Apple's iPad mini to be offered by Hawaiian Airlines as in-flight entertainment
Hawaii's largest airline, and the 11th largest in the U.S., Hawaiian Airlines announced on Thursday that it will be offering Apple's iPad mini to passengers traveling on routes served by its fleet of Boeing 767-300 aircraft.
The airline is contracting with Bluebox Avionics, an in-flight entertainment system supplier, to roll out the iPad minis in a total of 14 planes by Sept. 1. In all, 1,400 tablets will be dispensed to cover the 14 routes from Hawaiian Airlines' hub in Honolulu to the U.S. mainland, Asia, the South Pacific.
"With the help of Bluebox Avionics, we're building on our acclaimed inflight service by incorporating the latest in popular consumer tech products to enhance our in-flight entertainment options," said Hawaiian Airlines vice president of product development Blaine Miyasato.
With the mini, passengers will have access to over 100 hours of movies, TV shows and games. Those traveling in Business Class will get to use the tablets free of charge, while those seated in Economy Class need to reserve units for $15 at the gate or $17 in-flight.
The new option is not meant to completely replace existing in-flight entertainment systems built into planes' seat backs, which are usually free for all passengers. Instead, the iPad minis will augment Hawaiian's offerings, much like systems offered by United Airlines and other major carriers.
The airline is contracting with Bluebox Avionics, an in-flight entertainment system supplier, to roll out the iPad minis in a total of 14 planes by Sept. 1. In all, 1,400 tablets will be dispensed to cover the 14 routes from Hawaiian Airlines' hub in Honolulu to the U.S. mainland, Asia, the South Pacific.
"With the help of Bluebox Avionics, we're building on our acclaimed inflight service by incorporating the latest in popular consumer tech products to enhance our in-flight entertainment options," said Hawaiian Airlines vice president of product development Blaine Miyasato.
With the mini, passengers will have access to over 100 hours of movies, TV shows and games. Those traveling in Business Class will get to use the tablets free of charge, while those seated in Economy Class need to reserve units for $15 at the gate or $17 in-flight.
The new option is not meant to completely replace existing in-flight entertainment systems built into planes' seat backs, which are usually free for all passengers. Instead, the iPad minis will augment Hawaiian's offerings, much like systems offered by United Airlines and other major carriers.
Comments
2) will they access the Internet, or is it only pre installed vids and offline gaming?
They cost and weigh less.
Quote:
Originally Posted by PhilBoogie
1) why a mini and not the larger one?
2) will they access the Internet, or is it only pre installed vids and offline gaming?
.68 lb for iPad mini versus 1.44 lb for iPad (both wifi versions)... so close to a pound and 1400 tablets for 14 planes, or 100 tablets per plane and your looking at lugging around close to 75 lbs of dead weight when the iPad Mini can accomplish the same entertainment value as the full size iPad. If you think gas for your car at $3.50 to $4.00/gal is bad, try pricing jet fuel for a few hops for the day! Every little bit of less weight the plane has to carry, even 75 pounds, can save the airline big bucks at the end of the year.
First they kill Bento, and then they serve Hawaiian Lunch? That is wildly inconsistent
... keep the good news coming anyhow!
Does Hawaiian Lunch come with Hawaiian Punch?
And wifi? Yeah right. I don't think anybody offers wifi over the Pacific Ocean, and especially not out here in Hawaii.
Quote:
Originally Posted by PhilBoogie
1) why a mini and not the larger one?
2) will they access the Internet, or is it only pre installed vids and offline gaming?
Probably to save weight. Do you know what the weight of a couple of hundred of these things are? Remember, they are trying to also save weight whenever they can. The mini weights half as much, plus they take up less space, plus they charge faster and cost less. They probably only have to rent them out about 40 times for them to break even considering they have to pay for the content. $15 x 40 = $600. That pays for the price of the unit with the content. How many times do these things get rented out during the lifespan of each device? A couple of hundred times? It helps them make more profit to help offset the rising cost of fuel, wages, etc.
I don't know if they have internet access or not. Maybe that's extra, you know how the airlines are. They get you coming and going since you are a captive audience.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dsd
What a violent ad.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dasanman69
Does Hawaiian Lunch come with Hawaiian Punch?
It sure does. I do not have a "before" photo, but this one is "after":
COST.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mdriftmeyer
It sure as hell isn't weight. The total mass would accompany roughly a 200lb extra passenger. It's not that.
COST.
Cost is the most likely reason. Another one might be recharging times... my iPad Mini recharges several times faster than the iPad 3 or 4 (not astonishing given the discrepancy in battery size). If your aircraft are in heavy rotation, that might make a difference.
Quote:
Originally Posted by drblank
Probably to save weight. Do you know what the weight of a couple of hundred of these things are? Remember, they are trying to also save weight whenever they can. The mini weights half as much, plus they take up less space, plus they charge faster and cost less. They probably only have to rent them out about 40 times for them to break even considering they have to pay for the content. $15 x 40 = $600. That pays for the price of the unit with the content. How many times do these things get rented out during the lifespan of each device? A couple of hundred times? It helps them make more profit to help offset the rising cost of fuel, wages, etc.
I don't know if they have internet access or not. Maybe that's extra, you know how the airlines are. They get you coming and going since you are a captive audience.
By my calculation a 100 iPads for 1 flight purchased in bulk at $300/ea = 30,000. 1 trip with all 100 iPads rented at $15 per rental = $1500 per flight = 20 flights to break even.
In reality it would be a bit more, but in 20 flights they break even and make money on it after that. Doubling their investment in 40 trips.
That the mini is smaller and cheaper maybe, but the argument that it saves weight (75lbs as someone computed) seems too crazy to be possible to me. 75lbs of difference in weight is the difference of just one mildly overweight passenger climbing on board.
Besides which, just tear out the existing in-seat screens (that are 2 inches deep) and put the iPads in their place, that would surely be a net decrease in weight. Thus, I just can't see the weight difference being the critical factor in deciding to go mini instead of full size.
Have you ever flown Hawaiian? There's not really enough space in economy to use and view a full-sized iPad comfortably.
Can they not postpone until a decent high resolution one arrives?
Quote:
Originally Posted by PhilBoogie
1) why a mini and not the larger one?
2) will they access the Internet, or is it only pre installed vids and offline gaming?
1) Cheaper.
2) Only to order online from Skymall.