NO IFE on domestic A/C

[US1YFARE]

AA IFE offerings sucks. Don't get me started on WN or NW.

You are a selective reader and look at things in a vacuum. Customers weigh the good and the bad and make decisions that way...some factors carry more weight...US is banking on price outweighing the fact that US has dirty planes, miserable employees, they nickel and dime the customer to death, they have a terrible FC product, they sell sodas, water and coffee, they treat customers with disdain, no free snacks, their website works sometimes, and their seat pitch is terrible...oh, and no IFE in the near future. The more and more WN advertises that, yeah, their fares is as low or lower than ours, but look at what it costs you in the end...people will say forget it. I get no added value--even if it is watching some stupid trivia show on my way to MCO.

As to your remark about AA. AA is not the best when it comes to IFE, however, AND READ VERY CAREFULLY, AA uses MD80s primarily on routes that would be flown by US with a 737, EMB190, EMB170. US has no IFE on 737's or EMB190s. I fly PHL-MIA on a 757 or 737. Those flights have IFE that is far better than what US provides on that route. Some good shows. I also like the Bose reduction headsets and IVOD AA offers on widebody transcon flights, a domestic flight with that kind of entertainment??? the horrors , with selections like episodes from Office, etc. US doesn't compare. US Sucks. Keep buying into the garbage.

Yes, US could only hope they were like WN--profitable, good employee morale, customer loyalty.

 

[SS255]

There is a big difference between aircraft not having an IFE system onboard, and deliberately removing embedded IFE systems. US is doing far more damage to their brand by removing existing IFE systems than by simply turning them off. If IFE license fees and ancillary costs for providing IFE stretch the budget during this fuel crisis, then they can always temporarily stop showing movies, etc., while the "fuel crisis" is going on, and/or until they can install lighter, more efficient seatback systems (or portable handhelds).

I don't discount that the systems do add significant weight, but the weight of the systems is such a small percentage of the total weight of the aircraft. Will removing the systems make or break the airline? Since US's headset sales do not offset the costs of providing IFE, US has erroneously concluded that "IFE is not important to most customers." I disagree completely with this rationale: IFE is important to alot of people, and a large percentage of these people have invested in expensive noise-cancelling headsets because they fly often enough to make the cost of a $300 headset pay for itself. The ones who still purchase US's flimsy headsets are the one-offs who probably have never flown US, and are likely never to fly them again......because they can only afford to fly once every year or two. No offense to these customers, but: Who cares what they think? It's not like they'll ever fly US again, and if they do, it will only be because they are the cheapest ticket.

I am far more concerned about how the people who choose their carriers for the services they offer relative to the fares they charge. I'm not even referring specifically to elites: I'm referring to regular and semi-regular travelers who expect (and want to see) a movie on a transcon, or to the Caribbean. The lack thereof will certainly give them reason to book an airline which provides this service, instead of US.

If anybody at Tempe is reading this (Travis??), please factor "the cost of doing business" into your decision-making. As somebody who rarely ever watches the IFE and would not book away from US simply because of the lack thereof, I would still really hate to see it disappear from the bulk of the US fleet. Try to get sponsors to help you offset the costs of providing IFE, and start considering IFE a brand-enhancer, instead of a money pit. Then when you eventually upgrade your IFE systems, you can promote it as a marketing tool to entice people to "choose US." But please do not yank the existing systems out of your aircraft. It really is a short-sighted solution to save money, and I think it is simply tragic that US is planning to follow through with it.

 

[N965VJ]

Even the way Tempe announced this was a fiasco. In the first article I posted yesterday, Travis didn’t even mention the possibility of an on-demand system in the future.

Even if the on-demand system never comes to fruition, Tempe could’ve worked the angle that this was part of the plan to upgrade the fleet. It’s not like this would be the first time they’ve stretched the truth.

The way this was announced just makes US look cheap and tacky, as usual.

 

[flybynite]

SS255

Very nicely said.

And I would like to add that one of the reasons our headsets sales have dropped is because they have not been offering as many of the "just released" movies like we used to.

The last time I sold a slew of headsets was when we were showing "Seabiscuit". (great movie) and well worth watching again.

 

[flybynite]

Even the way Tempe announced this was a fiasco. In the first article I posted yesterday, Travis didn’t even mention the possibility of an on-demand system in the future.

Even if the on-demand system never comes to fruition, Tempe could’ve worked the angle that this was part of the plan to upgrade the fleet. It’s not like this would be the first time they’ve stretched the truth.

The way this was announced just makes US look cheap and tacky, as usual.

OMG!! Yes.

 

[BoeingBoy]

Not only will the removal of IFE systems put us more in line with WN, it will help us better match AA's current domestic offering as well. No IFE on the 340+ MD80's....

What? AA's been adding MD80's to their fleet this year? Who'd have thunk it.....

Jim

 

[kobe1]

What about all those old phones hidden behind a plastic cover on the 757's? This has got to be a lot of weight. When will these be removed?

 

[flybynite]

What about all those old phones hidden behind a plastic cover on the 757's? This has got to be a lot of weight. When will these be removed?

US Airways East removed the Airphones at least ...maybe 3 or 4 years ago and that was because Verizon was no longer going to provide the service. Those covers are just covering up the old portals.

 

[PHX-F/A]

If I'm not mistaken, NWA did the same thing years ago on their AB planes. Considering I sell about 8 headsets a t/c trip, no great loss. I like the Alaska Airlines way of providing movies. They rent portable IFE's and have very nice headsets. Passngers return them at the end and must have the nice headsets back on return or they are charged for taking the headset. One less headache with a company that loathes it's passengers anyway. At least I won't have to show that stupid boarding advertisement video or the level off that piisses everyone off.

I'm surprised they took this long to make the decision. I've been working "C" position forever, and it's rare that I sell more than $20 in headsets. I'm sure my average is $5, unless it's a popular movie, then some times I'll hit $60.

There are so many people bringing their own entertainment: DVD players; computers; PSP; iPod, etc....the legacy IFE just cannot compete.

 

[aredeeyou22]

You are a selective reader and look at things in a vacuum. Customers weigh the good and the bad and make decisions that way...some factors carry more weight...US is banking on price outweighing the fact that US has dirty planes, miserable employees, they nickel and dime the customer to death, they have a terrible FC product, they sell sodas, water and coffee, they treat customers with disdain, no free snacks, their website works sometimes, and their seat pitch is terrible...oh, and no IFE in the near future. The more and more WN advertises that, yeah, their fares is as low or lower than ours, but look at what it costs you in the end...people will say forget it. I get no added value--even if it is watching some stupid trivia show on my way to MCO.

As to your remark about AA. AA is not the best when it comes to IFE, however, AND READ VERY CAREFULLY, AA uses MD80s primarily on routes that would be flown by US with a 737, EMB190, EMB170. US has no IFE on 737's or EMB190s. I fly PHL-MIA on a 757 or 737. Those flights have IFE that is far better than what US provides on that route. Some good shows. I also like the Bose reduction headsets and IVOD AA offers on widebody transcon flights, a domestic flight with that kind of entertainment??? the horrors , with selections like episodes from Office, etc. US doesn't compare. US Sucks. Keep buying into the garbage.

Yes, US could only hope they were like WN--profitable, good employee morale, customer loyalty.

I am not a selective reader. This is a thread about IFE and comparing it to other airlines. I have already agreed that US' FC product is abysmal.

AA's IFE on its large fleet of MD80's sucks (notice I wrote large fleet because BoeingBoy pointed out that my count was off, ). Period. IFE on NW sucks, period. IFE on WN sucks, period. Like I have said, we are lowering the bar, with regards to IFE, to match some of our major competitors in the industry. Why is that difficult for you to grasp? And, FWIW, AA MD80's operate some pretty long routes from ORD and DFW, which make up a lot more flying than transcons. Check it out.

Come on, US1, agree just a little bit....

 

[BoeingBoy]

(notice I wrote large fleet because BoeingBoy pointed out that my count was off, )

A little - AA was down to 300 MD-80's at the end of the 1st quarter and is replacing at least 70 more with the 737's they're getting (-800's I think) through 2010.

Jim

 

[aredeeyou22]

A little - AA was down to 300 MD-80's at the end of the 1st quarter and is replacing at least 70 more with the 737's they're getting (-800's I think) through 2010.

Jim

Right. 300 MD80's flying long routes from ORD/DFW is just a drop in the IFE bucket.

 

[flybynite]

This reminds me so much of the "closet issue".

They weren't just closets. They were multi tasking units.

They stored crew bags, video equipment as well as the emergency equipment. Taking them out created a huge expense for the company because they had to relocate everything twice. Not to mention all the ill will it created from the first class passengers because they had no where to hang their coats.

This isn't just about movies for transcon either.

This is also about taking another tool away from the flight attendants.

No more pre-departure music and pre-departure announcements.

No more departure saftey video in english as well as spanish.

No more level off and PED announcements.

I don't hear about the other airlines not keeping those features to their IFE's. They may not be showing movies except in certain markets but they are keeping their safety videos and all other pertinent announcement videos or recordings.

This is just another example of the company's complete disregard not only for the customer but for their employees as well.

 

[LCC_#1]

No more pre-departure music and pre-departure announcements.

No more departure saftey video in english as well as spanish.

No more level off and PED announcements.

GOOD! Maybe we can get back to some peace and quiet on the airplane!!!

 

[SS255]

SS255

Very nicely said.

And I would like to add that one of the reasons our headsets sales have dropped is because they have not been offering as many of the "just released" movies like we used to.

The last time I sold a slew of headsets was when we were showing "Seabiscuit". (great movie) and well worth watching again.

Thanks! (One doesn't get complimented often on this board.)

I'm actually going to play the devil's advocate regarding new releases vs. "old favorites": New releases are offered on the 1st of the month. If an airline chooses to play the films during the latter half of the month, chances are the film has just been (or is about to be) released on DVD, and is already sitting in the Netflix queues of potential headset purchasers, so why bother?

On the flip side, let's say you're flying on US, and you see "Seabiscuit" or "Something's Gotta Give" printed in the guide, or on the trailer. You haven't seen that film in 3 or 4 years, but you remember really liking it. It's no longer fresh in your brain, and probably dropped off your radar long ago. But....now you're a captive audience, and will watch it again -- especially if the office will reimburse you for the headset fee, because you forgot to pack yours.

Also, new releases are somewhat limited (especially considering how many of them are needed to fill a program guide), but "old favorites" are virtually limitless, so US can program the best of the best.

And on a related note.....many parents (and people who offend easily) like airline overhead IFE because it is sanitized (moreso than basic cable and free television), and appropriate for all audiences. You can't order up the sanitized version from Netflix!

It just brings tears to my eyes to think of no more IFE on my transcons. I still remember how excited I was the first time I flew transcon (PHL-SFO), and "I got a movie!" It was The Karate Kid: Part II.......and the audio was broken in my section of the plane, so I could not watch it. I was devastated!!! (And no.....I was NOT flying US!)

RIP, US IFE.