AIRLINES WITH THE NEWEST ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY
IN FLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT - MOVIES, MUSIC AND GAMES

ENTERTAINMENT TECHNOLOGY ON AIRLINERS

Who needs Airline food when you can listen to music, play games and watch your favorite shows and movies on demand? About the only thing that makes flying bearable these days is in-flight entertainment and the ability to charge your gear with a seat-side port outlet. Surfing the Internet via Wi-Fi will be availablie soon (American Airlines and Virgin America are on board so far), there is plenty that make these entertainment technologies and amenities available to all Airlines that can afford them.

VIRGIN AMERICA AIRLINES ENTERTAINMENT

It took years of legal wrangling for Sir Richard Branson, founder and chairman of the Virgin Group, to get his Virgin brand up and flying within the United States. The wait was worth it, because this is the first Airline where the IT guys had something to do with the design. Not only are the black leather seats in coach comfortable and roomy, but you can also order food from the screen at your seat, when you want it. It doesn't get much more high-tech than that.

Virgin America Airlines Video: Dish live satellite television, Google Maps, and more than 25 pay-per-view movies.

Virgin America Airlines Music: Free access to 3,000 MP3s. Virgin America Airlines will soon introduce a feature that enables the system to remember your preferences and playlists the next time you fly. Also, you can enjoy 20 radio channels and audiobooks.

Virgin America Airlines Games: Open-source video games available, as well as Doom.

Virgin America Airlines Power: A320 planes offer 110-volt power outlets for charging your Laptop, USB ports for charging your MP3 player or Cellphone. The Internet at every seat connecting you to a planewide network for onboard chatting as well as Ethernet, and basic power plugs for all your gear.

AMERICAN AIRLINES ENTERTAINMENT

American Airlines, the world's largest airline, serves almost 250 cities around the globe, and it's working on the technology amenities. The company will test high-speed Internet access on some of its Boeing 767 jets. The service will be available for a fee to passengers in all classes and, pending successful tests, will be expanded to its entire fleet.

American Airlines Video: Still primarily uses overhead screens. However, all Boeing 777 flights have in-seat video screens and ten channels of on-demand movies (TV programming coming soon).

American Airlines Music: The same 14 scratchy stations we've been listening to for years.

American Airlines Gomes: N/A

American Airlines Power: American Airlines aircraft have DC power ports, cigarette lighter-style outlets that deliver 15 volts of direct current. In coach, power plugs are available only in select rows on Boeing 737, 767, 777, MD80, Airbus 300, and most 757 aircraft.

American Airlines has a long way to go before it's truly tech-savvy

CONTINENTAL AIRLINES ENTERTAINMENT

The world's fifth-largest airline and has hubs in Cleveland, Houston, and New York, has been a bit slow to add in-seat fun. In 2007, Continental began upgrading 767s and 777s, particularly in Business-First class, with in-seat power and entertainment.

Continental Airlines Video: Overhead screens are installed on most planes. Domestic Boeing 767s and 777s have in-seat screens in Business-First cabins, with Audio Video On Demand (AVOD), which allows customers to choose from up to 25 movies and 25 television programs.

Continental Airlines Music: Nearly two dozen stations on most planes. Planes with AVOD offer access to 50 albums' worth of songs.

Continental Airlines Games: On the 767s and 777s, up to 25 games, including Invasion.

Continental Airlines Power: Continental offers the EmPower system, allowing you to plug in and power up on the Boeing 737-800 and 757-200. There are two units per row, located between each power enabled seat just below the seat cushion. The Boeing 767 has one Power unit for each power enabled two seat unit.

DELTA AIRLINES ENTERTAINMENT

It operates service to more worldwide destinations than any airline - 311 destinations in 52 countries. But when it comes to technology, Delta Air Lines offers a mixed bag.

Delta Air Lines Video: Older aircraft have overhead screens. Seatback video screens are found on former Song aircraft (the shortlived Delta boutique carrier). More than 100 Delta aircraft use Delta On Demand, with HBO movies, TV series, and specials, as well as network shows and access to more than 20 satellite networks.

Delta Air Lines Music: Delta On Demand offers 1,600-plus MP3s; 16 audio stations.

Delta Air Lines Games: Nearly a dozen, including Insaniquarium.

Delta Air Lines Power: Delta has installed the EmPower system on all classes of service on 777, 737-800, and 767-400 aircraft. You'll need an adapter to plug in, one that's compatible with the EmPower system and your notebook.

Delta offers more entertainment choices than other major carriers but they're not fleet-wide yet.

JETBLUE AIRWAYS ENTERTAINMENT

Known as much for its free TV as its low fares, JetBlue was the first carrier to offer satellite TV at every seat. It serves 53 cities with up to 525 daily flights and now includes routes to Aruba, all on a fleet of Airbuses outfitted with leather seats and the most leg room in coach.

JetBlue Airways Video: You can watch 36 free channels of DirecTV, including the new Times On Air channel from The New York Times. If that's not enough, you can spend $5 to view a first-run movie on one of the three Fox InFlight Premium Entertainment channels.

JetBlue Airways Music: More than 100 channels of XM Satellite Radio for free, a godsend if you want a lot of audio variety

JetBlue Airways Games: N/A

JetBlue Airways Power: No on-plane power, but does offer free Wi-Fi at its New York (JFK) and Long Beach, CA (LGB) terminals.

JetBlue has the potential to be a contender for the geek-friendliest airline around, assuming it can add MP3s and games to the mix. JetBlue offers each passenger a personal video screen that can play 36 channels of DirecTV and more than 100 channels of XMRadio. There is also a pay-per-view selection of movies and a video magazine created by the New York Times.