Originally Posted by Aisle Seat H
Entertainment - NONE !
This for me was the main issue, and to my mind is quite unacceptable - found myself on two 5 hour flights that, as standard IB policy, provide no entertainment options whatsoever. No films, no audio channels, nothing. Thank god I had my iPod.
Purser/CSD told me when I enquired that this was standard policy as of a few months ago for all IB medium-haul 2 cabin flights, even though the aircraft (battered old A320s) had all the available equipment. She confirmed that both pax and staff had complained, and that it was very frustrating for her as all it would involve would be sticking a video in the machine (that she showed me the aircraft indeed had !), dropping the screens and handing out headphones, but that IB management had decided to provide no onboard entertainment whatsoever on such flights.
My personal view is that it is unnacceptable in 2006 for an airline that is a member of one of the major networks, that claims to be a full service carrier - and espec. as it will be carrying pax on board on codeshares from other alliance carriers who provide such facilities - to operate 5-6-7 hour flights with no onboard entertainment service whatsoever. They have in this regard fallen behind even many LCCs/charter operators/etc.
It is even more unnaceptable when the aircraft have the facilities, but IB on high have decided not to use them for some unknown reason.
Not even pax. in J had entertainment options (no personal DVDs etc), which is even more shocking - how dare IB sell such seats for thousands of £/Euro when you get the same seat as in Y, no film or music, and an ever-so-slightly better meal. I would be livid if I/my firm had paid for big buck to be in that cabin expecting a real J service. (BA on equiv. flight/route offer NCW seats and an F cabin).
Very surprised OW / codeshare partners have not taken issue with any of this. Really does de-value the alliance.
Where were you flying that would require a 5+ hour flight on an A320? They can't really fly that much further than that in the first place?
Sorry to break it to you, but I can't think of any A320 services on any OW carrier in Europe (BA, AY or IB) where they provide any IFE even in J (BMED is the big exception here) so not quite sure what you are comparing them with.
What you need to keep reminding yourself is that the rest of the world is not like Australia and Asia where they provide IFE services if even main screen services on regional routes.
I believe BA's regional 767s have IFE although dispite flying them even on some longer journeys (3+ hours), I have yet to experience it.