United offers up LCDs, in-flight entertainment servers on recent flight

It's not like adding in a few LCDs and a swank entertainment system is groundbreaking in the airline industry, but it's still far from commonplace. Earlier this week, United Airlines Flight 952 departed from Washington Dulles and treated its passengers to an impressive array of luxuries. Beyond the elaborate meals and lie-flat beds, fliers were able to kick back and enjoy over 150-hours of on-demand entertainment from a personal 15.4-inch LCD; additionally, economy class customers even had access to (presumably smaller) displays and a digital in-flight entertainment server. Gene Fowler, who spends more time on United flights than most of us would care to imagine, was able to capture the inaugural flight to Frankfurt with a bevy of snapshots, so be sure and hit the link below if you're curious to see what you missed.

[Via FlyerTalk]
Read - United Flight 952
Read - Gene Fowler's photo gallery

[Dragod @ Nov 21st 2007 9:49AM]

That's pretty awesome... Now, we need to get box 360's hooked up to 'em.

[Michael LaFramboise @ Nov 21st 2007 8:32PM]

I don't think they allow explosive devices on planes...

[Flashpoint @ Nov 21st 2007 9:51AM]

After flying routinely to China and Japan from NYC JFK, I can appreciate the innovations on airplanes. My last flight on a 767 was pretty good thanks to these.

[Fastman @ Nov 21st 2007 9:59AM]

What job do you have that you have to fly routinely to China?

[Flashpoint @ Nov 21st 2007 10:31AM]

I work for Lockheed Martin in Great Neck, NY

[Derrick @ Nov 21st 2007 10:00AM]

Oh please.... SIA, Thai Airways and many other good quality international airlines have such goodies for years.

[CL @ Nov 21st 2007 10:19AM]

Yes, american airlines are so far behind when it comes to this kind of stuff, they are like still in the 1980's. I mean come on, they are still using that single project screen in the middle aisle vs LCD in the back of every seat that just about every other airlines have been using for years now.

[Jamar @ Nov 21st 2007 10:59AM]

O RLY? I took Thai Airways Shanghai-Bangkok-Phuket. Never had anything near that. In fact, I'd say Thai is comparable to United (except for their pilots- Thai hires more skilled people, and I could feel it, or rather *not* feel it- never have I experienced such a smooth landing before).

[YouFaceTheTick @ Nov 21st 2007 11:23AM]

Yep, we just flew LAX to Bangkok on an Airbus and it had Video on Demand of about 50 movies, games, learning stuff, TV shows. Made the flight almost bearable.

[Scooter @ Nov 21st 2007 11:27AM]

@Jamar, avoid the budget airlines for long haul, and that includes the american airlines. Leading airlines such as Emirates, Singapore, BA etc. all have quality seating and entertainment. Most do great food up front as well. Virgin is class-leading for its entertainment. Treat yourself!

[carter @ Nov 21st 2007 12:09PM]

Recently flew on Air Canada, they had a similar system. I flew Virgin transatlantic years ago, they had a version of this.

[rzlmlchm009 @ Nov 21st 2007 3:09PM]

It sure beats the old days when people were launched out of cannons. I guess, though, if it were still used today, we would at least get headphones. :)

[c.g. @ Nov 21st 2007 10:04AM]

have you seen the size of the screens of the coach passengers... ? it's ridiculous... that's just insulting really.. a lot of other airlines have better already.... the business/first class is nice though

[tanooki2003 @ Nov 21st 2007 10:36AM]

Oh Please give me a freakin break.

I have been on Malaysia Airlines's jets and they have always had these goodies. They had a complete entertainment system including a SNES emulator + other random mix of games.

This is like hearing about a toy company (nerf) coming out with the frisbee or a car company today coming out with their first CVT transmission.

[Major Malfunction @ Nov 21st 2007 10:42AM]

All of you who are bitching about this not being revolutionary do realize the first line in this reads "It's not like adding in a few LCDs and a swank entertainment system is groundbreaking in the airline industry," right? You did read the chunk, right?

Well, regardless. All of those tools who fly, will, for some reason go out of his or her way to scratch them, crack them, or otherwise screw them up within a month costing the company thousands to replace year over year. *shrug* I bring my own, just let me plug it in so I don't have to look at some broken-down gear.

[YouFaceTheTick @ Nov 21st 2007 11:24AM]

So why report it then? This isn't new, special or groundbreaking so it's just filler?

[Scooter @ Nov 21st 2007 11:30AM]

I've not noticed vandalism on airplanes though older stock does suffer wear and tear. It is a good reason to fly the airlines with the youngest fleets.

[meestro @ Nov 21st 2007 10:52AM]

Air Tahiti NUI going from LA to Paris had this last year, if not before, with the added bonus of video games...There was a fun multiplayer trivia game that let passengers play each other, ultimately causing rivalry and anger. ha

I also enjoyed the belly cam on the plane that allowed us all to tune in as we flew over a beautiful snowcapped greenland.

[Jon @ Nov 21st 2007 11:10AM]

I know I'm the exception to the rule (well, maybe not in this crowd, but certainly overall), but I'd prefer if the airline would give me in-flight Internet access and I'll handle the rest. Most of my long-haul flights are for business, so I'll have my notebook with me. Give me a couple DVDs, in-flight Interweb, noise-canceling headphones, and a flight attendant making sure my glass doesn't run dry, and I'm a happy passenger. (Oh, and a plug for the notebook.) And if Charlie Trotter is cooking the grub I might not want to get off the plane.

[ethana2 @ Nov 21st 2007 2:49PM]

Same order, but skip the DVD's.

I don't mind it being just a 128k connection, as long as they don't screw with all my traffic on it. I may want to torrent a few albums from jamendo.com to listen to on the flight, or stay in touch via VoIP (Don't fret, you would have noise canceling headphones.)

[alex @ Nov 21st 2007 11:16AM]

I don't care what United puts on their airplanes, it still doesn't make up for their lousy service, old airplanes and even older cranky flight attendants. I fly internationally all the time for work and the people that book my flights know to never book me United. If you want good service fly Singapore or Cathy Pacific even the much maligned British Airways or Air France is better. Ok on my last Air France flight two weeks ago my TV didn't work on a 10 hour flight but they made it up to me.

[Greg Legowski @ Nov 21st 2007 11:32AM]

Even lowly USAirways has had in-seat-back LCDs in coach on select routes for many years, on their Airbus 330's flying transatlantic routes. If only their service was 1/4 as good as it used to be, I might consider flying them :)

Nice to see United finally catching up with the times.

[Sam @ Nov 21st 2007 11:44AM]

US Airways sucks. I took them about a year ago, and I'm fairly sure the plane I flew in was the same model used by Lindbergh.

[rzlmlchm009 @ Nov 21st 2007 3:17PM]

I'll bet that Amelia Earhart was simply locked in the bathroom the whole time, too. ;)

[cmj2405 @ Nov 21st 2007 12:15PM]

I'm pretty sure Virgin Atlantic has had stuff like this for a little while now.
My Dad has shown me around a few times before, he works on the airline as an engineer at Heathrow

[m @ Nov 21st 2007 12:27PM]

worst. airline. ever. this is too little, way too late.

[Wwhat @ Nov 21st 2007 3:39PM]

Interesting, seats facing backwards, I thought most people had issues with traveling backwards. (make up your own whitehouse-administration joke at this point)

[Ricardo @ Nov 21st 2007 6:07PM]

"Party like it's 1999"

[edward @ Nov 21st 2007 6:08PM]

West jet has been good to me. Free 20 channels of good tv and four-five movies for 5$ each. Standard 2.5 mm headphone jacks and descent ones for 3$.

And the service is better than anything iv ever experienced.

[tuolumne @ Nov 21st 2007 6:19PM]

I love the morons here who have never seen the seats in person but have no problem completely trashing the product and the airline.

This is business class, lie flat beds, true lie flat. There is STILL a first class cabin, which was also upgraded. This is the best product in North America, that's why it's such a big deal. It's United, the world's second largest airline.

[sandeep1011 @ Nov 21st 2007 9:56PM]

u guys should really see what Emirates and Virgin have - they're like 10 years ahead of AA.

they come to dulles now too (well idk bout emirates)

[TA @ Nov 21st 2007 11:34PM]

So do we get this on the 12 hour flight to Japan in order to compensate for the horrible food?

[endlosluft @ Nov 22nd 2007 4:10PM]

I realize that many people have bad experiences with many airlines. But I have always been very happy with United and I fly more than 100,000 miles a year with them.

If you travel at all regularly in economy and can't afford to spend the big bucks or can't convince your employeer to fork over the cash either -- economy plus (more legroom) is a godsend.
Let's give credit -- where credit is due. They are trying to make the traveling experience a bit more enjoyable.

[walter @ Nov 23rd 2007 12:25AM]

enough of this bockering.. THere are only two manufacturers of Inflight Entertainment systems in the world. One is Panasonic, and the other is Thales. Panasonic among other places are based in Singapore, Thales is based in Irvine CA. So,there are all either one or the other. Not much difference. IF it is On demand they are new system Either Panasonic 3000i or EX2 and Thales 4000 5000 or 6000, if it is broadcasted, they are old Panasonic 2000i or Thales 3000. The contents are basically the same since they are all provided by the same company. It is up to airlines to choose which movie to show.... I bet United system is Panasonic 3000i or EX2. END OF STORY.

[Pavan @ Nov 24th 2007 11:30AM]

How about LiveTV? Or do they contract out their equipment?

[Gene Fowler @ Nov 25th 2007 1:07AM]

I am the crazy guy who is mentioned in the original entry. The flight over was in business and back in first after spending an hour in Frankfurt. I had just enough time there for a glass of OJ and a shower.

I have flown in other carrier's sliding board seats (4-8 degree down slope) and was never comfortable in them. They are correct in saying "At United, the world is truly, truly flat".

In the photo gallery mentioned above you see me checking in the box of custom printed m&ms that I gave out to the first and business passengers. Also you see pics of me in the custom printed polo shirt I had made up.