canadianpylon From Canada, joined May 2003, 278 posts, RR: 0 Posted (11 months 6 days 4 hours ago) and read 3186 times:
This is a hypothetical question...
You want to take a flight from east Coast USA to Mid-America (ORD, STL, MCI, etc...), about 2.5 hours longs. The fares, schedule, seat pitch (31", for example) and routing (non-stop) are almost identical between 2 airlines, both of which you are part of their FF program. 1 airline offers a free AVOD IFE system with buy on board food, and the other offers an audio IFE with a free meal.
All other things being equal..... AVOD IFE or Free In-flight meal?
Does this choice change for a coast to coast flight?
I look forward to your responses!
Always looking for the longest route with the most transfers.
AirCanada787 From Canada, joined Nov 2010, 262 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (11 months 5 days 3 hours ago) and read 3050 times:
If the fare was the same I would go to IFE.
No I don't need IFE for such a short flight I don't need to eat either and IFE would at least keep me amused. If I wanted a snack I would get something in the terminal and bring it on-board (which would probably be better than what they would serve me for free).
The mind, like a parachute, functions only when open.
Ps76 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 4, posted (11 months 5 days 3 hours ago) and read 3047 times:
Hi!
It is an interesting question. Personally for a 2 and a half hour flight I would go with the free meal. I spend most of my time on airliners looking out the window which for me never gets tiring so I could do that for the trip.
As for a transcontinental trip I'm not sure. A 5 hour flight with no free meals and I could get hungry. But I could also get bored with no IFE. I would probably go again with the free food and bring along a portable DVD player or something myself. Then not only could I watch movies but I could watch the movies I wanted to.
This is of course all hypothetical as you say. In reality these days you'd probably get neither for both trips! At least they can't take the view away unless they start chaging extra for a window seat!
BlueLine From United States of America, joined Jun 2012, 72 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (11 months 5 days 3 hours ago) and read 3041 times:
I would go with the meal no matter how long the flight. There isn't much that an airline's IFE would offer that would interest me (except for UA's channel 9).
Yflyer From United States of America, joined Feb 2007, 845 posts, RR: 1 Reply 6, posted (11 months 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 3032 times:
Does the airline with the IFE have BOB food?
I'd probably go with the IFE either way, because I do not own a tablet nor a portable DVD player nor any other sort or any portable entertainment device other an older model smart phone that lacks the storage to hold a significant amount of video (and I'd rather watch videos on a larger seatback IFE screen anyway). It just isn't worth it to be to spend hundreds of dollars on a device that would really only be useful to be the few times a year I travel, so I take advantage of IFE when it's available. I can always bring my own food, eat something at the airport beforehand, or take advantage of any BOB options if offered.
AirAfreak From United States of America, joined Apr 2012, 244 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (11 months 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 3009 times:
Go with seating comfort. Consider Delta Economy Comfort. And make a reservation at a nice restaurant at your destination city. After all, we ALL prefer First Class Seating, right?
canadianpylon From Canada, joined May 2003, 278 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (11 months 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 2966 times:
Quoting Yflyer (Reply 6): It just isn't worth it to be to spend hundreds of dollars on a device that would really only be useful to be the few times a year I travel, so I take advantage of IFE when it's available. I can always bring my own food, eat something at the airport beforehand, or take advantage of any BOB options if offered.
A lot of people have bought iPods/iPads/iPhones/Playbooks/Tablets/etc... and have loaded it with what they want. My iPod had 2.5 days worth of music, and 7 movies on it. I use my iPod/iPhone more than a few times a year, and prefer the movies on it versus what is shown on airplanes (always chick flicks! Blech! )
Quoting AirAfreak (Reply 7): After all, we ALL prefer First Class Seating, right?
Can't ever afford it. Ever.
In these proposed circumstances of this thread, IFE vs Inflight food isn't a deal breaker. However, I have been caught by minimum connection times, where having a meal/snack on the plane would have been helpful.
A couple of times, I've had to make 30-40 minute connections at an airport (usually YYC, for some reason) where I got hungry on the first flight. That is usually the same time when there is major bank of flights coming/going, so EVERY restaurant at the gates has a HUGE line-up of starved air travelers. Since my second flight was short (1 to 1.5 hours), no BOB was offered. The only option I had was to buy a bag of chocolate. Nothing like a bag raw chocolate, a coke, and some crackers on an empty stomach to make one feel ill.
Quoting AirCanada787 (Reply 3): If I wanted a snack I would get something in the terminal and bring it on-board (which would probably be better than what they would serve me for free).
Possibly. I've been lucky and had some really tasty food on airplanes. Also, I tend to find airplanes to be chilly. Having a nice, warm meal at cruise (with a wonderful view out of the view) does wonder to warm me up.
Always looking for the longest route with the most transfers.
Yflyer From United States of America, joined Feb 2007, 845 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (11 months 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 2949 times:
Quoting canadianpylon (Reply 8): A lot of people have bought iPods/iPads/iPhones/Playbooks/Tablets/etc... and have loaded it with what they want. My iPod had 2.5 days worth of music, and 7 movies on it. I use my iPod/iPhone more than a few times a year, and prefer the movies on it versus what is shown on airplanes
There was a typo in my last post. What I meant to say was it isn't worth it to me to pay for an iPad/tablet/better iPhone/whatever because I don't believe I would use it other than the few times a year I travel. Therefore I prefer to simply take advantage of IFE availabe on airlines. If other people feel buying such a device is worth it for them that's fine, but I don't personally have any desire to buy such a device.
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