I was definitely not being sarcastic about the fares. Indeed, I am grateful to NW for the consideration they give those who have medical problems which take them to the Mayo Clinic. There is a separate desk assigned to Mayo-bound pax. Due to a medical issue requiring a last-minute fare with an uncertain return date It was refreshing to hear a voice at the other end of the line tell me that, although the fare was quite high, it did reflect a substantial discount. Bobbie at that desk really went the extra distance for me and my son. As to my remark about looking forward to a "shades-up" flight., I was serious. I am very much looking forward to sunlight and reading. I just want to add that as a DL Pm, I could have gone to RST with multiple connections. I chose NW because it was so much easier, although I did pay a high price for a coach seat, I regret not asking for a status match earlier this year.

At first I was somewhat upset NW removed movies from domestic flights, but now I'm actually quite happy they're gone for several of the above reasons. Plus you don't have to listen the advertising and other stuff which comes over the IFE on airlines like Continental (when they run the IFE showing previews, etc., before headsets are sold).

Personally I wouldn't mind if they kept the IFE on to display Air Show for domestic flights. I like the fact CO has air show on their US domestic flights that are IFE equipped, but most of the time they turn air show (the IFE off) after the movie / short program despite there being another hour left (or however long) enroute. Every once and awhile they'll keep it on and you can watch the flight progress as you approach your destination, which I think is nice.

If NW was to bring anything back, I think they should just use it for the air show to indicate flight progress and other information. No need for audio -- but I suspect this would still be costly for them to install the air show software and/or any needed equipment if it already isn't there on the IFE equipped (domestic 757/A320) aircraft.

Best,

SDF_Traveler

------------------
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Ben Franklin

I agree... I especially dislike movies on red-eye flights where the constant flickering of the screens and the laughs of the few who are actually watching the movie are disturbing to those who just want some shut-eye.

I used to be in favor of IFE on domestic flights, but on the domestic flights I've been on that had IFE (obviously on airlines other than NW), the movie has rarely been one that I am interested in watching. Usually the movie is one that I have no interest in, or if they have a short subject instead of a movie, it is also about something I have no interest in. The result is that I almost never watch the entertainment on domestic flights.

International flights are another story, however. I love flights with PTVs and multiple channels. There are actually enough options that I can usually find something interesting. Alas, NW doesn't have any PTVs in coach.

That'll change in 4 weeks time (Sept 2), when NWA begins DTW-AMS service with the A330-300... PTVs in coach, audio-video on demand!



[This message has been edited by Sankaps (edited 08-02-2003).]

It really wasn't just 9/11 that caused NW to suspend domestic IFE. Many of their planes (757's and 320's) were never equipped with IFE.

Years ago, when IFE was popular on all wide cabin aircraft, NW did not show movies or provide audio entertainment on transcon flights. I flew many times on a half-empty DC10 from IAD to SEA in the 80's without IFE. The flight attendant would say "Sorry, sir, there is no inflight entertainment on this 5 1/2 hour flight."

It wasn't 9-11 -- IFE was suspended months earlier due to reasons I posted above. At that point in time, virtually every plane flying longhaul had an IFE system (every B757 has one, the DC-10-40 had them, almost all of the A320, etc.) -- I'm sure new deliveries of the A319/A320 w/o IFE systems (the B757 continue, to this day, to be delivered with them) helped make the decision (NW wanted a consistant product).

Unless it's a PTV, I'll never understand the big deal over IFE systems... if you give a thumbs up to movies like "Lovely and Amazing" and "Stuart Little 2" and "You've Got Mail!" then more power to you...

Since the equipment is already in place, I wish NWA would at least offer audio entertainment. If the licensing cost is an issue, why not offer music from independent labels or unsigned artists who'd be willing to license the music for free in exchange for the exposure? Imagine hearing something like this on your next NWA flight:

http://www.htfr.com/mp3/MR120485.mp3

Much better than the usual airline music, eh?

IFE had been suspended in the 90's prior to 9/11, but then NWA switched it back on prior to 9/11 on longer domestic 757 and DC10 flights (like to the West Coast). However after 9/11, when all airlines were scrambling to cut costs any way they could, NWA switched it back off again. Maintenance cost of the IFE system is the biggest cost driver.

All of NWA's 757s have IFE systems in them, as do some of the early A320 deliveries. All wide-bodies have IFE in them as well. NWA just does not swtich it on except for Hawaii and International flights on the wide-bodies. I am sure they will switch it on for the 757-300s too when they start flying to Hawaii.

Duplicate Post...Deleted.

[This message has been edited by formeraa (edited Feb 27, 2004).]

FormerAA -

Have you flown NW since the late 60's? You might like it better now.... sheesh....

As for IFE, I could care less. One less hassle for the crew to deal with, since they all fly with the minimum # of FA's on board now. Besides, most of the programming is stuff I could care less about. I can fill up my MP3 player and have exactly what I want, when I want it.

I used to care about things like meals, IFE, and even miles. Now, price and schedule lead the list. Mileage is a distant distant second. IFE and meals are somewhere else down the list.

How about this?

Come_Fly_With_Me.mp3

or this

Airport_Rock.rm
(Visualize the Sax man in the middle of the
Eero Saarinen terminal at JFK). http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif


[This message has been edited by LBJ (edited Feb 27, 2004).]

If not video, I'd at least like to see NW offer audio in-flight. (Actually, what I'd really like most of all is if Northwest offered an audio option similar to United's "Channel 9", where you can listen to the ATC chatter)

The Swissair crash in Nova Scotia was deemed to be the result of electrical failure of an advanced IFE on an MD-11. The issue of safety and IFE operation had not been widely noted until that incident.