What kind of entertainment do you take on long haul flights?
#16
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: BSL
Programs: AA (EXP); among others :)
Posts: 2,522
As AA does not fly 767s on 12-hour routes, and all the (refurbished) 777s as well as the 787s and A350s have a state-of-the-art entertainment system now, relying on the IFE for movies with non-iffy audio is possible even on AA.... I don't take out my laptop for movies anymore on new or refurbished aircraft as I find the IFE offers more than adequate.
#17
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Haze gray and underway
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, HH Diamond, Marriott 'clink clink' Titanium
Posts: 1,784
#19
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Programs: United MileagePlus Silver, Nexus, Global Entry
Posts: 8,798
I always assume that IFE will be broken, so I load up my iPad with movies. Thankfully it's a lot easier now that Netflix allows offline downloading of all of their original content and some other movies and TV shows. I used to have to plunder the seven seas of the internet to obtain movies and TV shows to put on my iPad..
#20
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHX, SEA
Programs: Avis President's Club, Global Entry, Hilton/Marriott Gold. No more DL/AA status.
Posts: 4,422
I never travel without my Kindle. For longhaul I have a tablet with some movies, and usually an audiobook on my phone. But honestly if I can use the IFE I will, it's at eye level.
Check with your public library to see if they participate in Hoopla or Overdrive -free books and audiobooks.
Check with your public library to see if they participate in Hoopla or Overdrive -free books and audiobooks.
#21
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: SoCal
Programs: UA Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 186
An iPad loaded with:
I will generally check the IFE if one is available for anything I might want to watch too.
- TV shows from Amazon Prime, Showtime and/or Apple - often prefer to start a one how TV show at various times during a flight rather than a longer movie.
- A couple movies - usually movies I didn't want to pay $12+ to see in a theater, documentaries or older movies I want see again
- Podcasts - to "rest my eyes"
- Lots of music
- A couple books
- Some games
I will generally check the IFE if one is available for anything I might want to watch too.
#22
Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 124
I think it was either 50 or 100 - don't recall and too lazy to go check. I'd essentially sit around when I had connectivity and peruse through the available download movies and download anything that looked interesting. I rarely watch movies on the iPad - unless I'm sitting on a plane on the way to Asia. Then, yeah, I like my movies more so than American's movies.
#23
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: USA
Programs: SA Air, Air Canada, KLM, BA,Lufthansa, United, AA, Hawaiian, Air New Zealnd, Qantas, Virgin Atlantic
Posts: 777
Bose noise canceling headphones and my iPad, which has about 20 movies and several hundred books loaded. And magazines.
I never buy magazines except at an airport, just kind of a ritual. I enjoy airports that are clean, modern and have lots of stuff to look at.
I never buy magazines except at an airport, just kind of a ritual. I enjoy airports that are clean, modern and have lots of stuff to look at.
#26
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: SFO/TPA
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 199
Instapaper and Texture on my iPad. I download magazines from Texture for offline reading on the plane, and when I come across lengthy articles on the web that I'd like to read when I have more time, I save them to Instapaper for offline reading. At the lounge before boarding I also save current news articles to Instapaper and make sure I've given the IP app time to download everything before I lose wifi. This is great for when my ADD attention span overtakes me or I've just had enough of my book for awhile.
I've found paying for wifi on a plane is like owning a vacation house. Once you've bought it, you feel obligated to use it. Instead I download news articles, magazines movies/tv from Netflix, Amazon, Mubi, etc., before I leave home. I sometimes even watch the movies/tv, but mostly I just like knowing they're there. I like the idea of watching movies and tv more than I like watching movies and tv.
Between my downloaded Kindle books, podcasts, magazines, Instapaper collection, movies, etc. I'm good until that 3rd (+?) glass of wine has kicked in and it's time to listen to music and fall asleep.
I've found paying for wifi on a plane is like owning a vacation house. Once you've bought it, you feel obligated to use it. Instead I download news articles, magazines movies/tv from Netflix, Amazon, Mubi, etc., before I leave home. I sometimes even watch the movies/tv, but mostly I just like knowing they're there. I like the idea of watching movies and tv more than I like watching movies and tv.
Between my downloaded Kindle books, podcasts, magazines, Instapaper collection, movies, etc. I'm good until that 3rd (+?) glass of wine has kicked in and it's time to listen to music and fall asleep.
#27
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 208
I used to bring tons of stuff movies, music, etc. But, somehow I went 180 and now I go minimal. My approach is:
1) I bring my nice in-ear monitors and plug into the IFE system. Even if the movies are crap, I don't really care that much. I have watched plenty of crap movies!
2) I have my kindle with me and at least 2 books that actually want to read.
That's pretty much it. The kindle is pretty reliable, so if the IFE is out I can just read. I'm not sure if this is a 'reduced expectations' approach but my stress level is way down with nothing much to carry and no worries about whether the entertainment will be good!
1) I bring my nice in-ear monitors and plug into the IFE system. Even if the movies are crap, I don't really care that much. I have watched plenty of crap movies!
2) I have my kindle with me and at least 2 books that actually want to read.
That's pretty much it. The kindle is pretty reliable, so if the IFE is out I can just read. I'm not sure if this is a 'reduced expectations' approach but my stress level is way down with nothing much to carry and no worries about whether the entertainment will be good!
#30
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 77
I love to read ebooks on my tablet (just switched from iPad to Galaxy tab). My wife is still stuck on paper books, but I like the tablet because I can select a larger font to ease the eye strain from several hours of continuous reading. Sometimes I blow it up enough that I can read without my glasses, but that requires lots of page turning. The tablet also allows me to adjust the brightness based on cabin conditions. With a paper book, the reading light may be misaligned, and sometimes it can seem very bright in a dark cabin.