Why no airline has been able to copy EK's ICE entertainment?
Jul 31, 2014, 12:24 am
#17
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: 30,000ft
Programs: EK, BA, EY, SQ, IHG, HH, SPG
Posts: 670
Why no airline has been able to copy EK's ICE entertainment?
Well not sure I agree about picture or convenience. Big screen in J and F and a380 Y not bad either. Much easier than propping up an IPAD esp when eating. Of course choices are different but agree with earlier poster about catching a movie which is a pain in Dubai as everyone uses it as a social occasion!
Jul 31, 2014, 1:21 am
#18
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: MAN DXB ✈️
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 6,831
I think it probably does come down to cost. Licensing/royalties or whatever fees they pay the media companies for the content on ICE wouldnt be cheap. I remember an interview with Tim Clark where they spoke about ICE and his comment was something like "we will continue to outspend the competition on IFE" and that EK wants to lead in this space no matter the cost. I think its personally become a big differentiator for the airline.
Jul 31, 2014, 8:53 am
#19
Join Date: Jan 2014
Programs: EK - Silver; Accor - Silver; O6 - Gold; BAEC - Silver; Flying Blue; SPG; Krisflyer
Posts: 506
EK's movies and musics which are extremely updated, is one of the less spoken perks of the airline. It even beats SQ which I have always believe to have the best.
But honestly I don't think many airlines will spend this kind of money, and if they did the ticket prices will probably go up 20%.
But honestly I don't think many airlines will spend this kind of money, and if they did the ticket prices will probably go up 20%.
Aug 3, 2014, 5:06 pm
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 408
Yes, I think cost would certainly the main issue. I see a lot of surveys comparing Singapore's IFE to EK's but frankly EK's IFE is streets ahead of any airline in the world. No airline comes anywhere close to the options that EK has for it's IFE.
Also, it's a fair observation that airlines now have wifi and you can load up your Ipad/tablet before flying. But in my experience - wifi is the most most unreliable option. What if wifi doesnt work - happens very often. Plus airlines may change the aircraft type at any time - I have no recourse then : I would certainly rely on EK's IFE to keep me entertained !!
Loading up on the ipad eliminates the need for IFE / wifi - absolutely. Again here - some airlines have no seat power outlets - or may have limited seats with it. Plus - atleast for me - need a lot to load up for a 16 hr flight.
Good IFE for me makes me forget everything [including EK's tight and cramped seats with very little legroom ]and helps to kill time amazingly well. To pay for the IFE - I guess EK needs to make it up by cramming it with more seats with less legroom !
Also, it's a fair observation that airlines now have wifi and you can load up your Ipad/tablet before flying. But in my experience - wifi is the most most unreliable option. What if wifi doesnt work - happens very often. Plus airlines may change the aircraft type at any time - I have no recourse then : I would certainly rely on EK's IFE to keep me entertained !!
Loading up on the ipad eliminates the need for IFE / wifi - absolutely. Again here - some airlines have no seat power outlets - or may have limited seats with it. Plus - atleast for me - need a lot to load up for a 16 hr flight.
Good IFE for me makes me forget everything [including EK's tight and cramped seats with very little legroom ]and helps to kill time amazingly well. To pay for the IFE - I guess EK needs to make it up by cramming it with more seats with less legroom !
Aug 12, 2014, 10:07 pm
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 1M
Posts: 31,474
Interesting article on IFE:
I asked whether this money might be better spent on reducing ticket prices -- the answer from all airlines I approached was unequivocal: "No."
We all value our Tom Hanks blockbusters and repeat showings of "The Big Bang Theory" way too much, apparently.
"On long-haul flights especially, people are sitting for upward of 10 hours. The right movies can certainly help that time go a bit faster," says Michael Freedman, inflight entertainment executive producer for Qantas, echoing the views of all the airlines I spoke with.
Big carriers often pay far more for the same movie than smaller carriers.
Cathay Pacific paid $37,500 for a license to show one 2012 movie over a period of two months.
Etihad paid $30,000 for the same movie.
Singapore Airlines paid $20,000.
China Eastern Airlines paid just $1,000.
We all value our Tom Hanks blockbusters and repeat showings of "The Big Bang Theory" way too much, apparently.
"On long-haul flights especially, people are sitting for upward of 10 hours. The right movies can certainly help that time go a bit faster," says Michael Freedman, inflight entertainment executive producer for Qantas, echoing the views of all the airlines I spoke with.
Big carriers often pay far more for the same movie than smaller carriers.
Cathay Pacific paid $37,500 for a license to show one 2012 movie over a period of two months.
Etihad paid $30,000 for the same movie.
Singapore Airlines paid $20,000.
China Eastern Airlines paid just $1,000.
Aug 13, 2014, 10:58 pm
#22
Join Date: May 2014
Programs: EK GOLD, EY GOLD, AZ GOLD, QR SILVER, SPG PLAT
Posts: 31
IFE on those aircraft is a joke.