I love the time I spend on airplanes.
Sometimes I think it is the only time that I sit still for any length of time! It seems like every movie I have seen lately has been on a plane—it’s the perfect time to catch up on the latest. I just saw Oscar nominated films Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Into the Wild, and La Vie en Rose on my last round trip to Europe. And if it weren’t for flight time, I don’t think I would ever have time for anything more than the cartoons in The New Yorker.
In a recent study my group completed on in-flight entertainment, we found that reading, sleeping, and watching movies top the list of in-flight activities of SkyMiles members.
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Considering the last time you traveled on an airline, what did you do to occupy your time during the flight?
Frank
Manager
Customer Insights & Analytics
February 25th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
When there is no on-demand video (ex Song 757s), I usually work on the computer (work), listened to my own music, and sleep in that order. I wish we could listen to ATC like UAL’s Channel 9.
February 25th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
I’m with TinFlyer - I’d LOVE to have something like UAL’s Channel 9. As to what I do, if I have IFE I almost always watch a movie. I’m flying to Mumbai in a couple of weeks - I hope the movies are good.
February 26th, 2008 at 12:22 am
I work on the laptop. So, seat power is very important especially given that with all of the travel restrictions, carrying extra laptop batteries is a hassle. Internet access on trans-Atlantic or trans-Pacific flights would be lovely…
February 26th, 2008 at 11:25 am
BWJones, you are so right. I used to get really frustrated a lot. Delta made a big deal about em power in planes. I even changed flights to get it. I bought the stupid special adapter. Then, it almost never works. Out of the last dozen flights with it, at best one worked. I used to ask the flight attendants if it was turned on. Half didn’t know what it was. Sometimes, they’d do something and it would start. Most of the time, I was just SOL. I’ve finally given up. Delta doesn’t care about it. If I get it 1 out of 15 times it’s just a bonus and I’m happy. I’ve given up on Delta caring about it.
At least the power on the old song planes generally works, if you get first class.
I can’t do much work on a plane. It’s against company policy to do work where client information may be visible to others. Yea. However, there’s lots of personal stuff I’d love to get done I just don’t have time to do at home.
Someday …. power on a plane that works ….. A guy can dream.
February 26th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
I usually read the Sky magazine, check out SkyMall (for things that I really don’t need but are pretty cool, and use the laptop (usually movies), sicne I never seem to get one of the Ex Song 757’s in Y
February 26th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
I always read the Sky magazine, very informative and interesting. Also, thank god for Apple who made the iPod, as I usually listen to it throughout the flight. If I happen to bring my laptop with me, I might work on schoolwork or maybe a powerpoint presentation or two. Also, movies are always good to watch on my laptop when the flight does not have an IFE system or AVOD. Other than that, it’s always good to speak to America’s greatest flight attendant’s on Delta
February 27th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
The first thing I do is open the seatpocket and grab the In-flight magazine even before I buckle up. There’s gobs of stuff to see by looking out the window. Speaking for myself, who says we “have to be doing something” onboard just to keep entertained?……(even though looking out the window can be entertainment.)
February 27th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
I would love to listen to ATC as well.
March 9th, 2008 at 11:54 am
My routine on long haul flights (90% of my flights) is pretty much the same. I “allow” myself to watch a movie or other TV after take-off, accompanied by the meal. Then I either go to sleep (overnight flight) or get to work. It is wonderful and very productive to be working on stuff without phone or other interruptions. Great ideas are born at high altitudes
I am not sure about the comment from Brownbag. The power plugs have always worked for me, both with the old system (I, too, bought the special adapter) and with the new system too.
I have commented before about the lack of daylight on long haul day flights. That is probably my biggest complaint… the closing of the shutters and relegating an entire cabin to darkness whereas your body should really be exposed to as much daylight to combat jet lag. I bring an array of additional plug in lights to create more light in my seating space.
March 12th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Last time I simply enjoyed being together with my girlfriend onboard a Delta plane travelling to the US (and back to Germany).
I also like to look out of the window when we are over land. Or, when having a personal IFE, checking out the flight progress.
Listening to mp3s provided by DoD is also very nice.
Like several other commentators I usually look into the Sky magazine and the SkyMall catalog (Steve is right, there are a lot of things I absolutely don’t need, but that are cool).
Some people like to work on a plane which I can understand. However, I like to leave work at home. This is because I don’t happen to fly for business reasons, only for leisure … if I can afford it.
On some flights I read a book (Tom Clancy or Harry Potter).
April 2nd, 2008 at 12:48 pm
I enjoy the in seat video and live TV when it’s working. (Not very often can I get all the channels) but I guess catching up on sleep is what I do most of the time while in flight. Many times I’m catching an early flight after a short night.
Listening to ATC would be a nice addition, and how about a camera mounted in the nose that we could watch while taxiing and during takeoff and landing?