I flew Frontier Airlines with zero expectations and still discovered that zero can go lower.

I booked the flight to establish a baseline before their upcoming cabin upgrades, fully aware I would be completely disconnected for three hours. What I did not expect was how revealing the entire experience would be. From booking friction to service inconsistencies to missing basics, the gaps became clear long before boarding even began.

During the flight, I watched a safety inconsistency unfold from my seat in 1C, overheard a flight attendant mock a colleague’s announcement, and discovered a lavatory setup that deserves its own chapter. And while all of this was happening, my seatmates, a devoted Delta Airlines loyalist in 1A and a United Airlines enthusiast in 1D flying Frontier for the first time, reacted in real time with expressions that said more than words ever could.

The flight was on time. The experience was eye-opening.

Aegean Airlines delivered a strong overall experience, with an impeccably maintained business cabin, excellent service, and standout professionalism. The only weak point was unreliable Wi-Fi and a glitchy moving map, though the rest of the digital journey, including the lounge and mobile app, performed well, highlighting how vital digital reliability has become in today’s premium travel experience.

Doesn’t matter how extensive your content library, collections, or partnerships may be if the inflight entertainment has performance issues and relatively new screens are already showing visible defects/damage.

This isn’t just about one airline or vendor because IFE performance isn’t optional. Performance defines the passenger experience, especially when in an economy cabin on a long-haul flight.