Originally Posted by
gobluetwo
Agree with all of the above. Airlines already have feature movies and (at least in the US) television content from networks and HBO. It's only a matter of time before they contract for original content from streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime.
I really like the idea of browser- or app-based requests for things like meal/snack/drink requests. Also, they already allow for using wifi for free to access things like flight maps and the airline's website. Should be easy enough to integrate things like Uber/Lyft scheduling, checked baggage information, hotel sites, etc.
Great minds think alike. An important additional point:
IFE inconsistency forces travelers to bring along their own movies and TV shows because we simply don't trust the experience and being without them would make the flight a 7 hour nightmare.
I've been on more than a few flights where my IFE system doesn't work, I've certainly seen complaints on almost every flight I've ever been on right after the seatbelt sign goes off. "Ding" goes the flight attendant request, over she comes, there's an earfull of whining from the person who is out of luck.
Then there are blurry screens. Then there are remote controls that don't work. Then, my favorite, there are the headphone jacks that have been busted out by people shoving the wrong plugs in them.
Ah, and then of course are the different airlines and the different aircraft themselves. Brand new Airbus? Gorgeous screen and tons of media options all in digital HD. Dingy old Boeing? Tiny screen playing the one movie everyone gets off of a worn video cassette.
So even if someone designed the perfect IFE system, travelers like us would never utilize it because we don't trust it and therefore we bring our own media with us. Want to build trust? Give us a closed wi-fi network, a browser-based streaming media system, and prove its consistency on the tablets and notebooks we have on us. JetBlue does a good job with theirs.
BJ