The research also showed that the cost of inflight streaming varied significantly between airlines, with Cathay Pacific, Delta Airlines and Swiss Air all offering passengers inflight up-streaming at no additional cost.
According to the latest research published by SITA, 63% of global passengers expressed they would prefer to use their own smartphone, tablet or laptop for inflight entertainment. With an increasing number of airlines now offering inflight streaming facilities as well as Wi-Fi connection, Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) has created a guide highlighting the different options available across major airlines.
The information compares the entertainment system and compatible devices onboard 20 major airlines including Air France, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, as well as the cost of Wi-Fi connection during the flight. The research also highlights the availability of streaming from a passenger’s personal device onto the airlines in-seat widescreen and streaming content from the airlines entertainment system onto a passenger’s personal device.
Of the 20 airlines researched 10, including Air Canada, Cathay Pacific and Lufthansa, were found to offer passengers the option of streaming films, TV programmes and music from their personal electronic device directly to their in-seat widescreen. Streaming facilities were also found to vary according to the airline and booking class, with Virgin Atlantic offering streaming facilities on their new Upper Class Suite which is available only on selected aircraft.
The research also showed that the cost of inflight streaming varied significantly between airlines, with Cathay Pacific, Delta Airlines and Swiss Air all offering passengers inflight up-streaming at no additional cost. Monarch Airlines, on the other hand, only allows passengers the option of previously downloading films and TV programmes from the Monarch Airlines App onto their personal electronic device to stream during the flight at an additional cost of £3.99 per passenger, per flight.
With regards to inflight wireless Internet access, 12 airlines allow passengers to purchase an hourly, quarterly or 24 hours service. The cost of an Internet pass also varied across the airlines, with a one hour pass costing £6 with Aer Lingus, £7 with Lufthansa and £8 with Japan Airways, however some airlines such as Emirates and Iberia charge according to the amount of MB used.
Passengers should also be aware that onboard an aircraft all technology amenities such as inflight streaming functions and Wi-Fi connections are subject to interruptions during taxi, take-off and landing, but are fully functionality once the aircraft has reached cruising altitude.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
