Watch movies from your iPod/iPhone on your inflight screen

It’s cool to be able to watch videos on your iPod or iPhone when you’re on the go.  This is great for air travel, especially when the inflight movies suck or when you rather not use your laptop (or decide not to travel with one).  Over longer duration, obviously battery life is a concern.  Well on some airlines, it’s actually possible to not only charge your device, but actually play the video on your personal video screen.  United and a few other airlines announced the implementation of these new entertainment system capabilities a couple years ago, and just last year rolled them out, however in very few flights.  United offers this capability on international flights but only in first and business classes. Singapore Airlines, the first to rollout this system, so far is the only airline to offer in all classes on their Airbus A340-500 and A330-300 flights (on their impressive KrisWorld system). Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, Dubai’s Emirates are said to be implementing these systems as well.

Unfortunately, the cable is not only unique but rare.  You can’t buy in the Apple store or on Amazon, etc. Apparently they only seem to be available through the airline in which you’re flying. United sells one through their inflight Duty Free shop.  And by “one” I mean only they only have one in inventory per flight!  (Ask the agent serving your first/business class cabin before someone beats you to it!)  Word is many agents seem to know little about them despite the picture on their website (so you might want to show them the image  below when you ask for it!).  And at $30 they’re not cheap.

United sells this cord inflight for $30

For now, domestic and coach/economy class passengers will have to wait before they can connect their iPods and iPhones.   This would be an expensive upgrade that airlines may not be able to justify for the economic flyer whose preferences tend to be based more on fare price than inflight offerings.  But I suspect some airlines with older planes and equipment will be the first to upgrade if they hope to compete with next gen airlines like Virgin America especially since they are a low fare airline already even with a modern entertainment system in RED.