US Appears to be finally starting the new IFE test

[LCC_#1]

I have a question. Now I was told (I can't remember who said this). Is it true that the powerports were turned off because the IFE on the airbuses was turned off? Are they on the same circuit? If that is true does that mean they powerports will be turned back on if IFE is installed?

I hope someone can set the record straight.

T

YES! The power ports were part of the IFE system on the East airbuses. Since the IFE was disconnected and removed, so goes the power port...power!

 

[UPNAWAY]

Piney to your concern from what I heard US is snot paying for this sytem. The Winning company will install and operate, I assume US will get a %.

 

[nycbusdriver]

Piney to your concern from what I heard US is snot paying for this sytem. The Winning company will install and operate, I assume US will get a %.

From a financial standpoint, having the systems provided and installed free of charge by Lumexis (if that is indeed the agreement) would be the way to go with USAirways getting a cut of the revenue and maybe some rent for the "space" in our airplanes.

The factor alluded to by 1Conehead is a bit more troublesome. If these units indeed start going Tango Uniform in short order, it will simply be yet another stain on USAirways' already shakey customer service reputation. Passengers who get seated with inop units, or worse having their units break AFTER they've swiped their credit card, will not understand when the F/A tells them it's not USAirways fault, but some nebulous company called Lumexis. All they will remember is what a lousy system USAirways has on their airplanes.

 

[aredeeyou22]

From a financial standpoint, having the systems provided and installed free of charge by Lumexis (if that is indeed the agreement) would be the way to go with USAirways getting a cut of the revenue and maybe some rent for the "space" in our airplanes.

The factor alluded to by 1Conehead is a bit more troublesome. If these units indeed start going Tango Uniform in short order, it will simply be yet another stain on USAirways' already shakey customer service reputation. Passengers who get seated with inop units, or worse having their units break AFTER they've swiped their credit card, will not understand when the F/A tells them it's not USAirways fault, but some nebulous company called Lumexis. All they will remember is what a lousy system USAirways has on their airplanes.

...Which is the reason for the "test" aircraft that will be flying around for a few months.....

 

[nycbusdriver]

...Which is the reason for the "test" aircraft that will be flying around for a few months.....

There's a big difference in one test aircraft which will see Lumexis technicians every day (due to its routing), vs. a fleet of several hundred running around with broken systems that may not be fixed for weeks.

 

[aredeeyou22]

There's a big difference in one test aircraft which will see Lumexis technicians every day (due to its routing), vs. a fleet of several hundred running around with broken systems that may not be fixed for weeks.

The test, as I understand it, is to see how the system holds up. If it breaks continuously, it won't be implemented. Simple. I doubt that the technicians will just "fix it" and pretend all is well, and install it in hundreds of aircraft. 🙄

 

[UPNAWAY]

They are testing two competing systems.

 

[SS255]

But the test aircraft will enable US and Lumexis to identify the bugs and fix them.

I don't know why everybody is so quick to attack US on being the test customer for a new IFE system. There are numerous startup IFE system manufacturers, and every single one of them needs a test customer to get their system up and running. This is not a unique phenomenon.

I think that both US and Lumexis are approaching this correctly. Where I fault US is that they removed the existing IFE systems before having a definitive plan in place for a replacement. That was a very short-sighted decision, and one which I believe is costing them far more in lost ticket sales than the costs of the extra fuel and license fees.

 

[N965VJ]

Well, to be fair RunwayGirl seems to be impressed with Lumexis on her blog.

<SNIP> Piney to your concern from what I heard US is snot paying for this sytem.

LOLZ

 

[aredeeyou22]

But the test aircraft will enable US and Lumexis to identify the bugs and fix them.

I don't know why everybody is so quick to attack US on being the test customer for a new IFE system. There are numerous startup IFE system manufacturers, and every single one of them needs a test customer to get their system up and running. This is not a unique phenomenon.

I think that both US and Lumexis are approaching this correctly. Where I fault US is that they removed the existing IFE systems before having a definitive plan in place for a replacement. That was a very short-sighted decision, and one which I believe is costing them far more in lost ticket sales than the costs of the extra fuel and license fees.

Just wondering:

Do you have proof that people are booking away from US, simply because of no IFE onboard?

Do AA and NW suffer the same problems, since they have limited (AA) and no (NW) IFE within the USA? What do their "lost ticket sales" look like?

What about CO being short- sighted by delivering new 737's without IFE for the time being? Sure, it's only a few aircraft, but was it short- sighted, or is it excusable? They must be experiencing decreased ticket sales?

Is jetBlue experiencing significantly higher ticket sales/ prices than all of the other majors, because of their extensive IFE system?

I think both Lumexis and US will study this system/ test aircraft closely, and if they conclude that the "inop" problems systemwide will outweigh the benefits, they will not choose to implement the system.

 

[N965VJ]

<SNIP> Do you have proof that people are booking away from US, simply because of no IFE onboard?

Tempe has provided a wide variety of reasons for high-yield customers to book away. Just choose your poison!

 

[PHL]

YES! The power ports were part of the IFE system on the East airbuses. Since the IFE was disconnected and removed, so goes the power port...power!

This is the first time I heard this reason for no in-seat power. Are you saying there was just no way to turn off IFE without disabling the seat powerports? Why even disconnect or turn off the circuit?? Why not just stop loading the 8mm tapes and remove the players (which I guess they did to save weight).

The link posted a few months back referred to an internal employee Q&A where an exec made a comment to the effect of "only about 7 people can use it per flight".... and something about it not being a customer priority. I'm paraphrasing from memory, but I never read that anyone said it was because you couldn't disable IFE without disabling in-seat power.....

Tempe - get a clue and just turn on those power ports. I can't think of a single, rational reason for disabling them on airplanes that have them in perfectly working condition.

 

[SS255]

Just wondering:

Do you have proof that people are booking away from US, simply because of no IFE onboard?

Do AA and NW suffer the same problems, since they have limited (AA) and no (NW) IFE within the USA? What do their "lost ticket sales" look like?

What about CO being short- sighted by delivering new 737's without IFE for the time being? Sure, it's only a few aircraft, but was it short- sighted, or is it excusable? They must be experiencing decreased ticket sales?

Is jetBlue experiencing significantly higher ticket sales/ prices than all of the other majors, because of their extensive IFE system?

There is no way to prove that somebody books away from US, or why, but perhaps Customer Relations can produce correspondence from disappointed customers that they will "no longer fly US" because they removed their IFE systems. And I do know that three separate non-frequent flyers have told me, without knowing that I fly US, and without any provocation from me whatsoever, that they think US is awful because there is no IFE on transcons anymore, and you have to pay for non-alcoholic beverages. Do I think that the lack of IFE by itself causes people to book away? Probably not for most people. But when you add up all of the other factors....there are compelling reasons to fly another airline.

I don't think that AA and NW make fair comparisons. NW does not fly transcons (and they do have IFE on their international routes), and AA does provide IFE on their transcons. There is a customer expectation level of having IFE available on 5 hour flights. AA's got it, and NW doesn't have 5-hour domestic flights, so the point which you are trying to make is like comparing apples to oranges. And neither AA or NW removed existing IFE systems from their aircraft.

I agree that CO made a shortsighted move by delivering some 737's without IFE. I have yet to fly on a transcon CO 737 without IFE, so my hope is that at least they are using these non-IFE-equipped aircraft for short- to medium-hauls, where there is less of an expectation level.

And I absolutely believe that jetBlue does enjoy higher ticket sales because of their IFE system. LiveTV is a fundamental component of jetBlue's brand identity.

 

[aredeeyou22]

There is no way to prove that somebody books away from US, or why, but perhaps Customer Relations can produce correspondence from disappointed customers that they will "no longer fly US" because they removed their IFE systems. And I do know that three separate non-frequent flyers have told me, without knowing that I fly US, and without any provocation from me whatsoever, that they think US is awful because there is no IFE on transcons anymore, and you have to pay for non-alcoholic beverages. Do I think that the lack of IFE by itself causes people to book away? Probably not for most people. But when you add up all of the other factors....there are compelling reasons to fly another airline.

Again, all opinions. I am looking for concrete proof that people have been booking away from US because of the IFE issue only. I am not saying they don't, just looking for proof.

I don't think that AA and NW make fair comparisons.

Seriously? Aren't these full service airlines?

AA flight 545, a M83 from DFW to SEA, is blocked at 4+25. NW, flight 275 from DTW to SAN is blocked at 5+00. Sounds pretty darn close to a transcon to me, with *ZERO* IFE. None. Are people booking away, and are AA and NW seeing decreased loads/ revenues from these, and similar trips where, say JB or DL offer a nice IFE product?

And neither AA or NW removed existing IFE systems from their aircraft.

NW used to offer IFE domestically. They were either removed or disabled. And even if they didn't, they had aircraft flying 4+ hour flights delivered sans IFE. How is that different from US?

I agree that CO made a shortsighted move by delivering some 737's without IFE.

Thank you. You would think they would have planned ahead, just like US should have....

And I absolutely believe that jetBlue does enjoy higher ticket sales because of their IFE system. LiveTV is a fundamental component of jetBlue's brand identity.

Opinion. Please show where JB is enjoying a revenue premium over other legacies and LCC's (WN for example) because of their exemplary IFE.

Don't get me wrong, I think it's ridiculous that US had perfectly good equipment onboard, and decided to disable it (ala NW years ago...). Just wondering about some numbers here....

 

[aredeeyou22]

Tempe has provided a wide variety of reasons for high-yield customers to book away. Just choose your poison!

Agreed, but this is in regards to the removal of IFE, and how people say it is "not competitive" with the rest of the industry, which is not entirely true.