AT From United States of America, joined Jul 2000, 863 posts, RR: 0 Posted (10 years 6 months 2 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 777 times:
With all the post 9-11 cutbacks, one of the things that seems to be disappearing is printed inflight menus (at least in Economy Class). Both Virgin and British have eliminated them, and from what I've heard so has American.
I have a solution: why don't airlines consider instead displaying the menus on the inflight entertainment system? It could be played after the safety demo, or could be included in the channels that show the flight maps or the Airline info.
While it is still not the same as having a real printed menu which you can take with you, there are some advantages:
1) cheap (no printing/paper costs)
2) not labor intensive. Does not require any additional systems beyond those already present on aircraft
3) possibilities for future interactive component: choose your dish electronically from your seat, see menu in any language you like, see picture of food, read about the food you are eating, etc etc.
B-HXB From New Zealand, joined Jan 2001, 744 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (10 years 6 months 2 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 764 times:
Interesting idea. I reckon it would be pretty cool (although doubtful about 3, chances are that the system will stuff up and the poor crew will end up distributing the wrong meals to passengers )
Pilottim747 From United States of America, joined Jul 2001, 1607 posts, RR: 5 Reply 2, posted (10 years 6 months 2 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 745 times:
Good idea I think. The only intl. flight I've gotten a menu on (after 9/11) was Cathay Pacific. But I would feel just as good with an "e-menu". Airlines have already started puting arrival/departure info. on the airshow screen, why not the inflight meals.
pilottim747
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SWALUVFA From United States of America, joined May 2002, 272 posts, RR: 7 Reply 3, posted (10 years 6 months 2 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 722 times:
Somtimes the meal choices/ menus change at the last mintue due to catering, and so to have a preset video menu might not work because of last minute catering changes. But it is a cleaver idea nonetheless!
AT From United States of America, joined Jul 2000, 863 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (10 years 6 months 2 weeks 15 hours ago) and read 666 times:
SWALUVFA,
That is true, but in the case of last minute menu changes, it would still be easier to change an electronic menu than a paper one. On aircraft that display gate information electronically, for example, when there are last minute Gate changes, that information is reflected. I'm sure that the menu can be simiarly be changed either from a central facility, or by the crew on board the actual aircraft. A paper menu once printed is printed. ...
And besides, menus don't change that frequently, so that issue would be an anomoly. Most airlines have the same menu on a given route for months on end.
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