United Airlines (www.united.com) has equipped its 200th aircraft with live television. The airline now provides more than 100 channels of live, in-flight programming. United currently offers live television on most Boeing 737 aircraft and on many of its Boeing 757-300 aircraft.
In addition to live news, sports and family entertainment, customers may enjoy up to eight newly released movies a month. The service is complimentary for customers in United First. Travelers seated in United Economy may purchase the service starting at $5.99; the cost varies depending on the flight length.
"The launch of live television on our 200th aircraft, our introduction this year of flat-bed seating on the transcontinental 'p.s.' service and satellite Wi-Fi now being implemented on our entire mainline fleet reflect our commitment to advancing the inflight experience for our customers," said Tom O'Toole, United's senior vice president of Marketing and Loyalty. O'Toole is also president of MileagePlus.
Live television-equipped aircraft also feature power outlets in United First and United Economy Plus, enabling customers to charge their cell phones, laptops, e-readers and other mobile devices.
Onboard Improvements
United offers personal on-demand entertainment for premium-cabin and economy-cabin customers on the majority of its long-haul international aircraft, providing hundreds of hours of movies, television programs, music and games. Additionally, United is:
- Installing satellite Wi-Fi. The airline expects to have more than 200 aircraft equipped with the service by the end of 2013.
- Adding flat-bed seating on all of the airline's long-haul international aircraft.
- Introducing flat-bed seats on its transcontinental 'p.s.' Premium Service, offering a revamped premium cabin, all-new interiors, personal on-demand entertainment, Wi-Fi connectivity, in-seat power and USB ports. The airline expects to complete the reconfiguration of p.s. aircraft by year's end.
- Adding extra-legroom Economy Plus seating. The airline currently offers Economy Plus seating on nearly 650 mainline aircraft and approximately 150 regional jets.
- Nearly doubling the overhead storage space on more than 150 Airbus aircraft, with more than half of those retrofits completed.
- Implementing streaming wireless video onboard its Boeing 747-400 aircraft beginning later this year.