close.

- Memorize the trivia and impress your next seatmate with your knowlege of useless crap.

- Learn about partial unemployment, communal living, and workers comp by eavesdropping on F/As.

- Engage a F/A in conversation, use later in lecture about mismanagement and morale.

- Ask a F/A for a copy of internal communications, amuse self finding misspellings and innapropriate verbage. Hey Mon!

- Make bracelet out of pretzels and a stir stick (if available).

- Try to figure out who works there and who is just in from a jog.

- Ask for a hot towel, or a 'glass' of wine.

- Engage an obvious air marshall in conversation, poke holes in flimsy story.

- Perform inflight exercise suggested in US Airways Magazine.

- Count words in magazine not selling you something.

- Attempt to sell a credit card to the F/As with a lengthy speech. If no luck, return later and try again.

- Fashion blanket into head scarf (if available).

- Fashion pillow cover into dapper pocket square or makeshift veil (if available).

- Read pen marks on seat in from of you.

- Make pen marks on seat in front of you.

 

[N965VJ]

No full-blown internet yet, but CO is adding LiveTV with email:

Continental Airlines to Offer Live Television and E-Mail on Domestic Flights
Tuesday January 29

Service includes 36 channels of live television programming provided by DIRECTV® and onboard Wi-Fi services including inflight wireless connectivity for e-mail and instant messaging

HOUSTON, Jan. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Continental Airlines today announced that it has entered into an agreement with LiveTV, L.L.C. (LiveTV) that will allow Continental to offer 36 channels of live, inflight satellite-based television programming provided by DIRECTV®, the nation's leading satellite television provider, at every seat on Continental's new generation aircraft. The service is expected to be available to customers on flights operating within the continental United States beginning in January 2009.

Link to rest of story