How long til / will reverse no seatback IFE decision?
#46
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP. Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,115
IAH too. I'm sure DL knows exactly what they're doing. Particularly at DFW, they're going to eat AA's lunch on routes like DFW-LGA. Does anyone know if DL's A220s come with ovens? That would be yet another feather in the cap for DL.
Maybe time to consider a status match while I still have AA status...
Maybe time to consider a status match while I still have AA status...
If anyone here thinks IFE screens are going to spell doom for AA and vault DL into eternal holy greatness they're delusional.
#47
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 700
No way DL is going to eat AAs lunch on DFW-LGA with a puny little 220. No way they can match AAs capacity or frequency (or would want to) on that route. Theyd need both to even try to make a dent.
If anyone here thinks IFE screens are going to spell doom for AA and vault DL into eternal holy greatness they're delusional.
#48
Join Date: Jul 2016
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 141
Its simple really. Its not that we info but the lease thru which you view it. AA is run by a former LCC CEO who views everything thru those lenses. He continues to behave in that manner.
I have said this for years: a zebra never changes their stripes. This applies in all of life. People dont change, this the businesses they run dont change. To change a business you must change the people.
AA will continue to mame the same decisions until different people are at the helm. Nothing should be a surprise to employees and customers alike.
Cheers,
TG
I have said this for years: a zebra never changes their stripes. This applies in all of life. People dont change, this the businesses they run dont change. To change a business you must change the people.
AA will continue to mame the same decisions until different people are at the helm. Nothing should be a surprise to employees and customers alike.
Cheers,
TG
#49
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 1,309
Delta gets more per seat because it owns its markets and has no competition. In the markets they have to compete- nyc, Seattle, lax, they get the same as everybody else. They make outsize $$ in atl, dtw, msp. Thats what drives their premium.
QUOTE=dc9flyernwa;30310965]
QUOTE=dc9flyernwa;30310965]
Did a search and didnt find anything so apologies if this has been discussed. As AA continues to move on Project Oasis (only such a thing for their bean counters) and the recent financial issues vs Delta, it got me thinking. DL is putting IFE on their C Series/A220 at every seat and has gone back and added them to aircraft they modded to not put in IFE (A320s). Delta has also stated that in all of their research its one of the top items customers seem to still want (seatback IFE screens). Personally Im with that group, I dont want to use my personal device for movies etc. Im using it for work etc all while also watching a movie etc. The AA planes with seatback IFE are incredibly more enjoyable than the non-IFE planes (and the MIQ first class seat is terrible compared to the legacy AA first class seat). But with Delta able to demand higher dollar per dollar fare compared to AA and UA it seems to be that possibly IFE is a big part of that given Delta has pushed it so much. Seems like only Doug seems to think otherwise. Any thoughts?
[/QUOTE]
#51
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP. Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,115
No one thinks IFE screens are the end-all-be-all, but they are one part of offering a travel experience that is generally more pleasant and customer-friendly. And obviously DL doesn't have to or want to match AA"s capacity or frequency on DFW-LGA. They have to do neither to be more profitable (or at least to be more profitable per seat).
#52
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 700
And you don't think AA owns DFW, CLT, PHX, PHL, etc.? Why would Delta be investing all this money in a superior passenger experience if it wasn't driving any revenue premium for them?
#53
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 700
So- since you decided to respond to my post (which was a response to someone else) how will IFE screens make DL eat AAs lunch on that route? After all, that is what I was posting back to. Majority of People arent going to pay more for IFE on a less frequent route just because its DL. People choose based on price and schedule. Thats a fact. Profitability for DL is not my concern.
I never said that IFE screens will make DL "eat AAs lunch" on any route. But my point is that DL can siphon away a little more revenue (and it already has from myself and others on the DFW-NYC route specifically!) by offering a superior experience. DL has a revenue premium over AA--they are doing something right.
#54
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,394
If AA thinks that it will make more money by providing fixed IFE , I expect that it will change its mind and do so
#55
Join Date: Dec 2005
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Amb Elite & LT Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,230
IMO the IFE content (movies) has degraded over the last 6 months. Or whoever their deal with is just producing garbage. Personally I use the IFE in the background while working on my laptop. Seen everything I want to see, some of the stuff is just unwatchable, and I've tried.
People are so absolute. Consultants more likely to be working on laptops. that the have to have. Top Execs set up with nice tablets. Marketing and sales less work on the plane, happy to chat, sleep or whatever.
Fly on Monday morning and Thursday evening the demographic is different than Tues, Wed, Sat and Sun.
I'd take better internet over better IFE any day. If I'm not working I have plenty I can do via a good internet connection, as opposed to the gogo wait, wait, wait experience. At least viasat provides a usable speed although I have no idea which flight its going to show up on.
People are so absolute. Consultants more likely to be working on laptops. that the have to have. Top Execs set up with nice tablets. Marketing and sales less work on the plane, happy to chat, sleep or whatever.
Fly on Monday morning and Thursday evening the demographic is different than Tues, Wed, Sat and Sun.
I'd take better internet over better IFE any day. If I'm not working I have plenty I can do via a good internet connection, as opposed to the gogo wait, wait, wait experience. At least viasat provides a usable speed although I have no idea which flight its going to show up on.
#56
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
The DOT publishes a quarterly Domestic Airline Fares Consumer Report. The latest showed ATL with a 9% premium; MSP, 8%, DTW, 10%. EWR had a 21% premium; ORD, 11%; IAH, 25%; IAD, 17%. So why can't UA make decent money?
#57
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Rolling Lakes Yacht Club
Posts: 4,960
#58
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: MSP/DFW
Programs: Priority Club PLT, Marriott Titanium, AA EXP
Posts: 480
you can't even open your laptop enough to view it. And if you're using a tablet, your neck has to crank down to even see it.
#59
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2004
Location: DFW/DAL
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, AS MVPG, HH Diamond, NCL Platinum Plus, MSC Diamond
Posts: 21,422
10 inch Amazon Fire was $100 during the Prime sale.. Very useful.............
#60
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: DL Silver, Avis President's Club, Hertz President's Circle, Global Entry (Former AA Plt/Gold)
Posts: 4,416
I am DFW-based and have switched to DL where it makes sense (including if I have to make a connection, as long as its logical). I really value IFE, but its much more about what the IFE represents than what it actually is. Its also about employee attitude. Its just so much nicer of an experience to fly DL now. Food in F may not be quite as substantial, but its much better quality, and I feel respected and valued rather than an inconvenience.