What Genius thought it would be a good idea to use touch-screens in headrests
 

I have to ask, having just endured a SIN-LHR flight in BA economy with a child seated behind me hitting me in the back of the head for the best part of 12 hours.

Who thought that the introduction of these would be a good plan, I saw at least two heated arguments in the cabin down the back.

Please cant you change the system to use the arm-rest controls?

I came across these for first time this year. First in May on Air Canada, 767 Toronto to LHR and then again only the week before last on Thomsonfly, 767, LGW to Palma and back. Both those airlines are now off my list due to these screens. I am a strange individual, I sleep better in an economy seat than in business or first class but to have some person tapping on my headrest, particularly and understandably an excited child playing a game is beyond the pale and prevents any kind of rest. BA has been off my list for longhaul for about 6 years due to rotten service and terrible seats. Now you tell me there is a further reason not to contemplate them. I am really not surprised that tempers flared. Obviously the clown that agreed to them never flies in Y.

Could we have some naming and shaming on here so that we know which airlines to avoid please?

BA's IFE has the touchscreens fitted as well as arm-mounted controls I think on the aircraft with the 18 channel IFE (747s then).

You could have asked the child if it didn't mind using the handset instead...

I did ask him to take it easy with the screen, however was told by his loving father that he had paid for the seat just like I have.

Hey ho, guess i'll just have to stick at the front end of the plane!!!!

or the last row in economy. No one behind you.

We flew BA economy back from JFK a couple of days ago and noted this problem. I took care to support the screen or press gently but can imagine the irritation engendered by vigorous prodding. (hold the jokes please).

More of a problem was the large teenager behind who couldn't keep his knees out of my back and the pig next to my wife who made his disappointment at having the empty seat next to him occupied at STD -15 very clear.

Crew were very good, though. :p

Swap seats with the pax behind the Father - see how he likes it!!!

UFO

Yeah I remember when BA first introduced it there were a few problems. I just ask the passengers to use the arm rest controls instead, the screen can be controlled by using the directional arrows and enter button. If you dont have success asking the nobby behind you then just ask one of the crew descretly, we are good at sorting things like that out...especially with kids!

The thing that bugs me is that the touch screen is rather sensitive and doesnt respond well to being constantly banged by the person using it, generally it only needs a light touch to get what you want. If it needs a firm pressing of the screen then it usually just means the screen needs cleaning and the crew have access to alcoholic wipes for this!

AIH
 

I suffered exactly the same on an AIH A330 LGW-CUN many moons ago....except that it was a fool of a fully grown adult poke, pokity poke poke poke all the frikkin way to Mexico.

In fact I recall he'd poked so much before we'd even pushed back that I knew the following 11 hours or so were not going to be in the slightest bit pleasant - how right I was :ugh: Never flown them since :D

cheers ;)
FF

FormerFlyer

Thanks for taking up my suggestion of naming a shaming, but what airline is AIH? Clearly I want to avoid them too.

Sadly I fear that touch screens are becoming a norm!!! All well and good to name and shame but soon enough you will find that you wont be able to get very far! LOL!

AIH = Airtours International Airways

apaddyinuk - LOL indeed. I find myself despairing at times but laughing at myself for putting myself in the position of travelling by air in Y these day. Just think about the changes I've seen since 1962 when I first started flying as SLF. First the introduction of computers to check people in. In 1978 I remember being asked to checkin one hour before takeoff. Never missed a flight, checkin was quick, very quick indeed. Then along came entertainment in the form of screens at the end of the cabin. Now cabin crew started demanding the blinds down so we can't see the view. Then intensive security causing delays, stress, rudeness on the part of everyone. Then the reduction of seat pitch from a sensible 34" to 31" or less on mainline carriers. To help with the discomfort of passengers on demand entertainment with boxes at one's feet. Now we have touch screens to annoy the person in front. Not long before mobiles going off as standard. A superb, easy, comfortable and fascinating way to travel ruined systematically over the years. I can only hope someone will charge passengers for everything as UA seems to be going. With a bit of luck everyone will be charged money for the use of the entertainment system and people will wise up and not pay it. Then hopefully airlines will remove the lot as not being cost effective and we can have some old fashioned conversation with our neighbours, the blinds up, and some legroom under the seat in front.

As for fewer places to get to I have to disagree. I have discovered the delights of seatravel over the past four years. It is truely wonderful, hassle free with friendly people everywhere. And what is more the boats go all over the world.

Ah well, whinge over, off to Bogota in Y travelling with AA. I wonder what they will do to me........?

Moira - Thank you for the information.

Given the woe it causes, isn't disabling it a good idea?

This concept might also be applied to the worthless nincompoop who came up with the idea.

BOFH

When the screens were finally installed at my airline, we had both versions (touch screen and remote controlled) for evaluation.
A questionnaire was handed out, and the majority of our passengers preferred the touch screens. The questionnaires were not sealed by the way, so we were able to read a few, and that was what the general opinion was.
I'm not saying that was what decided it, but I can tell you, our passengers were at least involved. :)

onboard

Danke.

However, to what extent did the questionnaire take into account the minor inconvenience of having the back of one's head probed?

Why would anyone with a reasonable flow of blood to his brain come up with the concept not only of having your back kicked every now and again, but the back of your head being used like a remote control of someone with ADD?

BOFH

I know, I know. And I understand exactly what you mean. I have spent a fair amount of time talking to the "pokers", explaining that just touching the screen lightly does the trick.
I don`t remember the exact phrasing of course, but passengers were asked in what way the screens were practical or impractical, and at least in the ones I saw, the point didn't come up.
Most felt that the touchscreen was more intuitive. Whatever.:bored:

On some airlines (notably LX), these screens are quite useless when the pax in front goes to full recline. You can't adjust the screen to show anything but a ghost picture.

Had that in VS PE the last time I had to use them ... as a 6 footer I just managed to slide down the seat and bend my neck enough to see a picture.

Who was the "engineering" dimweed who didn't put enough angle of dangle in the hinges of those things? Was it actually thought through? Eight hours or more stuck in a tube is bad enough without additional aggravation.

Air Rage ... that's me! Especially now it's also non-smoking for a virtually a day before you land at your destination!

Two-Tone-Blue,

I understand! At 6' 2" I have had exactly the same problem on VS PE. Best seats are at the front of the PE cabin where the IFE screen folds out of the armrest...

Still, could be worse... I could be a smoker...:hmm:

Best Regards,

Atlantean.