Question on service to NRT
 

Sorry if this isn't exactly a frequent flyer question....

I just booked a frequent flyer ticket for travel from BOS to NRT, via EWR. Can anyone tell me what service to expect in coach class on the EWR-NRT flight?
Specifically,
- What does the seat-back entertainment consist of? Can you watch a couple of channels, or are you stuck with what they decide to show, when they decide to show it. Can you pull up the in-flight route map even if there is a program being shown?
- When are the meals served and how many are there?

Thanks a lot for the help!

Kilarney

- What does the seat-back entertainment consist of?

As I recall two chanels of current "first run" movies, One chanel of older movies, discovery chanel, sit coms. They are run in blocks and repeated throughout the flight. If you fly back the same month you get exactly the same stuff on the way back. BusinessFirst gets move selection.

Can you watch a couple of channels, or are you stuck with what they decide to show, when they decide to show it.

Yes you can switch around, but each channel shows two movies so you will have to wait for the right time to see the second one.

Can you pull up the in-flight route map even if there is a program being shown?
Can't remember.

- When are the meals served and how many are there?
Shortly after take-off and before landing + a snack in the middle.

I did IAH-->NRT and NRT-->EWR in Feb. 99 on a 777. This is what I remember:

There were more than 2 movie channels. It seemed that there were about 4 different movies to choose from, and they're all shown in blocks: they all start right after takeoff, then after 2 hours, after 4 hours, after 6 hours, etc. So you can watch all of them back-to-back if you want. As far as selection of other shows, I know they had news, I want to say travel, sit coms, maybe a kiddie channel... It seemed like there was enough for you to watch something different for the whole ~12 hours of the flight, if you were up the whole time. The music selections were good, for my tastes, anyway. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif I remember that flight status and time/temperature/speed/altitude were shown on the screens at the front of the cabin, while entertainment was on the personal video units.

Food was good and kept you full, and they came through a number of times with drinks-- I want to say maybe every 60-90 min. FYI, the coach seats have fold-in flaps to keep your head from rolling onto the next seat, and these help if you want to sleep.