What's up with onboard entertainment on HA?
Nov 19, 2015, 11:42 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 188
What's up with onboard entertainment on HA?
I used to enjoy boarding my HA flights--'not only 'cause we were heading to Hawai'i, one of my favorite destinations--but because the "getting there" (yes, even in Coach seating) was enjoyable, too. On cross-ocean flights there were music channels to choose from (at least two were Hawaiian-style) and "free" HA programming (destination-focused, music/hula videos) plus a featured general movie.
Has HA changed their perspective on this "in flight" entertainment? The offerings on the last two flights I took (November, 2015) were *seriously* lacking and I'm wondering if others have noticed the same thing:
--Flight 1 (SMF to HNL): No audio available whatsoever on the in-seat plugs. No one in any seats around me had it available. No video, other than the safety video pre-flight. No general movie.
--Flight 2 (HNL to SMF): The only video was good (music videos, water sport adventures) but it was repeated *three* times throughout the flight. No general movie.
Prior to both flights, gate announcements hawked the iPad rentals in-flight with the warning that, "this is the only entertainment that will be available." Maybe the few dollars that they get from the short iPad rentals (not entire flight) is what HA is shooting for?
Count me as disappointed in HA. And, yes, I understand most of you reading FT are first class/business pax so it really doesn't affect your flight enjoyment... I just miss my soothing audio/video start to my Hawaiian vacations--and the gentle re-entry as I fly back home.
Has HA changed their perspective on this "in flight" entertainment? The offerings on the last two flights I took (November, 2015) were *seriously* lacking and I'm wondering if others have noticed the same thing:
--Flight 1 (SMF to HNL): No audio available whatsoever on the in-seat plugs. No one in any seats around me had it available. No video, other than the safety video pre-flight. No general movie.
--Flight 2 (HNL to SMF): The only video was good (music videos, water sport adventures) but it was repeated *three* times throughout the flight. No general movie.
Prior to both flights, gate announcements hawked the iPad rentals in-flight with the warning that, "this is the only entertainment that will be available." Maybe the few dollars that they get from the short iPad rentals (not entire flight) is what HA is shooting for?
Count me as disappointed in HA. And, yes, I understand most of you reading FT are first class/business pax so it really doesn't affect your flight enjoyment... I just miss my soothing audio/video start to my Hawaiian vacations--and the gentle re-entry as I fly back home.
Nov 23, 2015, 9:50 am
#2
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 479
They use an older 767 for the SMF-HNL flights, with limited entertainment. The new A330's used on most of their other routes have many more options and have screens on all the setbacks. It sounds like the system may have been broken on your flight out, though I agree it's lame they didn't play an actual movie on the way back when it was working. The 767's are being phased out over the next few years, so soon it will be a non-issue.
Dec 16, 2015, 4:55 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: HH Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 10,458
They use an older 767 for the SMF-HNL flights, with limited entertainment. The new A330's used on most of their other routes have many more options and have screens on all the setbacks. It sounds like the system may have been broken on your flight out, though I agree it's lame they didn't play an actual movie on the way back when it was working. The 767's are being phased out over the next few years, so soon it will be a non-issue.
Dec 17, 2015, 1:39 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Boston, MA USA
Programs: TrueBlue/Hawaiian Miles
Posts: 349
You'll probably be in the lucky group that gets to ride one of the brand new A321neo's if you're on a 76 now! Those will have streaming service right to your own device!