"Entertainment in the Palm of Your Hand"
Jan 25, 2005, 11:09 am
#16
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Programs: My opinions are not those of AA or any affiliates of AMR Corp.
Posts: 2,096
The test routes
The test routes were as follows:
ORD-LAX-ORD
DFW-SEA-DFW
FLL-LAX-FLL
DFW-LGA-DFW
LGA-MIA-LGA
When it will actually come on line, and what the actual routes are, I'm sure you guys here at Flyer Talk will know before we do.
no visible ports are on the device (minus the headphones) so good luck in hacking!
ORD-LAX-ORD
DFW-SEA-DFW
FLL-LAX-FLL
DFW-LGA-DFW
LGA-MIA-LGA
When it will actually come on line, and what the actual routes are, I'm sure you guys here at Flyer Talk will know before we do.
no visible ports are on the device (minus the headphones) so good luck in hacking!
Jan 25, 2005, 12:00 pm
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: AA EXP/Marriott Plat/Hertz PC
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That was a scary thread title. I thought that they'd found a reason to remove blankets in-flight.
Jan 25, 2005, 12:07 pm
#18
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA Gold, Amex Plat
Posts: 4,007
How does the device authorize a credit card from 35,000 feet? Does it send out some sort of radio signal?
If it can't determine whether a card is valid while in flight, passengers can use cancelled or maxed-out cards to get their IFE for free on AA. (Not that I'm advocating this).
If it can't determine whether a card is valid while in flight, passengers can use cancelled or maxed-out cards to get their IFE for free on AA. (Not that I'm advocating this).
Jan 25, 2005, 12:20 pm
#19
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP 1MM, DL PM, Bonvoy Titanium (Plat Life), HH G, Amtrak, B6, MR
Posts: 1,548
Originally Posted by SNA_Flyer
I bring my own entertainment. Can I swipe my credit card and have a hot meal and an attentive FA instead? 
I bring my ThinkPad, Juice and a bunch of DVDs.... works great.
Jan 25, 2005, 2:50 pm
#20
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Programs: My opinions are not those of AA or any affiliates of AMR Corp.
Posts: 2,096
Originally Posted by wahooflyer
How does the device authorize a credit card from 35,000 feet? Does it send out some sort of radio signal?
If it can't determine whether a card is valid while in flight, passengers can use cancelled or maxed-out cards to get their IFE for free on AA. (Not that I'm advocating this).
If it can't determine whether a card is valid while in flight, passengers can use cancelled or maxed-out cards to get their IFE for free on AA. (Not that I'm advocating this).
I'm sure most people who would like to use them, i.e. the business traveler, would have good credit and they wouldn't have to worry about cancelled or maxed-out cards.
Jan 25, 2005, 2:59 pm
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: South Bend, IN
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Originally Posted by sluggoaafa
The devices get carted off after every flight, then sent back to the Airbase company to get cleaned, uploaded with new information, and download the credit card info. At that point, the card will be charged, and receipts emailed to those that want receipts.
Jan 25, 2005, 3:51 pm
#22
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
My thoughts exactly! But it is no cost...
Originally Posted by Spiff
Entertainment... Palm of my hand.
Don't go there, Spiff...
Don't go there, Spiff...
Jan 25, 2005, 6:06 pm
#23
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Toronto
Programs: AC, AA, DL, UA
Posts: 1,604
I'm glad they're making this available to F passengers at no additional charge. That way while I'm getting entertainment out of the palm of one hand, I can hold my warm nuts in the other.
Last edited by grouse; Jan 25, 2005 at 7:50 pm Reason: hot -> warm, thanks ja_user!
Jan 25, 2005, 6:33 pm
#24
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Ah, well, there go the blankets in F too! Say "hi" to the FAM for me...
Originally Posted by grouse
I'm glad they're making this available to F passengers at no additional charge. That way while I'm getting entertainment out of the palm of one hand, I can hold my hot nuts in the other.
Jan 25, 2005, 7:32 pm
#25
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: MCI
Programs: AA EXP (1.5MM), Hilton/SPG/Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,335
Originally Posted by grouse
I'm glad they're making this available to F passengers at no additional charge. That way while I'm getting entertainment out of the palm of one hand, I can hold my hot nuts in the other.
Jan 25, 2005, 8:11 pm
#26
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Programs: My opinions are not those of AA or any affiliates of AMR Corp.
Posts: 2,096
Originally Posted by PresRDC
Wow, that seems really cumbersome and costly. Does Airbase have facilities around the country? Do aircraft carry-around used DVD players until they arrive at a station where Airbase has a facility?
Just like Rockwell Collins, Airbase is located at select airports. http://www.airbaseservices.com/ I'm sure there will be an Airbase representative at each flight to take the carts on/off planes. Just like Rockwell/Collins, they currently do that on each flight their IFE are on.
Like I said before, everything is in it's testing mode. I'm sure Airbase and American will get most of the kinks out before they actually are on most flights. Flight crews haven't even been trained on these devices yet.
So, just sit back and relax and enjoy the flight....regardless of how you get your entertainment from the palm of one hand, and hold your hot nuts in the other.
Jan 25, 2005, 8:26 pm
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: LAX; AA EXP, MM; HH Gold
Posts: 31,789
Originally Posted by sluggoaafa
I'm sure most people who would like to use them, i.e. the business traveler, would have good credit and they wouldn't have to worry about cancelled or maxed-out cards.
Perhaps someone at AA thinks that these devices may draw more high-yield pax to AA. If so, I think they are certifiable, but I'd probably be wrong.
After all, given the oft-repeated mantra that MRTC was a failure (it didn't attract enough high-yield pax to cover the estimated $90 million of foregone revenue), I can't see lots of high-yield customers flocking to AA for the chance to pay $10 to $12 for inflight entertainment.
Don't get me wrong - they sound really cool. Several newspapers, several movies, some tv, etc. Neat. But worth all the energy invested in these? I doubt it.
Jan 25, 2005, 9:15 pm
#28
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Join Date: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,097
It may have more to do with trying to stem the tide of people choosing JetBlue over AA. But then JetBlue has MRTC and a simple, hassle free approach to pricing...
Jan 25, 2005, 9:21 pm
#29
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Join Date: May 2001
Location: LAX; AA EXP, MM; HH Gold
Posts: 31,789
Originally Posted by hillrider
It may have more to do with trying to stem the tide of people choosing JetBlue over AA. But then JetBlue has MRTC and a simple, hassle free approach to pricing...
And even though jetBlue intended to charge $5 for its live TV, AFAIK, it debuted for free - B6 never charged $5 for it.
Jan 25, 2005, 10:16 pm
#30
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PIT/DFW/MEL; AA Exec. Platinum & 4MM, QF WP
Posts: 7,689
Originally Posted by PresRDC
Wow, that seems really cumbersome and costly. Does Airbase have facilities around the country? Do aircraft carry-around used DVD players until they arrive at a station where Airbase has a facility?