The inflight magazine - many passengers don't consider it part of the entertainment in the air. On shorter flights that aren't equipped with audio or visual inflight entertainment perhaps the inflight magazine is more valued, a way of passing time before the descent begins. But the inflight magazine can provide a whole host of at least somewhat interesting features, interesting enough that some of these magazines are popping up online.
"Why should I take the magazine out of the seat pocket in front of me?" (or, what read-worthy features might an inflight magazine provide?)
- crosswords, and other word games
- fleet information, so that you can see what aircraft the airline operates
- other inflight information - music, movies, short programs
- destination information - airport plans, what to see and do, other suggestions
- shopping on board or on the ground
- travel advice and tips
- travel related articles like events festivals or history
- travel info for the business traveler
- totally and completely non-travel related articles such as celebrity profiles, fashion, etc.
Most airlines do not have an extensive online version of their inflight magazines. However, some provide a great deal of the content of their magazines online for the internet air traveler.
The online versions of inflight magazines vary in quality and quantity of articles. These are the publications that offer much of the inflight reading material online:
- Air Canada's offering is EnRoute making a few of their magazine's feature articles online along with an archive of past features and movie and audio entertainment information.
- Alaska Airlines/Horizons Air gives the online reader access to its cover feature, and cover features of past cover features.
- American Airlines magazine, American Way offers virtually the entire magazine online. Route maps, lifestyle articles, travel features - even the crossword puzzle is offered online!
- Continental Airlines' magazine - Continental has lots of online features including downloadable versions of Sudoku.
- A calendar of events, business and travel articles, and destinations off the beaten path are a few of the online offerings of Delta's inflight magazine Delta Sky.
