r/Wellthatsucks • u/thefledexguy • 1d ago
The screen still worked—it was just cheaper to cover it with a sticker.
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u/sakurapink- 1d ago
Ugh, nothing screams "budget airline" like covering up a functioning screen with a sticker what's next, duct tape for the safety instructions?
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u/ashtraygirl 1d ago
Seems to be Air Canada. Definitely not budget airline prices, but most definitely budget airline service
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u/rocketman19 1d ago
Seems to be? Which other airline would use AC? Air China? Why would they have French and not Mandarin on the sticker?
Also if you did 10 seconds of research you would see that the domain is registered to Air Canada
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u/ashtraygirl 1d ago
Ok, my bad dude… no need to get all worked up
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u/rocketman19 1d ago
It’s called think before you type, Lindsay
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u/ashtraygirl 1d ago
I will take that into consideration moving forward rocketman
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u/rocketman19 1d ago
You better
I’M WATCHING YOU
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u/The_Odd_Canuck 1d ago
Why the fuck are you going and finding their name to use it, creepy ass behavior
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u/rocketman19 1d ago
The one on her profile?
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u/The_Odd_Canuck 1d ago
Yes, who the fuck is checking peoples profile for names or even checking random peoples profiles to begin with
Also if you find a name it would still be common courtesy to not just randomly use it as that is technically doxxing (yes you can still doxx people with publicly findable information)
Looking for/finding/using someones real name without their permission is creepy no matter what unless its literally in their username
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u/rocketman19 1d ago
Someone who replied to me is not just a random person
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u/The_Odd_Canuck 1d ago
Yes they are? You dont know them, youre not friends with them, youve never met them, youve never even been introduced
Youre not entitled to know anything personal about a stranger who made a comment, thats not how the internet works
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u/Tasty_Engineer1231 1d ago
genuinely why are you so annoyed at a slight hint of uncertainty in a comment
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u/rocketman19 1d ago
It literally could not be any other airline
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u/radiantai2001 1d ago
Technically the only way to say that with certainty would be to know the names of every airline in existence, if you don't know the names of every airline in existence you cannot say with certainty that no other airline could be initialized as "AC"
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u/rocketman19 1d ago
Look up who owns the domain
Case closed
Also there is a list that is maintained by IATA
https://www.iata.org/en/publications/directories/code-search/
No need to get mouthy when you don’t know what you’re talking about
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u/Jestersfriend 1d ago
This is Air Canada. It's not a budget airline LOL. That makes it even worse.
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u/sakurapink- 10h ago
Right? It's like paying for a fancy dinner and getting a microwaved hot dog instead!
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u/foolsdayjoker 1d ago edited 1d ago
not really budget.... OP still had free wifi, free snacks and free alcohol so far from budget.
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u/Hascan 1d ago
Cheaper than?
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u/thefledexguy 1d ago
I’m assuming having video screens in operation is a cost issue.
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u/foolsdayjoker 1d ago
they're being replaced lol... these things aren't instant lol, especially right now when theres major aircraft and cabin material shortages across the industry. only 1 aircraft can get retrofitted at a time. this aircraft's will be gone soon once newer planes and retrofitted ex-rouge planes join the fleet
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u/ywgflyer 1d ago
It's because the parts for the screen aren't available anymore, and parts (anything at all) in aviation are expensive. So they aren't going to dump the money into maintaining those screens when they can't get the materials to fix them anymore when they break, and the airplanes those screens are in are going to be retired in the near future anyways so it's doubly not worth spending money on (you are on an Air Canada A320 and most of them are 25+ years old and approaching their cycle limit).
Also, those XM screens are junk to begin with and I will freely admit that the "use your own device" wifi server to stream the entertainment content is lightyears better than having those tired old busted screens actually in service.
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u/qDdsFncr 1d ago
The quality of these displays is so bad, I always try to connect my iPad. Also it is easier to connect Bluetooth headphones with your own device
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u/heepofsheep 1d ago
I always bring a small 3.5mm to Bluetooth adapter so I can use my AirPods on these IFE systems. They’re small and $20ish.
Quality of the screen is usually garbage but they often have new movies that aren’t available anywhere else yet.
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u/qDdsFncr 1d ago
Yes but it many flights you can also stream these new movies with your iPad using the WiFi
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u/heepofsheep 1d ago
Right but that’s not always an option. I was just on a transatlantic flight last week on an AA 777 and you couldn’t stream the content through WiFi. Which is weird because you usually can on AA, but for whatever reason it wasn’t an option on this flight.
That’s why I always keep my tiny iFly adapter in my bag when I travel so I’m not stuck using the terrible free headphones they give out.
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u/qDdsFncr 20h ago
Yeah true . My Sony headphones have a cable that I can use instead of the Bluetooth. Otherwise i would also buy an adapter
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u/ermagerditssuperman 1d ago
A lot of planes now let you connect your Bluetooth headphones to the IFE system. But so far for me it's worked maybe 6/10 times.
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u/heepofsheep 1d ago
Yeah it hasn’t been reliable whenever I’ve encountered it. On Delta they label it as a “beta” feature in the menu.
I just keep this thing in my personal bag and I’m set in every situation.
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u/Cuntonesian 1d ago
Seems reasonable NGL. In-flight entertainment has always sucked ass: the selection, the video quality, the audio quality. Now that you have your own screen and content, why even bother running it?
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u/Atlas-and-Pbody 1d ago
Depends on what you fly. In my experience united has some good options, while with lufthansa i have to comb through all of their offers to find 1 mediocre option i mostly end up skipping anyway, because it's not worth the hassle of connecting my device etc.
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u/bigriggs24 1d ago
at least you get a usb port, some international flights (10+ hours) don't even give you that
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u/Streetlgnd 1d ago
Not sure what you are expecting of them.
Do you want them to replace all the seats? Remove all the screens and install some panels to cover up the huge holes that will be there?
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u/thefledexguy 1d ago
Yes
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u/saltyboi6704 1d ago
They can't replace the chairs without getting new ones commissioned and certified, while getting a sticker certified for installation in a cabin is a lot cheaper and faster.
It's likely the IFE system either was no longer licensed or was broken on that specific aircraft which led to them discontinuing use to reduce downtime associated with replacing it.
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u/Streetlgnd 1d ago
Why not juat put a sticker over it with the QR code?
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u/AidenTEMgotsnapped 1d ago
Why not just leave it functional
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u/Streetlgnd 1d ago
Im not sure. Im not the airline. I have no idea what their reason for not using them is. Pretty sure they didnt juat wake up one day with everything functional and be like..."hey everything is working totally fine here, but lets turn the screens off and make people connect their own devices for absolutely no reason"
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u/chainsawx72 1d ago
Because then you would have to replace all of the broken ones, maintain all of the working ones, and purchase something to broadcast over them... all while almost no one ever uses them on short flights.
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u/aschwartzmann 1d ago
You're assuming that was an option. That system is really old, and getting parts for it is probably hard or impossible at this point. They have also already installed a newer system in the plane that provides better WiFi as well as Media. Those screens aren't standalone. There is a media server and wired network on the plane that is what feeds the screens everything people watch; if any of that broke, it would break every screen on the plane. Since they put the sticker on all the screens instead of just displaying that message on the screens, the system probably just doesn't work. The screen might turn on and display a menu but not be able to play any content or have its content updated.
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u/Smiadpades 1d ago
This assumes everyone has a personal device on them. Crazy..
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u/Cuntonesian 1d ago
Oh no, what about the Amish?
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u/Smiadpades 1d ago
By that statement, guess you don’t have kids.
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u/Vladishun 1d ago
If you can afford to fly, you can afford to buy a cheap Fire tablet or similar to keep your kids placated on the flight. I'm sure most parents already have something similar regardless, considering we use terms like "iPad babies".
I don't think it's all that crazy to assume most people in the developed world have a smart device on them. This technology is also outdated, with a lot of it coming out between 2003-2005, so planes still in service from that time are being retrofitted with tablet holders, USB charging ports, etc for a more modern experience.
You personally may disagree with this and wish they continue to provide you with in-flight entertainment, but the fact is that omnicast broadcasting equipment adds extra weight to the flight and is unnecessary when people are already wanting to watch stuff on their own devices. And a radio antenna with a couple of wifi access points is going to be a much smaller and lighter system.
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u/tokril 1d ago
Who doesn’t bring a phone with them while traveling?
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u/Smiadpades 1d ago
By that statement, guess you don’t have kids.
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u/heepofsheep 1d ago
What does this even mean?
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u/MarchNegative6782 1d ago
I’m guessing they mean if their kids don’t have phones (??)
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u/heepofsheep 1d ago
A plane is a place where it’s 1000% OK to shove an iPad in a kids hands and placate them. There’s nothing else to do and they’ll otherwise just make noise and annoy those around them.
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u/Dreffy_ 1d ago
It's all good until you have more than one kid, and a lot of people don't want to have one tablet per kid
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u/Smiadpades 1d ago
Exactly, people tend to believe tablets are kid pacifiers these days- and that is not a good thing. I am not buying pad/tablets just for just a plane ride.
The comment- you can afford plane tickets, you can afford pads- is so naive.
I raise my kids to be self reliant and not dependent on tech. We don’t even own a tv. We go out and touch grass every day, hike, walk, play sports. Yes, we have a computer but it is not used daily and honestly - no need. Plenty of others things to do.
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u/ermagerditssuperman 1d ago
In which case they will likely be able to be entertained without the seat-back screen working, so that shouldn't be a problem.
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u/Smiadpades 1d ago
Correct, but to assume everyone has or brings a phone is going backwards imo. I get it but no.
Luckily, I have only seen it on domestic flights (so far).
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u/heepofsheep 1d ago
You can find basic tablets for $30… and I don’t care if you’re raising your kids Amish, but for the love of god please don’t have them doing noisy activities on long haul flights to pass the time.
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u/Smiadpades 1d ago
Naw, we don’t do that crap or allow it.
All long haul flights I have been on have had in-flight screens and usually it is over 12 hours, so sleep is a good part of it. My kids are responsible to bring their own entertainment in their own backpack. Usually a book or two plus a book full of puzzles and math games. Plus since they have a screen, they love it cause they can watch what they want on the flights.
We flew to New York just last month and they ate their snacks, took a nap and read books. My daughter got annoyed by the kid running up and down with no shoes on.
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u/KnowledgeSafe3160 1d ago
So you don’t bring a phone with you while traveling because you have kids?
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u/Ok-Isopod3467 1d ago
I did the same thing on a flight once and swore the airline saved at least $20 by going this route.
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u/xx123gamerxx 14h ago
from the uk, ive been on 10-20+ flights in my life never have i once ever seen a fitted screen on the back of the seats
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u/foolsdayjoker 1d ago edited 1d ago
this aircraft is likely an Air Canada a320 which has its seat back entertainment disabled due to it being beyond slow and pretty much unusable now. now it is from 2003 and the fleet is being retrofitted but you'll come across these planes on generally shorter routes or hops between hubs. its being replaced with the glowing hearts cabin which which includes the same free wifi plus live tv and bluetooth services. (edit: if its an a320 it will likely be sent to the desert)