Entertainment on Long Flights
 

I was on a direct EWR-ABQ flight last night, which is over 5 hours long, and was shocked to find no movie or audio entertainment? Is this typical? It was a 737/300 I believe, are these old planes?

That is correct...the majority of the 737-300s do not have audio/visual entertainment. Consider yourself lucky...most of the time the audio/visual entertainment is on tape players that haven't been cleaned since the VHS/Beta wars (quality and content is lacking to say the least)...and if you are on an AVOD plane you are guaranteed 5-6 reboots during a typical flight due to technical issues with the system locking up (the over/under is plus/minus 1-2 reboots). :p:D

Most (all but about 10) 733s have no in flight entertainment system, and none of the 735s do. Flight length is not the only determining factor when it comes to in flight entertainment -- the equipment used on the flight also matters. While in flight entertainment is great to have on a flight like EWR-ABQ, if the demand isn't there to justify one of the larger or newer 737s that has an entertainment system, it does not make sense to operate a plane with entertainment on that route. The schedule shows you were most likely on a 735, which means it wasn't one of CO's oldest planes -- it was probably only about 10-12 years old. However, those are the smallest planes in the mainline CO fleet, and none of them have an entertainment system.

similar to grits, i don't rely on CO to provide entertainment on flights. an airplane isn't the circus, just like it isn't a restaurant.

having said that, when i fly airlines that have live TV, i LOVE it. but, until then, old newspapers that i don't have time to read during the week, soduku (spelling?), and jim rome podcasts will have to do.

According to the pda......info it was a 737/500. I think that CO used them to replace DC-3's:D

Yep nothing on the 733s and 735s. But look at the bright side you werent on an RJ that also wouldnt have had anything:D

And, to make it more fun, the new deliveries of the 737-900s don't have any inflight entertainment either. CO is waiting until next year to put the OnDemand system on all the aircraft. Patience will pay off to a beautiful new system.

I believe the movie equipped 733's also have a larger fuel capacity therefore extended range. This would factor into equipment selection as well.

The majority of the 737-300s do not have audio/visual entertainment. Consider yourself lucky...most of the time the audio/visual entertainment is on tape players that haven't been cleaned since the VHS/Beta wars (quality and content is lacking to say the least)...and if you are on an AVOD plane you are guaranteed 5-6 reboots during a typical flight due to technical issues with the system locking up (the over/under is plus/minus 1-2 reboots).

I can't wait to hear the mooing coming from this board when CO goes to the live TV and movie option that is going to cost $6/segment to use. Then everyone will be waxing sentimental about the "good old days of free movie entertainment" You just can't win :rolleyes:

Flying from Hawaii on CAL 767's they have the best entertainment, screen in every seat back in coach with multi slection of veiwing. AA & UA still have the big old CRT box hanging from the celing.

Don't know why people would want to watch a heavily edited movie not of their choice on a small screen 3 rows away. I mean, as a last resort yes, but to look forward to it? I was watching The Matrix on TV the other day and the word "shucks" was substituted every time they said sh*t. To say that it didn't have quite the same dramatic effect would be putting it mildly. I had to change the channel.

If I am sitting in F and eating, I'll usually pay a little attention to the IFE, other than that, I hardly notice if it's there or not.

Maybe not substandard but seems like everyone is showing the same thing. Been on CO and UA flights and both are showing Enchanted and Martian Child. Enchanted was done well, sometimes rather "cheesy" ;), but after watching it twice I got disenchanted and just used my Ipod.

Same here.

Every now and then there's something that catches my interest...but not often.

Usually if it's domestic F I'll turn my cheese serving tray longways on my tray table and use the extra space for my laptop to watch South Park reruns.

If I'm in a BF seat, and no one's next to me, I'll use their screen for the map and have my laptop, and work, out on my tray table.