Comments on: Which All-737 Airline Is Installing In-Seat Video?

By: CF

CF — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:02:17 +0000

Luke wrote:

Virgin Blue.

That I can't see. They already have LiveTV onboard.

By: Luke

Luke — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 10:02:10 +0000

Virgin Blue.

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 02:34:43 +0000

I do know that Alaska has been looking around at post-digEplayer options. Many of the current units are nearing the end of their useful life and as the company continues to add more long-haul routes (transcons and Hawaii) the need to order more IFE units increases. At some point it’s impractical to have to maintain and deliver hundreds of portable units on a daily basis to flights where they’re offered. I wouldn’t be surprised if AS installed seat-back units exclusively on their -800 fleet. Tying in these with the Row44 product would be killer!!

By: Scott Laird

Scott Laird — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 19:08:48 +0000

Love the photo Brett. There’s quite the nice set of hooters you’ve sprouted there. Killer frock.

Alaska’s Dig-E-Player pales in comparison to Virgin America’s onboard offerings, but it has been popular so it’s easy to see Alaska making a larger investment – a big complaing with the players is that Alaska doesn’t update them very often. If you’re traveling on a roundtrip with two midhauls and a connection, you definitely have to stretch out your viewing so you don’t get bored.

Southwest is leery of capital expenditures at the moment. It took long enough for them to decide the investment in Wifi would pay for itself if installed fleetwide. However Alaska has some serious ground to gain if it wants to win the IFE battle since the DOT doesn’t seem to care about it’s complaints that Virgin is foreign owned.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 08:06:43 +0000

As much as I would like to see Alaska as the new customer here, I just can’t see it happening. Alaska hasn’t talked openly at least, about IFE opportunities in their business. They have seemed very happy with Dig-E players, and if it isn’t broke, why fix it?? I personally dislike the Dig-E players, but it really sounds like I might be in the minority on them.

By: FedeIT

FedeIT — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:48:39 +0000

Ryanair don’t use windows shades and seat pockets to save weight and money, they attach the safety card on the seat and other orrible way to made and save cash, so they will not install AVOD (it cost, it has a relevant weigh, it’s not necessary to fly to destination).

By: The Boarding Pass

The Boarding Pass — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:54:39 +0000

@ David Parker Brown: I know about the 717s but I don't buy the exclusive 737 fleet argument - sounds like usual non-specific PR speak to me. Ads + tvs = double the revenue! Or if you pay enough the advert goes away and you see the tv!

By: The Boarding Pass

The Boarding Pass — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:51:44 +0000

Should be AA as they bring in more 737s and they do need some decent IFE – no doubt they think they can charge for it too. All the extra charges would be ok if the actual ticket prices were really cheap – but they seem to be same as ever PLUS charges, fees, etc. Not sure they are fooling anyone, but if you have to fly in the US then I guess you are stuck.

As long as the airlines don’t actually think people are ‘happy’ to pay these extra fees, then we are ok!

By: David Parker Brown

David Parker Brown — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:48:59 +0000

@ The Boarding Pass: They have B717's and they just installed a bunch of ads on the back of seats, so doubt they would replace them so soon with screens.

By: The Boarding Pass

The Boarding Pass — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:47:28 +0000

Maybe AirTran?