A380's Small Screens

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networkn

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Topic # 224329 13-Nov-2017 11:05

Hi.

I have flown the A380 with 3 carriers now. They have all had small slow and terrible IFE systems with small screens. I am not sure why such a modern plane would fall behind the A350, 777's and 787's for IFE?

I love the A380's otherwise, but now I avoid them because the entertainment systems are awful.

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Reply # 1900103 13-Nov-2017 11:05

Allow me to introduce you folks to our new travel community: TravelTalk NZ.

We hope to see you there!

I am the Geekzone Robot and I am here to help. I am from the Internet. I do not interact. Do not expect other replies from me.

sbiddle

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Reply # 1900108 13-Nov-2017 11:16

Really depends on the airline, and once something is in place they won't necessarily change it to keep commonality between the fleet. An example of this is Air NZ installing Panasonic eX2 IFE on their last 2 77W's that they got in 2014 to keep the same platform on all 77W's all while they were getting ready to install the eX3 IFE in their 77E refit.

Any airline that has had the A380 for some time will probably keep the exact same product in newer aircraft.

networkn

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Reply # 1900111 13-Nov-2017 11:21

Singapore is the example I was thinking of. The 777-300's which have been in service for quite a few years, have superior screens than the A380's which were put into service afterward.

Luthansa same, Emirates same.

I don't have any experience with the others.

I did wonder if it was because the A380's are the equivilent of people movers doing high volume, long distance flying trying to keep the costs down.

I'd gladly pay another $100 for better IFE.

sbiddle

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Reply # 1900136 13-Nov-2017 12:06

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IFE isn't actually a key point for me these days. On my last trip to Europe this year I spent probably 2-3 hours in total out of the 44ish hours I spent on the plane.

If you want to see poor IFE you should see the SQ 777's they fly out of Wellington. These haven't seen a refit in the 14 years they've been in service so have old 4:3 non touch screens that are so slow and laggy they're actually unusable. It does make you realise how much IFE has advanced since then.

afe66

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Reply # 1900180 13-Nov-2017 12:38

Which airlines a380 had rubbish in flight screens so I can factor that into flight choices.

(I've only flown emirates 380)

jarledb

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Reply # 1900186 13-Nov-2017 12:53

I have always been happy with the IFE systems on Emirates A380. What problems have you had?

Here is the IFEs I have seen on the Emirates A380:

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amiga500

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Reply # 1900262 13-Nov-2017 16:00

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I've flown trans Tasman on Emirates & found their big screens just fine. On one flight I noticed the back of the screen had got quite warm - not enough to say anything to a flight attendant.

I've also flown long haul on Qantas A380 & found the screens just fine. Maybe a bit smaller than Emirates, but I liked the mini-reviews for each movie that was available & that made up for the smaller screens.

I am old enough to remember the days when a film would be projected onto a white screen on one of the bulkheads, so any type of IFE is good to me!

dafman

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Reply # 1900273 13-Nov-2017 16:37

(1st world problem!).

Anyway, now I have got that off my chest, just download some Netflix onto your Samsung tablet, hook up your Sony WH1000xm2's, job done.

Goosey

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Reply # 1900298 13-Nov-2017 17:56

What are you excatley wanting from the IFE?

I found the Emirates A380 ok to use/watch. Using the handheld to navigate was a good experience too.

bongojona

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Reply # 1903333 17-Nov-2017 16:07

dafman:
(1st world problem!).

Anyway, now I have got that off my chest, just download some Netflix onto your Samsung tablet, hook up your Sony WH1000xm2's, job done.

This is exactly what I was going to suggest. Except I have Sennheiser cans, but there is a huge advantage in bringing your own entertainment on board. I download from Netflix, BBC iplayer and YouTube and can cram 100 hours onto my tablet sd card.

Also am a fan of Virgin Blue and their BYO device to access their entertainment system. Works well.

Only issue is when there is no power plug / USB port for charging

networkn

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Reply # 1903336 17-Nov-2017 16:17

bongojona:
dafman:

(1st world problem!).

Anyway, now I have got that off my chest, just download some Netflix onto your Samsung tablet, hook up your Sony WH1000xm2's, job done.

This is exactly what I was going to suggest. Except I have Sennheiser cans, but there is a huge advantage in bringing your own entertainment on board. I download from Netflix, BBC iplayer and YouTube and can cram 100 hours onto my tablet sd card.

Also am a fan of Virgin Blue and their BYO device to access their entertainment system. Works well.

Only issue is when there is no power plug / USB port for charging

Problem with your own entertainment, is that you need to hold the device. I like having the device on the back of the chair so I have my hands free.

bongojona

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Reply # 1903349 17-Nov-2017 16:55

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I have a case that acts as a stand so pop it on the half folded table.

networkn

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Reply # 1903350 17-Nov-2017 16:57

bongojona: I have a case that acts as a stand so pop it on the half folded table.

Which won't help during turbulence, nor during meal times.

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Reply # 1904009 19-Nov-2017 13:11

I recently flew Dreamliner on Air NZ PE to Singapore and then A380 from Singapore to India PE on Singapore Airlines.

Given a choice, I'll pick Dreamliner every time. Far nicer plane to fly on IMV. (OT but Air NZ PE beats Singapore Airlines PE hands down too).

elpenguino

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Reply # 1911858 1-Dec-2017 23:32

amiga500:

I've flown trans Tasman on Emirates & found their big screens just fine. On one flight I noticed the back of the screen had got quite warm - not enough to say anything to a flight attendant.

I've also flown long haul on Qantas A380 & found the screens just fine. Maybe a bit smaller than Emirates, but I liked the mini-reviews for each movie that was available & that made up for the smaller screens.

I am old enough to remember the days when a film would be projected onto a white screen on one of the bulkheads, so any type of IFE is good to me!

Ahhhh, if you could see the movie through the clouds of smoke, that is.

And the thrill of scoring a plastic tiki in the toilet if you were lucky - or a trip to the cockpit to look at all the buttons !

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