Where are the in-flight magazines?
 

Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed the lack of in-flight reading material on United of late?

I flew fifteen segments in January and only one aircraft had more than one magazine in the rack. Most had none. Is this part of United's cost-saving initiatives?

I don't know why, but I always thought that these magazines were basically ones that had been left on the plane and United put their covers on them. Kind of like some Hotels do with books.

If they aren't, the publishers should be giving UA and others free copies as they are great adverts. I know I've read many mags for the first time off a plane's stock and have subscribed to some from that experience

I like to read the Economist sometimes on UA.. :)

Then there's Latin American Business Review, Far Eastern Economic Review, Harvard Business Review, Entrepreneur, Mobile Computing, PC World, with the very occasional two-week-old Time or Newsweek, Budget Travel or Conde Nast thrown in for us non-business computer illiterate types, and even Ebony, perhaps demonstrating diversity.

How many have I missed in my hasty list of favs?

The best part is that there's usually a choice of at least one, two, or sometimes even three, at least if you're sitting in F. :D

I've noticed the lack of magazines as well, so I've had to make do with what I find in the seat pockets. I recently found a French business travel magazine, which had some great photography and gave me a chance to brush up on my French.

Then there was the Playboy I found in a concourse bathroom.... :D

Sorry 'bout that guys. I will try to put all three of them back on my next flight....

:cool:

I am in FRA now.. and, I was going to mention something about the lack of magazines in both the RCC and the flight (both segments, LAX-IAD and IAD-FRA!). I was in C and noticed the usuals weren't there. This wonderful F/A (Erin) on the IAD-FRA handed me her Reader's Digest and told me to return it when I was done with it. Thumbs up for their effort tho!

It's not just you. I've noticed a substantial reduction (often none at all) in the availability of magazines for the last month and half. I wrote a letter of complaint to United on it and haven't heard back yet.

They should learn from the prison system. They give the inmates TV to keep them from being too hostile.

I believe they went out of business a couple (or more IIFC) of months ago.

No mags on a couple of transcons I just did.

Not to worry... you can look forward to their March issue:

http://www.feer.com/articles1/2005/0501/free/p003.html

In accordance with our new publishing schedule of 10 issues per year, we will publish the next issue of the REVIEW in March. Have a happy and prosperous lunar new year!

I've noticed a lack of magazines in the slots on my last couple transcons. I'll take a look again this coming week.

I have a feeling they cut back drastically to reduce costs and are trying to not bring any attention to it. AA got rid of magazines on their planes so it doesn't surprise me that UA would follow them.

I do miss reading the travel mags, the Economist, PC World, etc. to pass the time.

What's the line from The Simpsons? "Hey, look here, Marge-- it says Ireland is at a crossroads!" :-)

I occasionally see Runner's World (which I like) and Golf (which I don't). There's also a few Spanish-language magazines that seem to be the last holdouts after the others are long gone....

We now have extra time to ensure that we're marking our Hemispheres properly! :D