Is the sky falling on in-flight movies?

RedAngel Fri, Jul 18, 2008 at 10:54 AM EST

I usually just bring books and my iPod---I gave up on my laptop and my knitting when it became too much of a hassle at airport security.

Zgirl Fri, Jul 18, 2008 at 10:32 AM EST

My iPod is my saving grace. I can listen to music, watch a movie or TV episode, even play a game.

Kara Fri, Jul 18, 2008 at 06:55 AM EST

I was on an Air Tran flight last year, and they actually had Sirius Satellite Radio in every seat, so I just listened to that. There was no in-flight movie, but that could have been because the flight was so short (it was from Ohio to Orlando, about 2 hours).

Cory Fri, Jul 18, 2008 at 06:53 AM EST

Generally, I just medicate myself until I am asleep, because I absolutely hate flying.

Pamela Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 04:59 PM EST

Oops, sorry for the double post. Typepad is playing up.

Pamela Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 04:59 PM EST

Who knew you could save so much fuel. Next they will only take passengers under a certain weight!! And from there, who knows, maybe do away with pesky passengers at all.

On international long-haul flights I take full advantage of the personal in-seat entertainment service offered - the airlines I use all have these for those of us in the back of the plane not just business and first. There is usually a ton of up to date choices; as I never can sleep on planes I'll plow through about four films on a 12 hour flight across the Pacific or two films or a combo of TV shows on a four/five hour ride. I do take my Ipod along though, as I usually don't like the music selections.

On a 45 min or ohe hour hop - my Ipod and a book or magazine do it for me.

Pamela Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 04:58 PM EST

Who knew you could save so much fuel. Next they will only take passengers under a certain weight!! And from there, who knows, maybe do away with pesky passengers at all.

On international long-haul flights I take full advantage of the personal in-seat entertainment service offered - the airlines I useall have these for those of us in the back of the plane not just business and first. There is usually a ton of up to date choices and as I never can sleep on planes I'll plow through about four films on a 12 hour flight across the Pacific or two films or a combo of TV shows on a four/five hour ride. I do take my Ipod though, as I usually don't like the music selections.

On a 45 min or ohe hour hop - my Ipod and a book or magazine do it for me.

Tuzo Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 04:56 PM EST

Hmmm...if everyone brings their own DVD units with them will that negate all of the weight savings by removing the main system? ;)
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I, for one, usually enjoy the in-flight movie so I would like to see them stay; another option with a newer movie is always welcome.
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My preferred entertainment is to put on headphones and listen to some music and try to have a nap.

Zod Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 03:39 PM EST

WestJet (quite possibly the best airline in the world) has the monitor on the back of the seat in front of you thing and I watch it all the time.

Tim Lade Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 03:36 PM EST

Yo Gary! Porter Airlines in Canada does not provide any inflight entertainment other than free alcohol and food. I bring my laptop and usually end up watching a few episodes of Kitchen Nightmares or Top Chef or mayne a little BSG.

swerds Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 03:21 PM EST

I've only had an in-flight movie twice. MPLS to San Fransisco and the movies were kids movies that I watched simply because trying to read was making me nauseas. Give me a portable DVD player anyway.

BJohnson Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 02:29 PM EST

I have an iPod but that screen is too small to enjoy so I will be bringing my portable DVD player. It's a flight long enough for one movie or four eps of a 1/2 show. So many people find other ways with ipod and laptops and the such, it is pretty much a waste now. I don't blame them a bit for doing it. The others will probably assess their entertainment systems and get rid of them.

Kai- Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 02:11 PM EST

I live in Hawaii which makes it a least a minimum 5 hour flight to anywhere regardles of what direction you are flying. So I do watch the in-flight movie and anything else they show including tv shows, documentaries, etc... I also bring at least one book, my ipod nano with video and a bunch of magazines. Unless its a red-eye flight then it is 2 Tylenol PMs, earplugs and an eye mask, but that is only for those flights more than 7 hours.

Babs Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 01:24 PM EST

I'll watch the in-flight movie if it interests me and I brought headphones. But I have no problem with them dumping it to save fuel. I can always read or bring my laptop to watch DVDs.

Adam Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 01:22 PM EST

No objection to dropping the inflight movies, but they should definitely provide an outlet plug at each seat, instead (my laptop batteries have been so sapped of strength that they can barely make it through a two-hour movie).

Rahul Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 12:42 PM EST

On domestic flights I usually just listen to my iPod or read, but there should be at least one movie shown for travelers. Otherwise, they should just gas everyone for the length of the flight so they don't just sit starting at the seat in front of them.

Henry Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 12:28 PM EST

Southwest doesn't have in-flight movies?! I soo didn't know that. I've only flown on Midwest, Continental, and United. They all have movies. Good to know since I'm taking Southwest for my next flight!

dsquaredfrmasquared Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 12:07 PM EST

Bought an iPod in 2004 specifically to deal with long airplane flights since the inflight movies were increasingly ones I wasn't interested in seeing. Now I usually stock my iPod with several television episodes before leaving on a trip. Between the music and the videos, I haven't had occasion to watch the inflight entertainment in years.

K Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 11:52 AM EST

I fly quite often and I try to save at least 1 Netflix movie for my trips and the This American Life podcast from NPR on my iPod. Between those, a good book and Sudoku in the in flight magazine, I'm set.

Lauren Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 11:47 AM EST

About two months ago, I flew to L.A. to see my best friend. Here's what I did on the plane:
--read a book (I'd brought several, as I am a fast reader AND I was going to have some downtime while my friend was at work)
--listened to my iPod
--watched episodes of South Park and Reno 911!, also on my iPod
--slept! (it was an early morning flight)

Honestly, I typically don't watch in-flight movies (the last time I did was four years ago, when I got bumped to first class and got my own DVD player and selection of movies. I watched Shattered Glass and American Beauty). Typically, I don't really like what they're showing (either that or I fly Southwest, which doesn't have in-flight movies). So I can't say I'm that heartbroken.

Henry Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 11:38 AM EST

My last flight was a red-eye late night, 8-hour flight from California to New York. They showed The Great Debaters as one of two in-flight movies (National Treasure 2 was the other). I watched Great Debaters because I couldn't sleep and the idiots next to me were rowdy US Marines headed to South Carolina. After that, it was around 1am Pacific time so I went to sleep, not watching National Treasure. I generally read books or listen to music on my iPod on planes. I agree that in-flight movies are't necessary but it's nice to have another option.

Amy Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 11:28 AM EST

I like the inflight movies for flights that are more than 4 hours. I don't want to worry about bringing a dvd player/laptop with me. I do bring a book or magazines with me, but when the flights long the movie is better entertainment.

What In-Flight Entertainment? Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 10:52 AM EST

I'm in a NWA market, and have only flown on ONE flight with in-flight entertainment in the last 10 years! (That was a flight from Mpls to Orlando. The return flight did not have in-flight entertainment.) Given that I can't count on my airline providing "entertainment," I always pre-load my iPod with some good playlists and a couple of videos (though usually my 3-year-old commandeers the iPod for an episode of Little Einsteins or Caillou). I also bring reading material.

idigress Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 10:46 AM EST

I travel quite frequently for work so I get quite bored with the in-flight entertainment so I bring my own dvds and watch them on my laptop and I travel with my iPod (i don't load movies on it) and often a book that I purchase from the bookstore at the airport and that I then return at the destination airport for a 50% discount! That is an awesome program!

Beth Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 10:41 AM EST

I usually have a book or two, a mag or two, my iPod, and I've started carrying my portable DVD player and a few movies too. It just depends on what I feel like doing once I'm through clutching the arms of my seat during takeoff.

donner Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 09:58 AM EST

I bring knitting (on wooden needles, no one cares), and when I fly JetBlue, I watch the television stations available...sometimes I bring my vid iPod and watch Heroes or South Park...

Jeanne Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 09:56 AM EST

I usually try to sleep, failing that I always bring a book or some magazines to read and there's always my iPod. For some reason I find listening to Beethoven soothing on a plane.

Emoney Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 08:48 AM EST

As a frequent business traveler, I say no, we don't need in-flight movies on domestic flights. I read books (I like how that chain of airport bookstores lets you bring one back for a discount on the next one) or work. But on overseas flights, yes, you need movies. There's just no domestic flight so long that you can't figure out something else to do.

Meghan Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 08:46 AM EST

It was definitely nice to have Arrested Development, Futurama and Casanova while on an eight-hour flight to London, but on shorter flights I don't care as much. I usually bring a book and my iPod (my boyfriend and I watched South Park on his on our way to Vegas), or just lots of dramamine because I'm a horrible flyer.

Jackie Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 08:37 AM EST

YES WE NEED INFLIGHT MOVIES!! ipods and all that never last for more than a movie, let alone an ENTIRE 2 hour movie, and the in-flight movies always offer newer movies that aren't on dvd yet, which is always nice when you're flying in the spring and you'd missed a bunch of fall movies.....

Lynn Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 08:19 AM EST

Just flew from Michigan to Portland, OR and had the wonderful screens in the back of the seats. There was tons of movies to buy for $6 or free satellite TV to watch, including Bravo! Three hours of "Shear Genius" was awesome!

Chris G Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 08:07 AM EST

I put movies and tv shows on my ipod and i'm there before i know it. Surely, they must be movies about gladiators.

Laura Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 07:37 AM EST

I like the ones on the back of the seats where you can pick what you want to watch. Even though the full selection is never totally appealing, there's always some movie or two that I've meant to watch but never made the effort to go see or rent. So I think it's definitely worthwhile.

cookiemac Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 07:11 AM EST

I load some music and movies on my Blackberry Curve and use that. Sometimes if my plane has those individual monitors, I'll catch up on some tv series I never think to watch.

Andrea Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 07:00 AM EST

I actually prefer trying to sleep to watching the in-flight movie, especially if I'm flying to Europe (those flights tend to leave in the evening). Otherwise I bring a book from home and maybe buy a few magazines at the airport.

NineDaves.com Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 06:41 AM EST

the only airline i'll fly is jetblue, and that's because of the tv! (okay, and those unlimited blue terra chips). though if that wasn't there... i probably would get more sleep/work done. it's hard to get anything accomplished when there's an america's next top model marathon on right in front of you for 6 hours.

Nix Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 06:32 AM EST

I should add that the only route I fly regularly is transpacific. you're crossing half the world and it's all water. no way out, long way down. your typical 45-minute flight from norcal to socal is on the other hand a matter of the inflight magazine.

Nix Thu, Jul 17, 2008 at 06:30 AM EST

Definitely my iPod touch. The wider screen made all the difference, and it allows me to save my laptop battery for writing. Of course, there's also six half-milligram tablets of Xanax involved.