BrightCedars From Belgium, joined Nov 2004, 1276 posts, RR: 2 Posted (4 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 2619 times:
I just flew BRU-LHR-BEY and back on BD and I think I'll file a trip report later in the week.
On the leg LHR-BEY we had an ex-BMED A320 with PTV provisions but as if they have been removed and fillers have been put instead. Flight was BD997 LHR-BEY-KRT, a long one especially for those few continuing on to KRT.
On the return leg we had an ex-BMED A321 and that had the equipment onboard. Although it failed after 3.5hrs inflight never to be fixed (they tried), it showed its usefulness despite an offering of only 6 channels.
Anyone knows if BD is installing/removing/replacing/upgrading/downgrading the PTVs on the ex-BMED fleet? Despite being a longer option than e.g. BRU-FRA-BEY or BRU-BUD-BEY the service was much better and would push to be selected again, especially if the PTVs are to stay.
Raffik From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2006, 1646 posts, RR: 4 Reply 1, posted (4 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 2591 times:
Last month I flew LHR-BEY on a BD A320 with the inserts in the rear of the seats, where you'd normally find the entertainment systems! The flight continued onto Khartoum from Beirut, with an additional 3.5 flight duration. So, the entire journey took 8.5 - closer to 9 hours with the transit! Quite a long journey for an A320!
On the return we had an ex BMED A321 with the PTVs, which worked fine and was a bonus on the 5 hour return flight. The leg room was a lot better too.
I don't know what they will do, but I'd hope that they either install PTVs on the BD A320s or assign all the ex BMED fleet to the longer hauls to the Middle East and keep their own A320s operating on shorter hauls within Europe where the PTVs are not required.
BD now operate 10 x weekly to Beirut, which is great news.
Brightcedars From Belgium, joined Nov 2004, 1276 posts, RR: 2 Reply 2, posted (4 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 2386 times:
Quoting Raffik (Reply 1): Last month I flew LHR-BEY on a BD A320 with the inserts in the rear of the seats, where you'd normally find the entertainment systems! The flight continued onto Khartoum from Beirut,
Now that you mention this I wonder if this is not related to some issues with KRT. Could it be that the aircraft are looted while turning around there?
BrightCedars From Belgium, joined Nov 2004, 1276 posts, RR: 2 Reply 4, posted (4 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 2335 times:
Quoting Raffik (Reply 3): Probably not, because on the return flight from Khartoum to London (Via Beirut) the aircraft was an A321 equipped with the PTVs.
All right, I think our return flight this Saturday (BD906) was BEY-LHR only, but I could be mistaken, so I kind of assumed your case was the same.
Well, the mystery remains whether they are being installed, upgraded, or removed. I thought all of BMED's fleet had PTVs installed from the start. Now I have to say that I noticed IFE boxes which I did not notice on the A321 equipped with PTV. Could be that they are doing an upgrade.
Theginge From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2006, 1110 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (4 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 2264 times:
Quoting Brightcedars (Reply 2): Now that you mention this I wonder if this is not related to some issues with KRT. Could it be that the aircraft are looted while turning around there?
I don't think people would be able to get on to an aircraft and take the IFE Screens on a turnaround.
I may be wrong but I don't think the early BMED A320's had seatback TV's in all of Economy.
BrianDromey From Ireland, joined Dec 2006, 3808 posts, RR: 10 Reply 6, posted (4 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 2218 times:
Quoting BrightCedars (Reply 4): Well, the mystery remains whether they are being installed, upgraded, or removed. I thought all of BMED's fleet had PTVs installed from the start. Now I have to say that I noticed IFE boxes which I did not notice on the A321 equipped with PTV. Could be that they are doing an upgrade.
You are right, not all of the B|MED fleet had PTV's installed. The three reconfigured bmi aircraft G-MIDx all have no IFE at all in Y and portable dig-e-players in J.
Some B|MED aircraft have the same dig-e-players in J and dropdown screens in Y, others have an 8 or 12 channel 'loop' system and others have AVOD, this is in-seat in both classes. The A330s have a 'loop' system in all 2/3 classes. The 757s have nothing in Y and dig-e-players in J. It's a real mixed bag!
It's bmi, so I would not hold out much hope that the fleet will be standardized, there are still a few planes flying about in the pre-2000 scheme, the star alliance "washing line" scheme, not to metion the hybrid BA/BD aircraft.
Brian.
Next flights: MAN-ORK-LHR(EI)-MAN(BD); MAN-LHR(BD)-ORK (EI); DUB-ZRH-LAX (LX) LAX-YYZ (AC) YYZ-YHZ-LHR(AC)-DUB(BD)
AndyEastMids From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 996 posts, RR: 2 Reply 8, posted (4 years 2 months 3 weeks 3 days ago) and read 2158 times:
Last week:
Tuesday - BD771 LHR-CAI G-MEDN PTVs throughout
Thursday - BD772 CAI-LHR G-MEDG PTVs in J, blanks in PTV positions and dropdown overheads only in Y
In the inflight entertainment section at the back of Voyager, they list the IFE options by registration - IIRC only a very few A320/321 listed a variety of IFE channels in Y, suggesting that those don't have PTVs
Bwaflyer From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2004, 675 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (4 years 2 months 3 weeks 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 2005 times:
There are basically three IFE versions on the ex bmed aircraft, all identical to how they were delivered to bmed (ie bmi haven't made any changes other than content).
G-MEDE, F, G, H, J
Business, PTV's with 8 channels on a loop
Economy, drop down screens and music channels
Airshow (except G-MEDE)
G-MEDK, L
Business, PTV's with AVOD films, TV and computer games
Economy, PTV's with 8 channels on a loop
no airshow
G-MEDM, N (G-MEDN delivered directly to bmi)
Business and Economy, PTV's with AVOD films TV and computer games and airshow.
G-MEDF,G,H,J have the older style BA world traveller seats which have blanks for the PTVs and IFE boxes under the seats, but PTV's were never installed when the aircraft were delivered to bmed.
There are also three shorthaul A320s that have been converted to a semi midhaul config. These are G-MIDT, O, Y. They have drop down screens throughout the cabin to show the safety demo and LHR arrivals video, but there are no passenger control units, so entertainment can't be played (unless you want to broadcast the soundtrack over the PA system!!). Panasonic blue box digital enterainment player are handed out to business class passengers. There is no IFE in economy. The 1 Astraeus 757 has the Panasonic players for business, and overhead CRTs in economy (apart from the 1st 5 rows(!).
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