Air New Zealand make huge hoo haa over nothing...

Air New Zealand has introduced gate to gate in-flight entertainment meaning you can now watch films/tv etc from gate to gate..

http://www.aviationrecord.com/news-articles.aspx?articleType=ArticleView&articleId=586

Now, this is a good thing but it makes me wonder what planet they're on... as this has been standard on flights I've caught with Singapore Airlines for at least four years (and some other airlines).

I know a bit about this as I has a dialogue with Air NZ a couple of times over this exact issue. I asked why they don't turn their system on until 20 mins into flights and the answer was basically: "safety".. then same for landing (I assume in case they need my help to land the plane??). When I said Singapore Airlines allowed it - what is different about their planes to yours? - they had no answer. When I said: can you give me one good reason why you don't let people just use the in-flight entertainment door to door - they said technical stuff, safety, aviation requirement bla bla..

I even have the emails somewhere and if I found and posted them they would be a very funny read considering this turnaround (years late I might add).

*And they wonder why so many people don't book with them unless there is no alternative.*

Anyone else wonder who is steering the ship at Air NZ sometimes?

R

I've always felt the excitement of take off and landing sufficiently entertaining, and havent felt hard done by. Safety always seemed paramount. Even if it is just a spin.

You will feel hard done by if you fly a lot. Esp to places like Shanghai/Singapore where it takes upwards of 20 min from touchdown to reach the gate.

As for the safety thing.. I can't think of any specific safety reason, nor could Air NZ when I asked them. (all announcement pause the in-flight entertainment as it is)

I'm betting it's really just so they can hard on about flight crap which, in reality, there is zero need to know about unless you're the pilot.

R

I dunno, I have never lost the joy of the magic of flight. I just revel in the ingenuity of a species that not just builds aeroplanes, but makes bitching about in flight entertainment while you are 10km up in thes ky, and when less than a metre from where you sit it is hypoxic and -50 degrees, a routine part of life.

I don't. If they expected us to be more awe-inspired by their wondrous offering they should make us all wear overalls and crash-helmets like at indoor grand prix.

R

Not these days - they've MASSIVELY lifted that brand IMO, particularly long haul.
This is just another example of that, updating the planes and operations from the previous period when they were under-invested. And you can't blame marketing for making something out of it - although to be honest I've seen very little push on this, mainly on the fact that they (finally) have installed seatback entertainment for international shorthaul.

saw the ad last night - agree on the not very exciting advertising - now if it was 20% off or we get you there 20% faster they'd have something

still I imagine prices for flights are on the way up with rising feul costs so perhaps inflight entertainment is one of the few positives they have right now