Tricky tricky, VX. I don’t know whether it is intentional (a perk to people who go straight to their web-site as a loyalty builder, or a discrete way to offer distressed inventory at a discount) or unintentional, but either way, works for me.

I flew VA LHR to SFO round trip over a weekend back in ‘03 for my brother’s wedding (work pressures meant I could only spare a long weekend).
This meant I had the exact same aircraft back as I had out, which would have been fine had it had a working entertainment system. The outbound flight had a working system for about 3hrs into the flight, the return managed a sterling 5. Still, the company offered us all free VA flights, or miles, which eased the pain a bit.
They also, which was a nice touch, reverted to how they would have entertained us pre-seatback systems, including impressions, guess the combined age of the cabin crew, and even a bit of stand-up comedy.

Are we really demanding all this new stuff, or is this what the airlines think we want?

I think this is a response to consumer demand, for the most part. I know plenty of parents who swear by JetBlue because those TVs transformed their kids for a few hours. And while I think internet remains unproven, there clearly is some demand. The reality is that I love the TV, but others couldn’t care. That’s what makes the world go ’round, I guess.

Cranky,
Are we really demanding all this new stuff, or is this what the airlines think we want? I must admit, thank goodness, we all don’t think or want the same things, else what a boring world this would be!

I would think both. Having a seat back entertainment system would be nice to pass the time away on a long flight, but not to pay for internet. I don’t want people being able to use their cell phones on a plane. Don’t we have to listen to much already of people on their phone at the grocery store, Doctors office, in line anywhere, etc. People need to stop thinking they need to be on a phone or online checking their email, or tweets or whatever all the time. Relax people and enjoy not being connected to the world every second of your life.

I would wonder if the airlines really make enough money to pay for having these gadget on flight. Seems more like they have to have it because the other guy has it on their planes and it doesn’t matter if the service gets used much, as long as they can say they offer it.

The Mexican grocery stores around here will advertise ‘goat heads’ at certain tiime of the year, but I don’t see Safeway one of the largest grocery chains in this country selling goat heads just because the ‘other guy’ does. I’ve never understood why airliines think they need to do everything the other guy does.

Are you afraid you are going to get in trouble for using electronics while descending and landing?

I hope not.

Great report, as usual, even if I was a little out of breath after reading it.

Growing up, as I did, in an era long since past, I don’t remember travel being so complicated. Even today, a “decent” fare [well we surely could argue what that is!] my morning paper [luckily it's still being published, even if the price seems to be going up every other week], a nice, clear seat window [who needs movies or videos what with the scenery/clouds right there], economy-plus legroom [still a great concept, UA], a working Channel 9 [come on you pilots, not all of us are going to sue you], and a can of seltzer water [I can even live with plain water], what more do I need?

Are we really demanding all this new stuff, or is this what the airlines think we want? I must admit, thank goodness, we all don’t think or want the same things, else what a boring world this would be!

Gee Cranky… weren’t you the person that was extolling the virtues of how great the millimeter wave scanner was??
At the time you posted that article, I replied to your post that all that the addition of this additional act to the security theatre would get you is longer lines and a much more frustrating experience at security.
I am sure you would have “enjoyed” your experience so much more if you would have been running late for your flight and missed it because you were having so much “fun” in the scanner.
I am glad that the rest of your flight did go well though!

Absolutely. But I did write “Others are worried about the amount of time it takes – certainly longer than a metal detector. That’s a very valid complaint, and it means the TSA is going to need to adjust the number of machines it uses. I suppose that’s why they’re doing this test.” So I still have no problem with the process at all. If they want to add more machines to make up for the slowness, then that’s fine with me. If not, well, then this sucks.