In-flight entertainment (IFE) is everything that keeps you entertained and informed during a flight: the screen built into the seatback with movies, in-flight Wi-Fi, music, games and the flight map. On a long flight, good entertainment makes the hours disappear. This guide explains what kinds of systems exist and how to prepare so you're never bored on board.
🎬 What IFE is and what it includes
The in-flight entertainment system varies sharply by airline and aircraft type. On long-haul, wide-body jets, every seat has a screen built into the seatback in front — hundreds of movies, series, music and games. On short European routes, especially with low-cost airlines, there's often no screen at all.
- Movies and series — often recent releases too
- Music and podcasts
- The flight map (moving map) — altitude, speed, time remaining
- Games and kids' content
- In-flight Wi-Fi — a separate service, usually paid
📺 Flights with and without screens
Flights split loosely into two groups. On 'screen' (seatback) flights the entertainment is already built into the seat — you only need headphones. On 'screenless' flights the airline offers streaming to your own phone or tablet: you connect to the on-board Wi-Fi and watch content in a browser or app. This approach is called BYOD — bring your own device.
On BYOD flights the airline app often has to be downloaded on the ground, before the flight — the on-board Wi-Fi may not let you download it. Check the airline's rules before you depart.
🎧 What to bring yourself
To make the on-board entertainment more comfortable, prepare a few things in advance. The key items are headphones and offline-downloaded content — that way you don't depend on the on-board Wi-Fi, which is often slow or paid.
- Your own headphones — the free on-board ones are often low quality
- A Bluetooth adapter — most built-in screens only read a wired 3.5mm jack
- Movies downloaded offline (Netflix, YouTube Premium) — no Wi-Fi needed
- A phone stand or table prop — handy on a screenless flight
- A pre-charged power bank — the battery drains fast on a long flight
For details on on-board Wi-Fi — speed, price and limits — see the in-flight Wi-Fi guide. Downloading content on the ground is often cheaper than streaming.
🔋 Charging on board
On a long flight your phone and tablet battery drains fast, especially if you watch video the whole time. Many modern aircraft have a USB port or power outlet at the seat, but this isn't guaranteed on every flight — on short-haul and low-cost routes there's often none at all.
So always bring a power bank in your carry-on. Remember that a power bank is only allowed in the cabin, never in checked baggage. For the detailed rules see the power bank flight rules.
A USB port often charges slowly (0.5-1A) — while watching video your phone may still lose charge. So your own power bank is the most reliable solution.
💡 Tips
- Before the flight, check the aircraft type and seat map — that tells you whether you'll have a screen
- Download the airline app and movies on the ground while the Wi-Fi is good
- On a night flight, sleep often beats entertainment — see the red-eye flights guide
- Get through a long flight comfortably — see surviving a long flight
- Install the apps you need in advance — see essential travel apps and the airline meals guide
- Plan your next long flight with the Travel365 price calendar
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