Before we get started, let me just preface that I am certain that I have a lower tolerance for murder, violence and sex scenes in movies than most people.
The scene: A Delta flight to Cincinnati
My wife and daughter were flying Delta to California and back a few years ago to visit family. As I’ve mentioned a few times before, SkyPesos get a bad rap, but I’ve consistently found good value (AND availability) using them to fly domestically. We actually picked up this trip for 22,000 Sky Miles roundtrip per person, compared to cash prices near $400.
The trip out went fine with no problems (each way they connected in Salt Lake City), but on the way back, an interesting situation arose that I thought was worth sharing
Drama with the in-flight entertainment
These were Delta jets that had in-flight entertainment (IFE) devices in the seatbacks, and so they spent the flight watching different videos. My wife was in the middle with my daughter on the window. They were watching their various movies when my wife noticed the movie the woman diagonally in front of her (on the aisle of the row in front of her) was watching. She first noticed a fairly graphic sex scene that turned into some pretty graphic violence. Later there was another sex scene with (blurred) nudity. I assume that Delta blurred the nudity and that it was in the original.
My wife was trying to not watch the movie but mostly concerned about my daughter catching a glimpse of who knows what on the screen.
This happened a few years ago, and I did a bit of research looking through the list of the Delta in-flight entertainment movies to try and figure out what movie it was, and I think it was the movie Gone Girl, rated R for “a scene of bloody violence, some strong sexual content/nudity, and language”
What do you think?
Now I recognize that there is nothing illegal about this and I’m sure Delta’s corporate lawyers have ensured that they are in full compliance with the law (probably by blurring out some / most of the nudity). I know an R-rated movie shown in a theater can not admit people under 17. But this is essentially public transportation where you stand a small but certainly non-zero chance of having a child even sitting NEXT to you that can totally “watch” your R-rated video. I’m sure it still complies with the laws.
Still, it feels like Delta might take a bit more caution in deciding what movies to allow on their in-flight entertainment? I left this feedback in the Delta survey about the flight, but Delta apparently does not care as nobody responded to me.
And setting aside what Delta may or may not do, would you as a passenger make choices about what movies you would or would not watch based on the fact that everyone around you including possibly children can see everything you’re watching? Or is a situation where “this is my bubble so I can pretend nobody else is around and do whatever I want”?
Not to mention the fact that this particular person was on the aisle, meaning that just about anyone walking up or down the aisle past this woman would be able to “watch” the movie.
What do you think? Am I making too big of a deal about this? Do you look at who your neighbors on a flight might be before deciding what movies to watch?
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Dan Miller travels with his wife and 6 (SIX!) children. He loves to help families travel for free / cheap, especially larger families. If you are looking for help, drop him an email at
A tough battle between the First Amendment and people’s personal feelings. And a tougher situation for a parent with a young child or an adult who has decided simply to avoid R-rated movies. I can watch an “R” in my own home or on a personal device, so I wouldn’t watch on my seat back screen, out of respect for someone else’s feelings.
I don’t think the First Amendment really comes into play. This is a private business, not the government. I guess I would prefer either a) airplanes limit what movies are available on the in-seat entertainment (they already do this, so maybe it’s just a matter of differing opinions on where “the line” should be drawn) or b) people take a bit more care in understanding who is around them and realizing that they are not alone in their house when they are on an airplane.
I prefer your “option b.” As a society, we need to show more care for other people’s views. Kind of a “Charlie Kirk approach.” RIP, Charlie.
The words Charlie Kirk and caring for other people’s views do not go together at all. He specifically called for violence against people who did not agree with his extremist views. He wished harm and death to many people so I wouldn’t use him as an example of being considerate of others and trying to be a good societal citizen.
No he did not. He debated people. But I’ll give you the opportunity to prove your claim. You did see that Stephen King apologized for his post on X claiming Kirk called for killing gays, didn’t you? King admitted he was wrong.
No need.
So, you make a claim without evidence. Fine. Live in a fantasy world.