Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Flying economy class: 14'' and 16'' impressions?

Among all the laptops I had and used over trips, the MBA 11" is the only one that was really fine in all economy class seats. I did not have a 12" rMB and that one should work too. My current 13" MBP (2017 nTB model) fits only in more spacious than average Y seats or in seats that do not recline. Otherwise, I will just use my iPad Pro 11" with magic keyboard (which does not support all the things I need to work on, but at least it can keep me productive during flights).
Based on this, I would either get a 14" and expect to work only on some flights, or just get a 16" and not expect to work on any economy class seat.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Acronyc and throAU
Just had a flight a week ago in economy on a 737: my 14” MBP *just* fit on the tiny tray. Got some hobby programming done and watched some Twin Peaks! Overall a pretty good experience.
NdTonks said:
Unless you absolutely 100% MUST work on an economy flight - which I am guessing 99% of us don't - the 16" out performs the 14" in virtually every aspect.
Click to expand...
Except portability and weight ? I mean, if you only care about the performance numbers you’re right (for the M1 Max models more than the M1 Pro) but as a fan of small laptops the 16” is far too big and awkward for my tastes. If you prefer a 15-17 inch laptop I’m sure it’s fantastic.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Acronyc, jinnyman, throAU and 3 others
I find the 13" M1 MBA to be quite big and heavy compared to my 12" MB. I wouldn't use it on a plane myself... The MacBook is pretty good flying economy and I wish Apple brings that form factor to Apple Silicon.
 
LonestarOne said:
Modern turbofans have a lot of power. They can handle the weight.
Click to expand...

If there was any problem with the CFM engines, they can always pull the fan from an Intel Mac for the turbine.. Hell, the blades from those engines will probably run cooler than the fan in the Intels.

BL.
 
  • Haha
  • Like
Reactions: jlc1978 and throAU
icymountain said:
Among all the laptops I had and used over trips, the MBA 11" is the only one that was really fine in all economy class seats. I did not have a 12" rMB and that one should work too. My current 13" MBP (2017 nTB model) fits only in more spacious than average Y seats or in seats that do not recline.
Click to expand...
The 12" retina Macbook can be do-able in standard economy, but it depends on the tray table design and whether or not the person in front reclines. I barely saved my Macbook from having its screen cracked when the passenger in front reclined abruptly, and from that point I could only use the Macbook with the lid bent forward (I would have given up if I hadn't had a presentation to complete). As I recall, that was a Qantas A380. My old iPad Air + keyboard stand was OK. But I don't work on flights if I can avoid it – it's just tpo cramped. I haven't tried my 13" Macbook Air.
 
If you need to work in flight, I'd buy a base iPad and Logi keyboard. I'd bet the 14 would be cramped, and the 16 unusable on an economy tray table.
 
I've flown with a 15 inch MBP lots of times, and it's always in economy. I can use it as long as the seat in front of me is empty or isn't reclined. Otherwise, no. It depends on the seat pitch, of course, which depends on the airline and airplane. I think 16" would be mostly unusable.
 
  • Like
Reactions: throAU
This is quite an interesting thread.

It has my "find solutions" curiosity running.

Ever think about a foldable Bluetooth keyboard with a built in trackpad + an external USB portable monitor to attach to the headrest of the seat in front of you?

Use the front headrest as your monitor mount and the tray as your keyboard/trackpad deck.

I know its more stuff to carry, but.... compromises.

you'll only need to bring them on your business trips, when you absolutely need to get work don't on the plane.

or Side-car your iPad as your main desktop display and use it with a BT keyboard... I don't use Sidecar so I don't know if it would work.
 
If you absolutely MUST be working on an economy flight then as others say, 16" is too big. But if you can hold out til you get to your hotel/office to work then good god the 16" is FAR superior. Battery, sound, screen realestate etc... Has made my life much easier with a 16"
 
  • Like
Reactions: GCC
NdTonks said:
If you absolutely MUST be working on an economy flight then as others say, 16" is too big. But if you can hold out til you get to your hotel/office to work then good god the 16" is FAR superior. Battery, sound, screen realestate etc... Has made my life much easier with a 16"
Click to expand...

I think what is better depends on the user's needs. I went from a 2018 15" to a 14" and thought it would be too small. I found it to be big enough without the extra size, bulk and weight of a 16". I have not missed my 15", especially sine I also have an iPad Pro for a second monitor anyway.
 
  • Like
Reactions: throAU
Well I recently did a train trip, and my 13" worked wonderfully. As said earlier, if you sit on an economy, smaller is better, and 14" is still too big. 12.9 iPad Pro with keyboard seemed big enough. I guess that's why I don't really use a laptop to 'work', but rather go through ppt or something.
 
NdTonks said:
If you absolutely MUST be working on an economy flight then as others say, 16" is too big. But if you can hold out til you get to your hotel/office to work then good god the 16" is FAR superior. Battery, sound, screen realestate etc... Has made my life much easier with a 16"
Click to expand...
Yeah, if your business depends on working on a plane, you might just want to pick up a small laptop like the 12” MacBook. Keep that in your shoulder bag and the 16” in your carryon.
 
jlc1978 said:
A lot depends on what you are doing, and privacy screens are an option. OTOH, I agree that it can be risky, I’ve seen interesting company information over the years.



I carry both. The iPad is great on flights and as a second monitor on the ground.
Click to expand...
100%. This is how I travel too. I often use the ipad on the plane with Logi keyboard then go dual monitor with the MBP on the ground. I even did this before sidecar with duet display app.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kilimanjaro
Lol I always get a kick out of people trying to work on laptops in Economy.

The smallest ones barely fit on the tray, and there is no room for your elbows to stick out, so your arms are crammed against your sides. They hunt and peck at a spreadsheet for 5 minutes, then give up because it isn't worth it.

Find a way to work on an iPad on the plane, or just relax and do something else.
 
  • Like
Reactions: geta
darngooddesign said:
Yeah, if your business depends on working on a plane, you might just want to pick up a small laptop like the 12” MacBook. Keep that in your shoulder bag and the 16” in your carryon.
Click to expand...
I highly doubt any business DEPENDS on someone working on a plane. Just poor work habits do.
 
appleArticulate said:
That just reaffirms what I said. There is nothing special about this business vs. any other that demands you work on a plane flight. Only poor self management demands it.
Click to expand...

Well, when a client calls you the night before for some changes or additional questions and you're on the first am 4 hour flight you often don't have a choice; or are flying from one client to another and want to review something. It often is a choice of "do I get some sleep" or "do I work on the flight." Sometimes you don't have teh luxury of just kicking back and having a few drinks.
 
  • Like
Reactions: teh_hunterer and richinaus
NdTonks said:
Unless you absolutely 100% MUST work on an economy flight - which I am guessing 99% of us don't - the 16" out performs the 14" in virtually every aspect. You'd be nuts to go 14 over 16 in MOST user cases. Not all, but most.
Click to expand...
I just use a iPad mini 6, at least I can put other things on the tray. I do use a 16" M1 Max normally, that larger screen makes it more usable for work.
 
appleArticulate said:
I highly doubt any business DEPENDS on someone working on a plane. Just poor work habits do.
Click to expand...
I think it is quite an arrogant position to decide where and when it is fit for others to work.
For many people, working on their flight will let them do something else when they have arrived, like sleep or enjoy their stay. Using small laptops and iPads, I have been able to do tons of work on flights over the last 20 years, including programming, writing papers, preparing talks, learning stuffs, and many more. So, based on this experience, I would say the question raised in this thread is definitely a valid one!
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: groundcontrol, sahni130, Conutz and 2 others
jlc1978 said:
Well, when a client calls you the night before for some changes or additional questions and you're on the first am 4 hour flight you often don't have a choice; or are flying from one client to another and want to review something. It often is a choice of "do I get some sleep" or "do I work on the flight." Sometimes you don't have teh luxury of just kicking back and having a few drinks.
Click to expand...
Yeah...what I do then is:
1. Sleep
2. Wake up, do the work
3. Get on a video conference and show them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back