http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article...348342,00.html
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The Sunday Times - Travel
The Sunday Times September 10, 2006
In-flight fight club
It's the new battleground of the skies - in-flight entertainment. Who's got the best system, asks Richard Green
British Airways is beefing up its in-flight entertainment (IFE) as it joins the race to win passengers’ hearts and minds at 39,000ft. Over the next two years, every aircraft in its long-haul fleet will offer “on demand” multichannel programming, with 100 movies and television programmes, as well as hours of games.
BA isn’t alone. At least four other airlines are improving their service, and IFE now varies wildly depending on your flight choice. Pick the right airline and you’ll be gripped by Mission: Impossible III while your partner weeps over Dr Zhivago, your teenage son plays Nintendo against a girl he’s never met and your hothousing six-year-old daughter learns Mandarin. Your individual seat-back screens will have stop, start and pause controls so you can break for a meal, the lavatory or a row, then carry on where you left off. Choose the wrong carrier, though, and you could be straining to see a movie on a tiny ceiling-mounted screen 16ft away.
Luckily, the airlines are investing fast, particularly with the recent clampdown on hand baggage making us more dependent on them for the provision of entertainment. Not all have decent IFE systems — and many that do, like BA, are in the introductory phase. It’s all change.
So here’s our essential guide to who offers what, with information based on economy flights.
BRITISH AIRWAYS
Screen size: 6.4in (unchanged by the improved service).
Number of channels: the new service will offer 100 films (blockbusters, classics, kids) and television programmes. Currently, there are 18 video channels, showing films, TV and documentaries on a loop. The new service will also provide access to 70 CDs — you can compile your own list — as well as radio channels and audio books. At the moment, 16 audio channels are available, with no option to customise.
Is it on demand? The new system will be, but not yet — except on two 767s.
Any extras? Twenty games (on the new system).
Marks out of 10: 4 (present service) and 8 (new service, by mid-2008)
EMIRATES
Screen size: 9in.
Number of channels: 45 films, including new releases, classics, Disney and world cinema, as well as TV comedy, sport, drama, music videos, children’s TV and “world TV”. Audio channels offer more than 6,000 titles, including radio programmes and CDs, with every UK No 1 since 1952, recent releases, “essential albums”, classical, opera, musicals, comedy, audio, world music, books and health and relaxation.
Is it on demand? Yes, on 40% of the Emirates fleet, so check when you book.
Any extras? More than 40 interactive games, from classic arcade action to multiplayer trivia; live news and BBC business and sports headlines updated throughout the flight. Emirates also offers an “air show” moving map, with external-view cameras, and a guide to Dubai. You can send e-mails and SMS messages, and, on the airline’s eight A340-500 aircraft, connect to external e-mail accounts using your laptop.
Marks out of 10: 10
SINGAPORE AIRLINES
Screen size: 6in.
Number of channels: 80 films, including new releases, action, adventure, comedy, drama, musical, thrillers, international cinema and nine children’s movies. There are also more than 100 TV programmes, 180 CDs, and 12 radio channels.
Is it on demand? Yes.
Any extras? Internet access via your laptop (on some flights); flight-path map system; and 78 interactive games, including a range of Nintendo titles, Asteroids, Cyber Clash and digital versions of popular board games.
Marks out of 10: 9
VIRGIN ATLANTIC
Screen size: 9in.
Number of channels: more than 110 hours of movies and 95 hours of TV programmes.
Is it on demand? Yes, on the majority of aircraft.
Any extras? Single and multiplayer games, including Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and sudoku; SMS messages and e-mail; talking books; exclusive Linguaphone language courses in Spanish and Japanese; parental control for those with young children; interactive map and mini destination guides.
Marks out of 10: 9
QATAR AIRWAYS
Screen size: 9in.
Number of channels: 40 film channels and 36 short programmes.
Is it on demand? Yes, but only on new aircraft, so ask when you book.
Any extras? Video games, SMS messages and “bird’s-eye view” satellite pictures of the towns and cities below. Qatar Airways is the first Middle Eastern airline to have live digital satellite TV, including BBC World, CNN and the Disney Channel (currently only on A330 aircraft).
Marks out of 10: 9
QANTAS
Screen size: 6.4in.
Number of channels: 30 films and 120 TV programmes, as well as destination guides, 20 radio channels and 120 CDs.
Is it on demand? Yes. It is currently being introduced across the fleet; the roll-out is scheduled for completion by January 2007.
Any extras? Ten games. You can also create your own playlist with the new audio jukebox.
Marks out of 10: 7
AIR NEW ZEALAND
Screen size: 8.4in.
Number of channels: more than 50 films, 55 TV programmes, 15 exclusive music channels and a selection of complete CDs.
Is it on demand? Yes.
Any extras? A dedicated New Zealand section with films, TV programmes, documentaries, music and information; 15 games; a children’s section, with movies, games, stories, info and the airline’s own cartoon characters Buzz and Poppy; a wide range of destination information and a map system.
Marks out of 10: 7
BMI
Screen size: 6in.
Number of channels: 11 movie channels, 9 TV channels and 16 audio channels.
Is it on demand? No. There’s a selection of channels on a loop.
Extras? More than 30 Nintendo and PC games; two external aircraft cameras and moving map; destination guide films.
Marks out of 10: 5
CATHAY PACIFIC
Screen size: 6in.
Number of channels: more than 20 TV and movie channels, including box-office hits, art-house and independent movies, children’s films, Disney, “Asia on film”, Discovery, news and sport. There are more than 25 audio channels, including classical, pop, rock and dance.
Is it on demand? No. There’s a selection of channels on a loop.
Any extras? Games include Battleship, Magma Zone, Mario and Pokemon.
Marks out of 10: 5
AMERICAN AIRLINES
Screen size: 9in.
Number of channels: Seat-back videos only on Boeing 777s, with a selection of blockbuster films and TV programmes, including the Cartoon Network, Disney and the BBC, as well as 14 audio channels.
Is it on demand? No, on a loop.
Any extras? No.
Marks out of 10: 4