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BYO Device: Alaska Airlines Reduces Inflight Tablet Availability

Dec. 05, 2018
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3 min read
San Diego International Airport Aerial View
BYO Device: Alaska Airlines Reduces Inflight Tablet Availability
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Over the last few years, a disappointing trend in commercial aviation has been that a number of airlines are backing away from providing seatback entertainment. While some planes and airlines certainly still have seatback screens you can just sit down and enjoy, the current trend is to provide inflight entertainment that is viewable on your own tablet (that is fully charged with the airline's app previously downloaded). That's an easy enough thing to manage as a single traveler, but a much different task when traveling with a whole family.

Photo courtesy of Flugzeug

Alaska Airlines, TPG's top airline for 2018, has had a relatively unique hybrid solution for those who found themselves in need of inflight entertainment. They don't have seatback screens on Alaska planes, but they did have tablets available and pre-loaded with movies, TV shows, music, a kid's zone and Xbox games. These tablets cost $10 to rent for the flight, or were provided complimentary to those flying in first class or with top-tier Alaska 75k elite status.

Photo courtesy of Alaska Airlines

Unfortunately, Alaska's tablets have recently become more scarce. Over the weekend, Alaska tweeted that tablets are no longer offered on all flights in order to make room for more food and beverage options.

However, after contacting Alaska (and consulting the TPG Lounge), the reality isn't that Alaska's tablets have been eliminated entirely, but that they have been reduced. Alaska states to TPG that:



Tablets for purchase are only available on Premium Long-Haul markets (coast-to-coast and Hawaii flights). We previously offered tablets on nearly all flights over 3.5 hours. This change went into effect Nov. 1st.
We continue to invest in our in-flight entertainment. The service now offers over 500 free movies and TV shows that guests can stream to their own devices. Guests are showing a strong preference for the service with continual growth in usage and a decline in usage of tablets – particularly on the shorter flights.

That said, there are reports in the TPG Lounge of recent Alaska Airlines trans-con flights over 3.5 hours (such as from Los Angeles to Newark) that did not have tablets. Relying on Alaska to provide a device for your family at 36,000 feet entertainment is now a far-from-guaranteed situation, so the safest solution is to pack your own or prepare for a tablet-free flight.

Featured image by Getty Images

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

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  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.