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Is there anything more annoying on a short flight across the Tasman or to one of the Pacific Islands than getting midway though your favourite movie and having to pack up your entertainment system and wait until you can rent the DVD to find out the ending?
No more. Air New Zealand has a new on-demand entertainment system on their 767 fleet - which means you can watch what you want, when you want, from the moment you hit your seat, rather than waiting until you're airborne.
Air New Zealand calls it "gate-to-gate" service. The roll-out of the touch-screen system, built into the backs of seats, started last month and is now complete.
Having recently spent an entire flight from Auckland to Melbourne playing with the system, I can confirm it's totally idiot proof. As a techno-phobe, I usually leave all that drooling over gadgets to the husband but even I could manoeuvre my way around the system.
During the flight of just under four hours, there was plenty of time for a film but the extended viewing time also left room for episodes of Flight of the Conchords and a few music videos.
And if you find yourself watching something you hate you can just pick something fresh from the entertainment buffet.
And no more craning your neck to see a screen off in the distance.
Air New Zealand's 747 and 777 fleets also have the full-entertainment system, although it's remote-controlled rather than having a touch screen.
Rachel Grunwell was a guest of Air New Zealand
