It’s been a tough week, so forgive my absence online. I’m just starting to dig through the e-mails and comments, so if you sent me a message, please bear with me while I catch up. Speaking of catch-up…
Downgraded: Channel 9
For those who have flown United Airlines, you may be familiar with Channel 9, the inflight entertainment feature that lets you hear the conversations between the pilots and air traffic control. There are two kinds of people in the world: Those who get it, and those who don’t. I’m a fan, and I have always appreciated the openness and lifting-of-the-curtain that the channel provides. Of course, I hardly ever fly United any more, so I might as well use the past tense in describing it myself. When things seem amiss (like a powerful jolt of turbulence) it’s nice to hear know what’s going on. My affection for channel 9 is probably balanced out by the naysayers who ask why the hell anyone would want to hear that stuff, or who would rather NOT know how airline pilots actually do their job. The naysayers may have their day, though, as reports are increasing that Channel 9 is turned off more and more. The Wall Street Journal’s Scott McCartney even devoted a weekly column to the subject, and his sources indicate that some pilots are intentionally keeping Channel 9 turned off as a protest against United management. Well that’s just lovely. Take one of the last (positive) things that makes UA unique, and destroy it. Another nail in United’s coffin.
Upgraded: Eos going domestic?
Eos, the swanky all-business class airline, plans to expand beyond its New York JFK to London Stansted route. First there was the addition of Newark flights to London. Then London to Dubai. And now, there’s word that Eos wants to introduce flights to “Western U.S. destinations.” But whereto?
Upgraded: Salt Lake City security
At the Salt Lake City airport, the TSA is running a pilot program and allowing passengers to self-categorize themselves as beginners, intermediates, or experts, as pertains to security. Interestingly, the “beginner” stage includes families and special needs travelers. Different needs, sure, but “beginners”? I like the ski-slope coding scheme (black diamond = expert), but it’ll be interesting to see if passengers actually categorize themselves correctly.
Upgraded, sorta: JetBlue inflight meals
Downgraded: Your peace and quiet
JetBlue will give you a free breakfast laden with Kraft cream cheese, as part of a buzz-building campaign for a reformulated light spread. Some flights even have Kraft representatives in white tuxedos chatting up the flight, pimping the cheese. Classy. The free bagel and cream cheese? Fine. But a sales schtick you can’t escape? Two thumbs way, way down. (Marketplace, via Rick Seaney)
Downgraded: go! Airlines’ pilots’ caffeine rush
Inter-island capitalization-challenged Hawaiian airline go! treated its passengers to a little extra flight mileage on board their Canadair torture machine regional jet, when both the pilot and the co-pilot apparently fell asleep during a flight from Honolulu to Hilo. I couldn’t imagine falling asleep during such a short flight, even as a passenger. But both pilots falling asleep? Mechanical errors have been ruled out. Those pilots’ seats must be comfy. Or maybe someone slipped them a decaf instead of a triple-shot of regular?
Downgraded: London Heathrow
British Airways economy and premium economy passengers at Heathrow’s terminal 4 were told they could only fly on February 20 if they had no checked baggage. What? Again: Passenger wishing to check bags were prohibited from flying. Why? Because the airport’s luggage handling system had failed. And note that this is the terminal where BA’s long-haul flights tend to begin, so you’re not just hitting the folks who are daytripping on business. Great work, team. (Thanks, Hamish!)
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February 26th, 2008 at 12:02 am
I have to say the last 6 times I’ve flown on UAL mainline, channel 9 has been off. I’ve asked the flight attendant if the pilot would be turning it on and I got a very emphatic no.
One of many reasons UAL will not be getting my business anymore.
Curious on why you haven’t been flying UAL lately. Did you venture over to Terminal 3?
February 26th, 2008 at 9:15 am
As a nervous flier, I have a love/hate relationship with channel 9 as sometimes listening to it is scarier than not. But when I fly all of the other airlines that do not have it, I feel as though I am missing a security blanket. I really like knowing it is there if I want it; I often tune into it when there is a rough patch of air to hear how long it is going to last or if the pilots are working to get us out of it.
One time, ascending out of Ontario the plane precipitously loses altitude (on purpose) and everyone on the plane was wondering what happened. On channel 9 we heard that we had a collision warning with another plane in the airspace. I appreciated knowing what happened even though I and the pilots were disturbed (well they were really angry) that we were placed in a situation where the warning was triggered.
I seek out United flights over others of the same price because they offer this service. I wonder how many others feel the way I do. Unlike Rob, the vast majority of my many United flights had channel 9 activated. In the current state of airline mediocrity, it is one amenity that really makes them stand out and presumably doesn’t cost them anything to provide.
Long live channel 9!!!
February 26th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
My father is a retired air traffic controller and I’ve enjoyed listening to Channel 9 from that perspective.
I think part of the fear of flying some people have has to do with lack of control – and at least hearing what is going on makes me feel more comfortable. I also find it more entertaining than most of the other audio channels.
Didn’t one airline way back when show the video of the cockpit action during takeoff and landing? I remember seeing something about that.
February 26th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
I like channel 9, it is one of the very few things on United that I do like.
Get to hear some humourous stuff. Like the time in LAX when cross-winds and rain restricted take-offs and the taxi-ways were a mess. One frustrated pilot (not ours) asked if he could take the next right, having taken over an hour after landing to still not be at the terminal. The reply “go ahead if you want to end up nose to nose with [another aircraft] and be stuck there until we can be bothered sorting it out”.
Other times will get useful info like hearing the aircraft used on my onward flight is also running late arriving so may not misconnect after all.
Les – a number of airlines have cameras showing the view from the nose (or tail). I like those too.
February 27th, 2008 at 2:02 am
Yep, another Channel 9 fan. I like it even for mundane info, like how far back the plane is in the take-off queue. I’ve never heard anything juicy like the above, but I find the availability very calming. It seems silly to turn off such an easy way of keeping passengers happy, but I suppose no surprise there . . .
March 17th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
I could hardly agree more.
It’s the ONLY reason I (still) fly United.
I have been lucky that in the past year or two every flight has had it on.
As you say Mark, I get it!
I would love to try Virgin (across the pond) but not until they offer it … anyone know WHY it is unique to United?