In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) is not a marketing tool for airlines to promote sales of flight tickets. Actually, it makes travel easy and worthwhile for you.
Imagine traveling on a long-haul flight from the USA to India with no source of entertainment.
IFE has been around for a long time. For instance, Aeromarine Airways showed the first film inside their air carrier in 1921.
However, it was the 1960s that in-flight services and entertainment options really took off.
And with the current technology airlines such as Emirates and Qatar Airways have come a long way.
Even the in-flight magazines have been digitalized. They are compatible with smart devices such as tablets, and notes.
Here are seven best In-Flight Entertainment trends to make your air travel experience fun!
1. In-Flight Passenger Engagement Platforms
Airlines promote better engagement practices through wireless IFE, or even Android-based in-seat IFE platforms, and so on.
Today, you can operate the in-seat system and set up custom playlists. Moreover, you can even resume it from previous flights.
Not just that, the passengers, especially business travelers may sync their device directly with the flight’s IFE system and proceed with work on the go.
Airline operators can hand you in-seat power access. This will enable the internet and the wireless IFE system. Information Technology is upgrading the way we fly every day.
2. Moving-Map Systems
Moving-Map Systems is an exciting and informative IFE trend.
It allows you to have real-time high-resolution views of the terrain as the airplane flies.
Now you don’t have to struggle to get the window seats to sightsee!
On top of that, Moving-Map Systems also give you information such as the altitude, position, and direction of the aircraft, air temperature, distance from the destination, and more.
Airshow, the world’s first moving map entertainment system made its way in 1982.
Swissair and KLM airlines were the first in the industry to include it as a part of their in-flight entertainment.
3. In-Flight Audio Entertainment
Audio entertainment comprises of much more than music. News, information, comedy, interviews with celebrities, and important person are also audio IFE.
So much so, certain airlines have a channel through which the passengers can hear the plane’s radio communication. Try it on your next flight. It can be so much fun, especially for kids interested in aviation.
You can overhear the interchanges between the pilot with other planes and control stations.
4. In-Flight Video Entertainment
Video entertainment systems are small video monitors installed in the back of the seat in front of you.
However, sometimes large video screens are suspended overhead towards the front section of the cabin.
Airlines nowadays have installed Personal Televisions (PTVs), individual video systems for each passenger.
Some PTVs can even broadcast direct satellite television, while others are compatible with video game consoles.
Moreover, features like AVOD (Audio-Video-On-Demand) allows you to play, pause, or stop a program.
Another technological revolution was the closed-captioning technology pioneered by the Emirate airline.
This technology streams dialogues/narration, etc. into text form offering deaf and hard-of-hearing passengers a better flying experience.
5. In-Flight Games
A fascinating breakthrough is the interactive in-flight video games. They have evolved from being tools of entertainment to means of education.
Today, some games allow you to learn new languages through games and trivia.
This is hugely beneficial not only for business travelers and backpackers but for all kinds of tourists.
There are many other learning mini-games. They keep the passengers entertained, especially during long flights.
Many major airlines such as Cathay Pacific offer wide range of video games.
6. In-Flight Commerce and Retail
Shopping from the airport Duty-Free, even before you have landed is now possible.
The in-flight retail saves your time which is especially useful during short layovers.
Moreover, business travelers in the business section of the aircraft can stream business videos. Startups can pitch their business through such streaming.
Further, passengers can also come across various travel offers and schemes, such as the USA to India flight tickets deals or others.
7. Meal Ordering Services
The IFE has even made its way into the food, and beverages served mid-flight. Do you know that you can sync your smartphone to place food orders?
Everyone loves a digitally enabled food delivery service that is personalized when you are traveling with hundreds of passengers.
So on your next flight, check with the airlines to connect your smartphone with the airline’s IFE system.
Such smartphones are connected to a separate plug-and-play WiFi so that it doesn’t interfere with the plane’s connection.
While flight magazines have been serving the purpose for long, their contribution to IFE cannot be overlooked as their use is still widely prevalent.
However, every airline wants to offer the best services and experiences to their passengers.
Hence, moving on to technologically-advanced in-flight entertainment became necessary.
So what is your favorite in-flight entertainment option?