well, I guess I was just unlucky then to have a bad experience! But that is the experience I had. I don't have unrealistic expectations, all I want from a good airline is that the entertainment system works properly (mine was broken - the earphone contacts were not working properly and the system would reboot every now and then), that I can have decent food and some decent drink options (not "all we have is Budweiser")..is that too much to ask from a airline rated 5 star?

My best experience has been on Emirates LHR-DXB, and this was in 2006, superb service, state of the art on demand entertainment system etc. I was at least expecting a match to that.