Some airlines provide passengers with seatback entertainment screens. Others expect you to use your own devices. But when you’re in close proximity to other passengers, how you entertain yourself to pass the time on the flight isn’t only your personal business.
There’s a tension between individual freedom and shared space etiquette onboard – since so much entertainment contains violence, nudity, and crass language (whether it’s something you bring on your own device, or even that you stream from the airline’s content library).
- R-rated films, especially provided by the airline, surely are acceptable? If the airline provides it then it must be ok, even if children are nearby?
- Plus, everyone gets their own screen. Growing up near New York City I learned that you create your own zone of privacy amidst the crowds just by ignoring everyone else.
- But it’s hard to keep graphic content away from kids at most seats, since the screens aren’t really shielded. Maybe watch the stuff, but at least skip past the awkward scenes? Does the rule here change if you’re in coach with much less screen privacy versus a business class suite with doors?
I think there are some things that we can probably all agree cross a line in terms of what to watch on a plane. But sometimes it isn’t so clear.
- A flight attendant once shared on their Facebook feed a story about a passenger taking such a long time in the lavatory that another passenger expressed concern and eventually the crew started to suspect a medical emergency. After much knocking he came out, iPad in hand. He went in there to watch a movie. At least he hadn’t watched it at his seat.
- I’m never watching that kind of movie. But what about an HBO or Showtime drama? What movies are ok and which ones aren’t? If it’s on the inflight entertainment does that make it ok? (I’ve scrolled past What about inflight entertainment Mark Wahlberg’s Boogie Nights as an option.)
- In a premium cabin you usually have a bit more space, and maybe high walls. Does the seat you’re in dictate what kind of movie you can watch?
United Airlines Polaris Business Class
When you report an incident like this you have to hope, that your flight attendant isn’t watching porn themselves. Air Canada once warned pilots to stop leaving porn in the cockpit. And Etihad pilots once wrote up their inflight wifi for being too slow to download porn.
Do you bring your own shows to watch inflight? If so, what shows do you rely on to keep your interest on a long flight? I’m always looking for recommendations and wonder how you handle a more explicit scene?
I’m looking for well-written, well-acted shows that are really engaging — and often that hide crucial details, dropping hints at the end of an episode. That way I don’t get bored and want to keep watching as each one ends, pulling me into the next one. That means as much as I might enjoy Silicon Valley, Ballers or Brooklyn 99, I’m looking less for comedies than for drama.
(HT: Paul H)
Cocaine Bear (uncut version) for the win!!
What can you do when the lady (age 29++) asks you not to watch a movie of any sort on a 5-hour flight “because it ruins the future watching” for her, and then she starts a movie playing. The person in the window seat and I both started movies then, and she screamed at us about ruining her being able to watch a movie.
the family didn’t have to look at some ones screen.
Should’ve flown American Airlines’ non-Flagship, narrow-bodies… no IFE screens to be found. How ‘premium’…
A few years back a friend of mine recommended watching a WWII movie titled “Miracle at Saint Anna” which was entertaining. I’m sitting on the aisle and all of a sudden, this nude scene comes on, and it was a bit embarrassing. I shut it down immediately and fast forwarded the scene after realizing what was happening;
I was totally caught off guard. that said, what if a person chooses to watch the whole scene? I have had this happen in long haul business class flights, but it’s a bit more private and less traffic.
It’s inappropriate to watch programming that children shouldn’t watch when children are in view of your screen.
Glad I entertain myself with something that requires no power and is very portable. It’s called a book. And then when conditions are right I can watch the best show of all, how the earth unrolls below us.
If it’s within the airline’s selection of movies then you should be allowed to watch it. How about families give their children something to keep them entertained so they won’t have to look at someone else’s screen. But in modern day parenting you have to make amends for others’ children-including the ones running amuck in an airline lounge while the parents booze it up.
What @ George says. People like this shoud just stay home.
It has been several years since I’ve used a seatback screen, as I have flown Southwest almost exclusively for the the past twenty years or so. (Going forward, I will not default to them.)
My recollection is that the airlines removed the risque sequences and any mention of aircraft crashes, etc. from the videos available on the seatbacks. Has that changed in recent years?
As to what i would watch on my own device- on a laptop that could be visible to my seatmate or someone walking past me in the aisle, I’d avoid stuff that i suspect could be offensive to average person and be even more careful if my seatmate was a child.
On my phone, that other adults might see only if they made a special effort, I watch whatever I want… which means R rated is fine. The idea of watching X-rated material in flight has no appeal to me.
I wouldn’t watch porn on a plane. But what about horror movies (blood and gore) or police procedural shows (think Law and Order, with dead bodies and autopsies)? Where does it end? I think I would abstain from watching a show if asked by someone sitting next to me. Absent that, I would definitely feel comfortable watching anything on IFE or that I had downloaded from a mainstream streaming service like Netflix.
This is very simple:
1. Airline has reviewed and approved all IFE. Have an issue? Take it up with them.
2. What is offensive is objective. Some folks have fewer issues with nudity and sexuality than others.
3. For some people there are things that are more offensive than nudity.
So sick of people who are equally selfish in their demands and their lack of forgiveness of anyone they wish to come for. People like these parents can be ruthless and twats at the same time.
mind your own business, everyone.
Nudity should be ok has long as genitalia are not shown. Also no gory scenes, like someone shot in the head or mouth.
Interesting food for thought would be built-in IFE privacy screens.
I’ve found the selection of in-flight movies and shows lacking recently. The shows that are good are the same few episodes each time. To Gary’s question, I usually download a movie and an hour or two worth of a TV show (prefer comedy for flights) beforehand on my own device (with flight time multipliers). I also usually bring a book with me, but for whatever reason I don’t like reading on planes, maybe because of the lighting.
If there’s an explicit scene I usually just put my device down for a few minutes or when I hear it’s over. One time I did decide against watching John Wick because there were kids nearby. The whole series I believe is still available on the major domestic carriers.
There shouldn’t be any nudity in any movie that’s shown on an airplane, and that includes your own that you brought on. How is this even a matter of debate? Children should not be exposed to this type of content.
IS THERE SUCH A THING AS “EAVESWATCHING.” YOU DON’T LIKE IT WATCH YOUR OWN GODDAMNED SCREEN.
Inflight films are often preceded with a comment that the feature hasn’t been edited from its original content. I’m with those who say if the airline has made it available, then it’s fair game to watch.
This wasn’t always the case! Years ago I watched Love Actually on a plane. Maybe a year later I watched it on television, and imagine my surprise when I realized there had been an entire plot line missing from the airline version lol.
@George Romey – Yours is the most correct answer here.
So let me understand: when your obnoxious kid is playing his tablet without headphones at full volume, putting his grubby hands on all the lounge food, running around the lounge like a lunatic, cry-screaming to get what they want, etc., we are told: stay out of it, don’t tell my kid what to do, and don’t tell me how to parent! Now you want me to parent for you? That’s a no for me, dawg. Cover your kids eyes if you have a problem with what I’m watching.
A book huh? I was once asked by the FAs to talk to the gentleman in 2C on an international flight. He was reading penthouse forum. No pics, just words. He wasn’t being weird, didn’t have a blanket over himself, just reading.
I’ve been watching either an IFE program or something I downloaded and had the good sense to cover the screen if something popped up that could be offensive. Usually I was the one offended LOL.
Is @1990 doing okay? (He’s? idk) not responding to EVERY SINGLE POST.
This is a conondrum that’s been on my mind… I recently watched Anora (which has some very graphic scenes) on a transatlantic Iberia flight because 1) I’ve really been wanting to see it and 2) It was offered BY IBERIA on THEIR in-flight entertainment system.
It was in Business class, so there was some degree of privacy… but it was still clearly visible to several people around me. I wasn’t totally comfortable at first, but at the end of the day, they include on their system for passengers to watch, so I got over it…. Honestly, though, I’m not sure I would have watched it in coach with many more people and kids sitting near me.
European parents aren’t as concerned about sexual content as Americans but also don’t think explicit violence is appropriate.
Americans’s are afraid of children seeing genitalia but have no problem with kids watching a human body being graphically dismembered by a machine gun.
You are just not going to be able to please everybody (anybody).
Personally I am embarrassed when this kind of content surprises me in this situation but I would also have no problem telling a parant to stuff it.
People with kids can buy all of the seats in their row, their side if they want their kids to be shielded from such content. And keep little Suzie from kicking the seat in front.
Porn in the cockpit?!! The last thing I want as a passenger is a distracted flight deck crew. Fire them and pull their licenses.
Nudity in the cabin entertainment? Nope, no one should be put in a position to even accidently see it as they walk by on their way to the restroom. If you really want to watch that garbage, watch it at home.
@Pilot93434 — I said what I said. Thanks for thinking of me, though. Since we’re talking, is there a particular aircraft that is your favorite to fly? Ignore me if you want.
You can’t please everyone all of the time, but you can only please some people some of the time.
@Barry Graham I don’t think nudity is any more or less appropriate than excessive violence, glorification of gun culture, incendiary “news” channels or anything else that is subjective. Other people’s issues with / shame regarding the human form are not my concern.
Again, if the airline deems it appropriate then take it up with the airline, leave the passenger alone.
I was on a Virgin America flight once when the person across the aisle at the bulkhead was watching The Wolf of Wall Street and paused it on one of the topless scenes. Kept starting, rewinding, and pausing every time it tried to time out. I think it was up for like 3 hours. Nobody cared.
Is this why people are so obsessed to having doors on suites that close? To join the solo mile high club?
A G-rated movie is something everyone can enjoy, according to the esteemed MPAA. Motion for all IFE to be G-rated seconded? I mean, Bugsy Malone and Singing in the Rain is all we need. Personal freedom need not apply to every single little thing. Otherwise we’d be constantly hitting each other over the head.
We once had a society that would protect women and children from perverts in public. We even had laws. When did everyone decide we need to subvert the rights of children by subjecting them to public perversion in order to protect the ‘rights’ of the public pervert? I think we need another poll on that question.
A theater is one thing since everyone explicitly paid for that experience.
Public transportation should follow public decency laws. If you cant strut around nude yourself you probably shouldn’t display nudity for the public to see.
This could be construed as a sex crime in some jurisdictions if graphic content were displayed to a minor.
@Alexander
Commercial airlines are not public transportation. And yes, they explicitly paid for that experience. I however didn’t pay for the experience of poorly behaved kids going wild.
@1990, good to see you’re still kickin, .bah!
Hmmm favorite aircraft to fly, while they all had different missions, the T-38 was a rocket and a hoot. The 727 was pure stick and rudder bliss, and the 777-300ER was just a dream to fly, landings were always silky smooth.
Not only should pornography be banned world wide, but also all nudity in any public forum including all movies. God gave us our bodies as temples to his greatness, only to be shared with a husband or wife..Read the bible and you will understand.
@Alexander Castleberry yes, in the same states where they think a dude in a skirt performing on a stage is lewd. You’ll excuse me if I don’t subscribe to the beliefs of puritanical people waking around with tin foil on their heads and legislating that airplanes are not allowed to modify our weather while also saying climate change is a myth.
It’s on the airline, they put it on the IFE, it should be considered acceptable. I would not mind them splitting it into two categories, the stuff that might cause issues marked as only acceptable if the row agrees.
@Parker, not only do people have different levels of sensitivity, but it’s not even a linear thing. Portions of what we consider restricted material are because of religious shame. Nobody’s actually shown any evidence of harm from simple nudity. But stuff that’s R for violence or gore I would be much more restrictive if I had kids to be filtering for. Playboy? I’ve seen issues that I would have issues with–because of obviously teen-targeted tobacco ads.
@Pilot93434 — Beautiful. And, nice variety, too. I’m not a pilot, but have family and friends in the industry.
With the T-38, I presume you started with USAF since you prefer smooth landings. (If Navy, unless you like swimming, they usually prefer ‘hard enough’ to hook one of the cables…)
There aren’t too many 727s still around; however, when I was in SoFla, I recall Zero-G was still flying one out of FLL. You can really ‘hear’ the difference with it, and the MD-11s still flying cargo; super loud!
As a passenger, I personally enjoy the ride on the 773s; it’s thrilling to feel the raw power of those GE90 engines.
Presuming you flew commercial, I’m guessing United or American, or an overseas carrier, based on the 727 and 773 experience. Apologies to our pal @Tim Dunn, but probably not Delta, because they never flew the 773 (plenty of 772s, though).
Anyway, thanks for sharing here and for bringing back some good memories.
1. It is considerate to avoid playing restricted content when young children are present.
2. There is also no expectation that people in a public setting will be considerate.
3. Acknowledge these truths and try to be nice.
This is why I just download movies and shows to my iPad instead of using in-flight entertainment. I’m a horror fan and love a good R-Rated action movie as well.
It’s easy enough to move your ipad to not induce the rage of Moma Karens.
As for anything on an airline’s entertainment system? Not my problem. Moma Karen can take it up with the airline.
This is a bit off topic. The whole screen-watching thing. I was on a flight today and everyone, every single row, closed their window shade. The plane was pitch dark. Everyone was watching a screen. I felt like an idiot opening my window but I was READING A BOOK. An actual book. And of course my window blared light all over the place. One: I can’t read with those horrid LED overhead lights. And two: I have really bad claustrophobia, and frankly all the closed shades were making me really uncomfortable. So…what to do?
@Barbara Thomas – I have noticed the same trend. I can understand closed window shades on a long-haul flight, but not on a short haul one. There is little more depressing than feeling like one is needlessly encased in a tubular tomb for two or three hours during peak daytime, especially when the open shades can often afford some pretty spectacular views. Truly, this never happened 30 years ago. What changed to make it so today?
If its on the planes IFE, not my problem, really couldn’t care less about your brats.
Delta has it right, banishing children to the last 3 rows.
I was quite suprised when I glanced at somebodys screen on an Emirates flight and they had just got to the bit in “Ferrari” (the film) which depicts the 1957 Mille Miglia race crash and is pretty graphic.
To my suprise, it wasn’t cut.
How about we stop demonizing the human body? We all have one and they are pretty much the same the world over. Then along the way we could stop glorifying violence.
This one’s tricky — it really highlights the tension between personal freedom and public decency in shared spaces like airplanes. While passengers have a right to choose what they watch, being mindful of who’s around you (especially kids) feels like basic respect.
I sound like an old fart, but once upon a time, airlines would have entertainment edited for suitability onboard. Is this no longer happening in the world of streaming and thousands of titles?
People need to remember a little basic courtesy. It’s not going to kill you to wait until you are home to watch something if you know a little kid is nearby. I sat next to a monk in full robes on one flight a few years back and it made me think twice about my in-flight entertainment. Everyone is stuck next to each other for several hours. Let’s all just be decent to each other. It’s not hard. Nobody needs to get in a huff about “it’s my right…blah blah blah.
The airline probably not offer content that is not family friendly. It is the airline’ fault for sure. I as a passenger reserve the right to watch any video content offered to me. If another passenger has an issue with that, they can asked to be moved.
@BuiltInYorkshire — I doubt even Middle East carriers care about censoring ‘violence’ (which, in some parts of that region, is apparently a sad ‘fact of life’… we’re not ‘perfect’ either, see mass shootings.), and more so as them prohibiting anything deemed ‘immoral,’ like even ‘partial’ nudity.
This is what the left wants to show your children in public schools.
@Walter Barry — If you’re again resorting to whataboutisms, please recall all the right-wingers that are convicted pedophiles. Ironic, how you/they point the finger at the ‘left’ and ‘drag queens,’ when it’s usually those Bible-thumpers projecting their own sins…
The airline must have a review process to decide on what is appropriate for their inflight entertainment system, and edit out any “adult” content. So, given the small not-so-private quarters on a plane, it’s ok for anyone of any age to have a glimpse. If a parent isn’t OK with it, it is within their right to put blinders on the child, but not to tell someone else they can’t watch something that has already passed the censors. A person’s right to be a conservative parent doesn’t trump another’s right to choose their entertainment.
@Walter… can you point me to some info on where this happened? I’d like to learn more about that.
Thanks
@Walter Barry – They’re eating the dogs and eating the cats!
@1990. “ it’s usually those Bible-thumpers projecting their own sins…”. Really, and pray tell, how do you know this?
Sadly, this type of behavior has become more and more commonplace over the last decade. Far too many have been emboldened in their “screw you” attitudes because of Trump, the ultimate “I don’t care what anyone thinks” power player. He is the living personification of “I can do whatever I want without any regard for other people.” And if the president can be an obnoxious prick without facing consequences, so can they.
@One Trippe — Many news stories of actual arrests, prosecutions, and convictions of politicians and clergy over the years. It’s publicly available. Are you denying it?
@Walter Barry
Allowing people to watch what they want even if it offends people around them is a libertarian ideal. You know… right wing
Start with the Catholic Church, see ‘Spotlight.’ Then continue onto Reddit, ‘not a drag queen,’ is a common ‘tag’ for these types of stories, where, a Republican official who often publicly decries about ‘baby-eating Democrats’ ends up being arrested for sexual assault, molestation, sometimes of minors, etc. Disgusting stuff. Horrible hypocrisy. Might as well also say ‘not an immigrant’ (because they too are scapegoated, even though most are not criminals.)
@YoYoPedro
They were, that was proven correct despite all the hair splitting from the lefties.
@patrick
Showing lgbt propaganda.
@bhcompy — Good point, yet, most libertarians are really just fascists, pretending to want ‘small’ or ‘no’ government or taxes, but, then, when their ‘team’ is in-power, they become authoritarians.
@Walter Barry — Correct me if I am wrong, but your team’s plan is basically to re-classify anything they don’t like (LGBTQ, liberals, Democrats, etc.) as a ‘mental health disorder’ (like ‘TDS’), then have us all ‘involuntarily committed,’ lose our Constitutional rights and protections, and either be exiled or left to die in the elements (a la Alligator Alcatraz/Auschwitz, no, folks, it’s not ‘over-reacting’ and it doesn’t literally have to be the Holocaust to be a valid comparison). Would that work for you?
As right-wing extremist Kevin Roberts of the Heritage Foundation (overseer of Project 2025) said, “The revolution will be bloodless if the left allows it to be.” Please do continue to underestimate your ‘perceived enemies’ also known as ‘your fellow countrymen.’ Fake-triots.
The left just loves to hang “right wing” or “fascist” labels on libertarians. That’s because they are uninformed (bad) or playing the proganda game (far worse). Take a look at the wikipedia entry for libertarianism. The ideas of left-libertarians and right-libertarians is something no real libertarian would embrace. The entry is garbage. Skip down the entry to the Nolan Chart. It’s a much better description. And, with it, you’ll never say “libertarian” and “fascist” concerning the same person. Not the modern left, not the modern right, but libertarianism is the opposite of fascism.
Gary, based on your description in the last paragraphs of the sort of TV show you’d like, I would suggest the British cold case drama Unforgotten -each season is just six episodes of about 45-50 minutes, and is very well written. The cast is absolutely solid. The first episode always opens with the finding of a body., or more likely part of a body, and then you see short segments which drop you straight into the everyday life of six everyday people, number of whom appeared to be connected in anyway to each other..As the detectives work the crime – a process itself which can be really fascinating – you slowly begin to see how each of those people are not only connected to each other but connected to the murder victim. It really is one where there is a nice hook at the end of each episode, Highly recommended, for viewing at any time but it works especially well for in-flight binging because six shows of ~45-50m is quite do-able almost international daytime flights, especially if you knock over the first episode in the lounge just to get you going.
@This comes to mind — Nice attempts at nuance, but let’s be real, most ‘libertarians’ are that in-name-only. They talk a nice talk when promoting their ideals, but then get behind Daddy #45/47.
“Nice attempts at nuance, but let’s be real, most ‘libertarians’ are that in-name-only. They talk a nice talk when promoting their ideals, but then get behind Daddy #45/47.” Pfffff. It ain’t nuance. We know that the left fears libertsrianism. I have known many people who consider themselves libertarians and knew our secret handshake. None of them converted to the side of #44 (or 45/47 as the numerically challenged use /s). You are not permitted to condemn true libertarians because some call themselves that and support Trump. Or in very simplye terms: if the answer to the question, “do you support Trump?” is “fully,” ” mostly,” “pretty much so,” “I have ‘minor’ reservations,” etc., then they ain’t a libertarian (never was).
U.S.C. § 223(d) –Communications Decency Act of 1996
@One Trippe — Here’s a super recent one: Look up Stuart Adams, Republican of Utah, lowering age of consent in that state to 13… because one of his relatives was apparently kiddie diddling. There’s like an example a day.
I work in post production sound, Hollywood. Films shown by airlines have a very special, very lame edit, just for you flying folks. The “airline edit.”
Sanitized and made palatable for a wide range of viewers. Devoid of anything that may offend.
I just watched The Last Showgirl on an international United flight. Lots of nudity & simulated & suggestive sex acts. That passed United’s ‘suitability’ — but before every movie they have a disclaimer to choose a diff movie if you feel it’s inappropriate or offending to your neighbors!