Consolidated "Channel 9 Availability" Discussion Thread [Merged]
Nov 30, 2022, 6:01 am
#286
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: WAS
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On the Fleet tracker it says only some of the 757s have it. I didn't realize any of them were even getting equipped. I thought it was gone with the PS birds.
Nov 30, 2022, 10:44 am
#287
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: Does Non Rev count?
Posts: 588
I typically will have it on for the whole flight, and usually remember to let the pax know. This has led to some interesting conversations with passengers after the flight, which on occasion has made me rethink the whole thing. 
Nov 30, 2022, 1:10 pm
#288
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BOS<>NYC<>BKK
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Posts: 4,393
?
Dec 4, 2022, 7:25 pm
#290
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: SF Bay Area
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Posts: 2,876
I don't mean to be a jerk, nor do I intend to discuss pilot contracts here, but IME the availability of Channel 9 is inversely proportionate to the intensity of pilot contract negotiations.
Dec 5, 2022, 11:32 am
#291
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Dec 5, 2022, 5:00 pm
#292
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: Does Non Rev count?
Posts: 588
Dec 8, 2022, 3:02 pm
#293
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12/8/2022 — UA974 IAD-GVA B767-300ER 
— I asked the Captain after settling into Polaris and she said she would not be turning it on tonight. I mentioned how a lot of people enjoyed it, and it was a nice piece from
sUA, but her answer remained the same. So disappointing.
— I asked the Captain after settling into Polaris and she said she would not be turning it on tonight. I mentioned how a lot of people enjoyed it, and it was a nice piece fromsUA, but her answer remained the same. So disappointing.
Dec 8, 2022, 7:07 pm
#294
Join Date: Nov 2022
Posts: 84
Please don't let a few people spoil it! I don't have the opportunity to fly much, but when I do I try to find flights on 757/767/777 just for the possibility that it could be on.
Dec 9, 2022, 7:56 am
#295
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: NJ
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 115
12/8/22 - UA467 DEN-EWR 767-400ER. I was talking to the captain preflight about how I'm working on my PPL... fast forward to about an hour left when he came out to use the lav I remembered to ask him to turn on Ch9. He happily obliged. Was an absolute pleasure to speak with him. 
Dec 10, 2022, 6:28 am
#296
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: Does Non Rev count?
Posts: 588
12/8/22 - UA467 DEN-EWR 767-400ER. I was talking to the captain preflight about how I'm working on my PPL... fast forward to about an hour left when he came out to use the lav I remembered to ask him to turn on Ch9. He happily obliged. Was an absolute pleasure to speak with him.
Dec 13, 2022, 4:58 pm
#297
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12/8/2022 — UA974 IAD-GVA B767-300ER — I asked the Captain after settling into Polaris and she said she would not be turning it on tonight. I mentioned how a lot of people enjoyed it, and it was a nice piece from
sUA, but her answer remained the same. So disappointing.
— I asked the Captain after settling into Polaris and she said she would not be turning it on tonight. I mentioned how a lot of people enjoyed it, and it was a nice piece fromsUA, but her answer remained the same. So disappointing.
Plus I can add my own failure: 12/11 UA 75 FRA-EWR 767-300 Not on.
Dec 18, 2022, 8:34 pm
#298
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: SF Bay Area
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Posts: 2,876
I'm glad to hear.
It was suggested to me in the early 2000's by a purser when I asked her to ask to have Channel 9 turned on and the captain said "no," but it did seem to correlate with my experience.
That was back in the day when a much higher percentage of the fleet was equipped for it. These days, I rarely encounter a flight that is equipped. I was 50/50 when traveling on 2 transpacific flights last week, however.
It was suggested to me in the early 2000's by a purser when I asked her to ask to have Channel 9 turned on and the captain said "no," but it did seem to correlate with my experience.
That was back in the day when a much higher percentage of the fleet was equipped for it. These days, I rarely encounter a flight that is equipped. I was 50/50 when traveling on 2 transpacific flights last week, however.
Jan 22, 2023, 5:24 am
#300
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London uk
Programs: *A Gold, BA Silver, Avis President, Hertz President circle
Posts: 2,804
My experience the last 6 months has been 14/16 flights CH9 switched ON.
The trick is simply heading up to the cockpit before departure and kindly asking the captain to turn it on.
The trick is simply heading up to the cockpit before departure and kindly asking the captain to turn it on.
Last edited by ELAL; Jan 23, 2023 at 1:17 am