Bound for the USA
I have finalised plans for the quick trip over to the USA. The combination of a strong Aussie dollar and the low prices currently on offer for Trans-Pacific flights due to increased competition on the route makes a short trip a possibility! My allegiance to Star Alliance has me flying United Airlines on a super-cheap mileage earning fare. Sadly though, United has the worst in-flight product on the route, particularly when you are comparing the Economy class cabins. No personal TV's on United Boeing 747-400's in economy, only overhead LCD screens. But what United DO have that all the others do not, is Channel 9. This is one of the audio entertainment channels and so long as you have a captain who uses this feature, you can listen in to the VHF Air Traffic Control frequency your aircraft is currently tuned to! For aviation buffs like me this is FABULOUS! Of course, for the majority of the trans-pacific sector the aircraft communicates on HF radio whilst over water, so this is ...