I’ll miss screens in planes

BLAYNE SLABBERT

Watching a movie on an airplane screen can be frustrating but I’ll miss them when they’re gone.

While the technology is usually below average - low-resolution screens and poor sound - they are convenient, and there’s often a range of movies than can make for serendipitous viewing.

Some airlines are now looking to phase them out or not include them on new planes being built. Initially, this is only planned for short-haul flights.

The two main reasons are that inflight entertainment systems are expensive to install, and most people carry a phone, tablet or laptop with them when they travel.

While I always have a device with me while I fly, I’ll still miss the in-flight system.

You’ll need to be better organised if you’re going to provide your own entertainment on a plane. That means downloading movies or TV shows beforehand.

You’ll also need to make sure you have enough room on your device to store the shows. A couple of movies can eat up several gigabytes. That’s not much for a

You'll need to be better organised if you're going to provide your own entertainment on a plane.

laptop, but it is for phones and tablets.

Choosing your movies beforehand can also mean you’re stuck watching something you don’t really feel like seeing.

That’s one advantage of inflight movies. Most airlines offer dozens of movies and shows catering for all tastes and moods. They also offer the latest movies before they arrive on DVD.

While some airlines have older, screens paired with muffled headphones that often don’t plug in properly, the lack of tech is balanced with having an inbuilt screen which makes it easier when eating.

Maybe airlines will install something that holds your device so you can comfortably use it with a table of food in front of you.

I’ll also miss the screen that shows your flight’s progress but I wouldn’t be surprised if this is replaced by an app.

Not all new tech changes are for the best but air travel is changing fast so in the future it might pay to pack a book just in case you get caught out without anything to watch.