US Airways says “buh-bye” to in-flight entertainment
Here’s a “transformation” no one saw coming.
US Airways, the beleaguered airline undergoing a painful transformation that it hopes will return it to profitability, has decided to end in-flight entertainment on some aircraft.
Word among US Airways employees is that the carrier is not planning to install in-flight entertainment systems on its new Airbus 321 aircraft.
Removal of current in-flight entertainment systems from aircraft serving domestic and Caribbean routes could begin as early as the fall of this year. The company is reportedly “investigating” adding a new system next year, but the decision to remove now and perhaps replace later is driven by the weight of the current system, which could negatively impact fuel consumption.
So here’s what flying on US Airways will cost you:
Sodas, juices, bottled water, coffee, and tea = $2
Alcoholic beverages = $7
No free or buy-on-board snacks on short flights, period
Breakfast = $7
Lunch = $7
Snack Box = $5
First bag fee = $15
Second bag fee = $25
Standby fee = $25
Telephone ticketing fee = $25
Airport ticketing fee = $35
Award ticketing fee by phone = $30-$40 depending on destination
Award ticket processing fee = $25-$50 depending on destination
IN-FLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT = NONE
As fares, fees, and charges rise and capacity is reduced, continuing to offer an in-flight entertainment system that ultimately makes the flying experience more bearable should be a no-brainer in attracting and retaining customers, wouldn’t you think?
While competing carriers are enhancing their brands by installing new and innovative in-flight entertainment systems, US Airways is harming theirs by taking a huge step backward in aviation technology.
The more I learn about this transformation, the more I liken it to a “pay more, get less” model, rather than “pay-for-what-you-use.” I am so afraid of what could be next in line for additional charges or removal in the name of fuel prices.
You may also be interested in these articles
Comments
23 Responses to “US Airways says “buh-bye” to in-flight entertainment”
Please share your thoughts...
I don’t rely on airlines for inflight entertainment anyway, I always have a book and an MP3 player loaded up and charged up. I am glad I do this, there was one time on a flight from Santiago de Chile to Sydney via Auckland where my seat was the only one on the full A340 where the IFE did not work. If I didn’t have my MP3 player, I’d have been seriously upset.
If you fly frequently, you are probably better prepared for alternative entertainment options. But many leisure fliers are not prepared and/or have a certain expectation of the flight experience, including entertainment options, based on “amenities” listed on the airline’s website or based on the last time they flew. Many do not realize how things have changed in the last year or two.
I recently flew JFK-LAS roundtrip on US and I assumed incorrectly that the IFE would be functional. It was not functional either way. I did have a computer and magazines with me, but I was still disappointed that the IFE did not work.
I have absolutely no problem with them removing the in-flight entertainment systems. Most people nowadays have one or more portable electronic devices to keep them busy, plus books, magazines, and crossword puzzles.
Really, I’d rather watch a movie that I like than whatever cheesy, editted selection the airline chooses to show anyway. Who doesn’t have a portable DVD player (or better yet, a PSP or I-Pod) to watch movies on nowadays?
I wonder what’s next for US (or UA, NW, DL??) domestic
- the bathroom is still free. but the TP you’ll pay for.
- overhead bins are coin operated.
- convert certain portions of the cargo hold into seats??
- maybe sell advertising for every surface on the plane??
I am beginning to cringe as domestic looks more like Ryanair or skybus model in Europe.
While the stepping stone of my post was the removal of IFE, it was really more of an example of the big picture, which is that the flying experience is declining and costs are rising. Removing something that people have come to expect is just another example of that. And I too wonder what they legally can come up with next as another charge, fee, or service discontinuation.
This is now confirmed: http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2008/07/07/daily30.html?ana=yfcpc
IT makes sense. Most people–leisure and business, have other means to entertain themselves–Game Boys, iPods, DVDs, laptops, etc.
The IFEs often do not work–as you witnessed and they add weight and cost to the plane.
I think this is a shift to more airlines determining exactly what their cost is and moving to a model that will charge accordingly.
I understand why it makes sense if you are prepared for IFE not to be there as a customer and if you understand the logistics and finances involved in providing the service.
I agree that this is a time of change in the industry. However, when I look at the big picture for US Airways, I do not like what I am seeing. I feel like it will be a difficult adjustment period for them to go from full service legacy to a pay-as-you-go, want-to-be LCC. They are charging for more and taking away more than the other carriers so far. And they have a long way to go if they intend to be a WN or a B6.
All this makes sense. They are trying to save money-it’s a business. And what will people do? Not fly and drive 18 hours somewhere or something?
I am going to ask The Nik-O-Lok Company if we can represent them to the airlines. Could be the best opportunity yet for us.
Airlines could give first class or platinum heavy-hitters tokens for the head, others would need cash. On-board change machines would dispense 75¢ for $1. Maybe we could rep the change machines as well!
Mike, you made me laugh and cry at the same time!
Aem, how about instead of “fee-ing” everyone and taking away, they raise fares to meet current economic demands?
That does it, I am truly going to make a concerted effort to not fly with US Air every again. The last flight I took with them was a couple of months ago across country from Philly to Vegas for a conference. It was horrible, as I’ve come to expect from them. The plane was a decrepit piece of junk, which to be sat on for 5 hours was pure hell. Of course we were late, I’ve only ever been on 1 US Air flight that was on time (out of about 15).
I regularly travel to England, and already go out of my way to fly from New York with Virgin instead of taking what is normally a slightly cheaper flight from Philly with US Air. The reason…nice, new, bright planes, friendly staff, more staff, plentiful supply of FREE drinks, alcoholic or otherwise, reliability (out of 30+ trans-atlantic flights with them, I’ve been delayed twice, and once because Newark ground crews only had one de-icing truck available and by the time it had finished the second wing, the first had frozen again!).
I took an internal flight in Europe last month with Olympic, on a new A340, with great staff, full, free, drinks and meal service (a proper cooked breakfast!), all for a 2 1/2 hr flight.
I also took a couple of internal flights in India 6 months ago. Again, great service, nice planes, and for an hour long flight, they came round with a full meal for everyone. In fact, there was a choice!
If a budget airline in India can offer better service than US Airways in America, something is seriously wrong.
US Air was doomed from the off…..as soon as you walk on the God-awful planes, you’re hit with a feeling of utmost gloom from the painfully dull and somber grey colour scheme. I sit in those seats and feel like I just want to pull down the oxygen mask and hang myself. However, I’ve resisted thus far for fear of being unsuccessful - they’re probably held together with duct tape and would break after a few seconds.
Finally, I initially laughed at the suggestion of what next…charging for using the bathroom. However, I also laughed at the snack box I paid $5 for a couple of months ago, and commented to my friend ’sheesh, they’ll be charging for cans of coke next…….’
My next flight across country (in a few months) will be Virgin America. I’ll be able to bathe in the soft purple glow of the cabin, marvel at how my seat reclines AND comes back up, enjoy free soft drinks, be entertained by the seatback screen, chuckle at the safety video and not worry that the duct tape holding the engine on the wing may fly off at any time. Sure I’ll have to go out of my way and fly from jfk, but I’ll arrive at my destination less stressed and overall a happier person.
US Air is getting worse and worse, and if I have no choice and am forced to fly with them one more time, if I have to endure the onboard 5 minute hard sell of the US Airways visa or mastercard one more time, I shall scream.
Even though the stats are better for US with regard to on-time performance, my flights last month have been less than stellar, so I can relate.
Better Bring A Book…
It’s no secret that the airline industry is paring down these days. ……
Paring is an understatement!
About 50 airlines around the world will provide a portable IFE player with content of about 10 new movies, TV shows, games, shopping, etc. The rental fee is about $10.00 or less. The airlines get part or all of the rental.
Another concept being considered is having these portable players available in a vending machine at or near the gate. With a credit card you could rent such a portable player and take it on board with you and watch what content you choose. The player sits on the table top or you hold it in your hands when playing games. You would then return the player to a drop box when you exit the flight.
Does anyone think that this “At Gate” availability of IFE would work? Would you pay a rental fee for this portable IFE option?
If it works well and I did not have my own, sure, I’d pay the rental fee.
No, I probably wouldn’t.
I’m also not sure whether it would be a good/feasible idea. In order for that to work, EVERY airport in the country, would have to have several of these vending machines in EVERY terminal, in order for them to be dropped off upon landing. That’s many thousands.
US Airways is the only carrier to announce these cuts, in order, so they claim, to save $10m a year. Unless my maths have gone awry somewhere….the company operates 3,500 daily flights. That’s 1,277,500 flights a year. That equates to $7.80 per flight that they are hoping to save??? Seriously people. Charge me an extra 20cents for my ticket, it’s ok, I won’t mind.
I read somewhere that the average weight of the IFE systems in their planes is around 500lbs……in the scheme of things, that really isn’t very much. What next, charging overweight people extra? Actually, I’m not completely against that, it’s not right when you’re sat next to an overly large person and they are taking up half your seat too, I’ve had it happen several times, and it’s not fair.
Anyway, back to the point, no, I’m not sure a portable solution is a good idea - as well as the logistics, it’s one more headache for the cabin crew when people complain they can’t get them working, or theirs is broken etc etc. US Air is in the minority of one when it comes to removing these completely, all the other airlines installing seatback options have it right.
Andrew T makes a good point. Why don’t the airlines just charge a little higher ticket price to cover “amenities” or “extras” such as IFE?
[...] July 30, 2008 “Word among US Airways employees is that the carrier is not planning to install in-flight entertainment systems on its new Airbus 321 aircraft.” -Elizabeth Smith [...]
[...] read more | digg story [...]
I primarily fly between Hawaii and California, and therefore don’t get the planes with every seat having IFE. So in my experience, I usually end up in a seat where I have to stretch to see the screen coming from the ceiling four rows ahead of me. Even if it’s a movie I would like to see (and it usually isn’t), I just give up because the viewing isn’t worth my neck strain. I have an ipod with video capabilities and a book, and therefore don’t need IFE. But enough about me…fliers, whether they be frequent or casual, should know by now that flights are no longer “experiences.” Few flights still have fabulous amenities to write home about, but in this day, the only thing that matters to them is getting you from A to B. Your comfort, your hunger, your thirst, your body temperature - that’s all your own responsibility. I’m not really surprised US Air did this, and I won’t be surprised if other airlines follow suit.