The majority of airline passengers often peruse the contents of the in-flight magazine, and some may even read the entire publication if it happens to be their sole source of "entertainment" during the flight.
According to Nielson Radio, over 80 percent of passengers engage with these in-flight magazines, spending an average of 30 minutes immersed in their pages.
But do they always bring them home and collect them?
Not always. I understand that not all people are like me, haha.
For some passengers, in-flight magazines can feel like an added hassle, especially when juggling multiple pieces of luggage.
However, me being a language enthusiast and an aviation geek, I consider in-flight magazines to be among the finest reading materials available. They provide a welcome distraction during layovers at the airport, offering a glimpse into the airline's fleet and route maps. Personally, I dive straight into these sections before exploring the airline's services, products, and news.
Perusing an in-flight magazine can transport you to far-flung destinations, even when you're grounded. I make sure to carry at least one copy with me wherever I go, whether or not I'm taking to the skies.
Linguistic Help
For language learners, bilingual in-flight magazines are invaluable.
In my own language learning journey, these magazines have played and continue to play a pivotal role. They often serve as references, particularly when I need to translate travel-related documents.
Among my collection, you'll find bilingual French-English magazines like SWISS Magazine from Swiss International Air Lines, enRoute from Air Canada, and Teranga from the now-defunct Air Sénégal International. Now, you might wonder how I managed to acquire magazines from Senegal when I've never even traveled there. Well, a friend completing her internship in Dakar, Senegal, kindly sent them my way.
As for Portuguese-English content, I have the pleasure of owning Azorean Spirit, the in-flight magazine of SATA Internacional / Azores Airlines from Portugal. Even though this airline doesn't operate flights to the Philippines, I took matters into my own hands. I sent email requests, and they generously provided me with copies during two separate occasions (in 2010 and 2011) from their headquarters in Azores, Portugal. This bilingual magazine, known for its exceptional layout, offers content in both Portuguese and English.
Route Maps
I think that Skylife, the in-flight magazine of Turkish Airlines, has the most impressive route maps; not a surprise, as Turkish Airlines "flies to more countries than any other airline in the world".
Below are Skylife's route maps, June 2015 edition.
In terms of beauty, the in-flight magazine of Japan Airlines, the Skyward, is, to me, the winner with its August 2010 edition. I got this magazine (below) from the Japan Airlines ticketing office in Makati City.
I like the dominance of green and light blue colors with the black lines connecting its hub to all the airports it flies to.
My country's flag carrier, Philippine Airlines, also has an improved in-flight magazine, Mabuhay. I must say I was pleasantly surprised by its beautifully designed domestic route maps.
Below are pictures of the carrier's route maps and fleet size (May 2017 edition). I got this on my flight from Manila to Cagayan de Oro City.
Travel Guide
In-flight magazines sometimes affect the way I choose my destinations. Below is the April 2002 edition of Skylife, which I got from the Turkish Airlines sales office in Madrid back in 2003. I still have it in good condition. It featured the Toros Cedars of Turkey (below). I love coniferous forests. I was able to visit a coniferous cedar forest for the first time when I had my French language immersion trip to Morocco in 2015.
Start Your Adventures
Though it surely sounds geeky, I often begin each of my adventures by reading in-flight magazines.
In terms of beauty, the in-flight magazine of Japan Airlines, the Skyward, is, to me, the winner with its August 2010 edition. I got this magazine (below) from the Japan Airlines ticketing office in Makati City.
I like the dominance of green and light blue colors with the black lines connecting its hub to all the airports it flies to.
My country's flag carrier, Philippine Airlines, also has an improved in-flight magazine, Mabuhay. I must say I was pleasantly surprised by its beautifully designed domestic route maps.
Below are pictures of the carrier's route maps and fleet size (May 2017 edition). I got this on my flight from Manila to Cagayan de Oro City.
Travel Guide
In-flight magazines sometimes affect the way I choose my destinations. Below is the April 2002 edition of Skylife, which I got from the Turkish Airlines sales office in Madrid back in 2003. I still have it in good condition. It featured the Toros Cedars of Turkey (below). I love coniferous forests. I was able to visit a coniferous cedar forest for the first time when I had my French language immersion trip to Morocco in 2015.
How to Acquire Them?
I'm a bit old-school, and I prefer the tangible in-flight magazine that I can carry with me wherever I go or peruse at any time of day. Consequently, I opt for a direct approach—I write to airlines, not just to request in-flight magazines but also printed timetables (although the latter is increasingly rare). Typically, I receive a positive response, albeit with a waiting period of weeks or even a month for items sent from abroad.
Alternatively, if you reside in Manila (or any major city worldwide), simply visit the ticket offices/GSAs of your preferred airlines and inquire about their in-flight magazines, should copies be available.
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| Some of the printed timetables and in-flight magazines that I collected from more than 20 airlines. I got most of them from flying; some were given to me as gifts from relatives and friends while others were sent to me by the airlines from their headquarters. Sometimes, I simply walk into airlines' sales offices or GSA and ask for these items. |
Start Your Adventures
Though it surely sounds geeky, I often begin each of my adventures by reading in-flight magazines.
You can try it; it might work for you too.
Cheers!
Cheers!
- Moses