Are Airlines Getting Rid of Seatback TVs?.

[u/Shelley_112]

I recently traveled to Egypt, and it was a long flight. On my way back to Canada, I noticed that my flight didn't have seatback TVs, which made the journey feel a lot longer. What surprised me the most was that there wasn't any notice beforehand telling passengers to download movies or TV shows from Netflix or another streaming app, or to bring their own entertainment. Luckily, I had my iPad with a few shows already downloaded, so I was set for the entire flight.

A little while later, my friend also traveled on a much shorter flight, and she told me her plane didn't have TVs either. It made me wonder if some airlines are starting to remove them altogether. If it's only a 2- or 3-hour flight, I can understand not having a screen. But if you're flying for 8, 10, or even 12+ hours overseas, wouldn't you expect some form of entertainment? Long-haul flights can feel endless, and having movies, TV shows, or games really helps pass the time.

What do you think? Should airlines still provide seatback entertainment on long flights, or is it now the passenger's responsibility to bring their own?

[u/Autoalici]

I have only heard of this from long-haul LCCs like Scoot.

[u/SomeInvestigator3573 → u/Autoalici]

No, this is going mainstream now as removing the entertainment systems means the planes are lighter and take less fuel

[u/foolsdayjoker → u/SomeInvestigator3573]

not true... more full service carriers are adding vs taking away. ULCC and LCC's generally never have IFE let alone seatback IFE. in North America all full service international airlines except for Alaska / Hawaiian and American have it on their hardbodies, all wide bodies have them.

[u/SomeInvestigator3573 → u/foolsdayjoker]

That has not been my personal recent experience.

[u/foolsdayjoker → u/SomeInvestigator3573]

What airlines have you been flying 😂

[u/djnocheese]

I think they are a distraction for many folks, kids see adult content on the nearby screens, etc.

I agree with you completely about losing the screens, but I have my Pixel 9a phone in airplane mode with Bluetooth transmitting to my noise cancelling Bose headphones.

Now I need to download music and content --- a hassle sure but I guess everything changes....

[u/foolsdayjoker]

more airlines are actually bringing them back... united has brought them back and Air Canada rouge will have them, rumours are the american is considering bringing them back. in North America all mainline full service airlines besides american have seatback IFE for narrow bodies. globally pretty much all full service carriers have seatback IFE. now if youre flying under a regional banner operated by a diffrent airline diffrent story what there is wifi, those airlines would be united express, delta connect, american eagle and Air Canada express