I had to make a little mention of the crazy flight I took last week from LAS to CLE. It is NOT a complaint against CO, it's just an odd/funny thing that happened on my flight. It's "Murphys Law"- if something CAN go wrong, it WILL go wrong!

Let me preface by saying that I really love the in-flight entertainment (unless it is CO Vision) and look forward to seeing movies as I travel so often I don't usually get to see them. I was looking forward to finally seeing the film "Mad Money" with Queen Latifah and Diane Keaton. I couldn't wait to see it and was disappointed when it wasn't on my flight to or from London or on my flight to or from Houston.

Last week I flew CLE-LAS and back and was very happy to see that "PS I Love You" would be the film going out, and "Mad Money" would be on the return flight. I was so happy when they announced the film and showed the clip on the return flight. During dinner service I even asked the FA if they would be asking people to lower their shades for the film. I told her how I hadn't been able to see the film on the 1st flight due to the horrid glare, and she told me that there wouldn't be a problem with that. In fact, even before the announcement (asking people, not TELLING them to lower the shade) almost everyone in the 1st Class of the 757 had already lowered the shade. I had a perfect view of the screen and I was thrilled. (Funny how the little things mean a lot when you travel so much!) So far, so good.

So here comes the food service and I asked for a caffeinated drink as I didn't want to fall asleep and I'd had a late night with 2 hour's sleep before my flight home. I don't drink caffeine often, usually on flights longer than 4 hours if I want to remain awake. I had a soft drink before take-off and one with dinner, and then the movie started. Eagerly I was all plugged in and I did hear it at 1st, though only in 1 ear. I did the old 'turn the headphone plug around' but I still couldn't hear a thing. A 2nd headphone set proved that my seat's audio was not working.

The lady seated in front of me heard me ask for a 2nd set of headphones and heard me tell the FA that my seat's connection wasn't working. She offered to change places with me- VERY kind of her. Meanwhile the man next to me who wasn't watching the movie never offered to switch and wouldn't even look at me. Oh well, it was his seat. Actually it had been MY seat but I switched to a window a few days before so I could control the shade. My bad.

I thanked the young lady repeatedly and then settled in to watch the film. I plugged in the headset, and...nothing! I even tried my own headset and still, no noise, no music on another channel, nothing. The FA was surprised and knowing how I really wanted to see the film (and had caffeinated myself just so as I could remain awake to see it) talked to the FA in economy. There weren't any seats open but one passenger offered to switch with me, LOL! I did think about it, but sitting in a middle seat in economy for 4 hours in a cabin where very few had shut the shades, didn't appeal to me. I thanked the FAs and settled back for a long flight.

Just then, the lady across the aisle from my original seat told me she'd be happy to switch as she was probably going to sleep anyway and would like the window seat. I thanked her and she plugged in and then shook her head. HER audio wasn't working either! The FA marked down our seat numbers and wouldn't you know it, we were the only 3 seats that didn't work! So, I tried not to stare at the screen, for I WILL see the movie someday. My new seatmate apologized to me and said she would switch but she wanted to see the movie, too. I couldn't blame her! But hearing all the laughter from the many people watching the film DID get to me, just a little.

I was told that they'd have a look at the system when they got to CLE but that didn't help me. Of course, as I fly that route a lot, I will be certain to make note of any other seats that don't have a working audio system.

Isn't it just Murphy's law? I rarely care what film is on as I don't get to see them often in the theaters, but the ONE time I actually looked forward to it, the audio didn't work! And not just for me, but for the two VERY nice ladies who offered to switch with me. There are, what, about 20 seats in 1st class on a 757- somewhere around that number. But only the seats I had access to had faulty audio.

To make matters worse, the caffeine DID keep me awake, but my eyes were too tired to ready my book. I ended up pulling out my laptop and working, but my eyes couldn't help wandering to the screen, especially when people were laughing.

Now, I am flying to MKE on Wednesday, 2 small planes and no 1st Class or in-flight entertainment, so I have no hopes or worries for those flights. But the following week is a trip to Mexico from CLE, on a 737-900, if I'm not mistaken. The movie listed for that particular flight is 27 Dresses, yet another film I would be happy to see. But I won't get my hopes up- I'll buy some new DVDs, just in case.

Maybe it was all a sign! Maybe I'm not SUPPOSED to see "Mad Money". Or maybe it was just an odd technical glitch. Meanwhile, anyone know when "Mad Money" is released on DVD? How about cable? On-Demand movies at hotels? Anything?