• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Ask Scott
Travel Codex

Travel Codex

Your Resource for Better Travel

  • Subscribe
  • Credit Cards
  • Reviews
  • Guides & Tips
  • Award Travel

United Launches “Rhapsody,” a Premium In-Flight Magazine

by Scott Mackenzie
Last updated August 24, 2018

During my recent mileage run to Boston, I was upgraded on the outbound segments and noticed a new addition to the seat-back pocket. Apparently United has quietly launched a new in-flight magazine for its premium cabins and United Club members, similar to American Airline’s Celebrated Living.

United Rhapsody

The new magazine, Rhapsody, is provided in addition to the original Hemispheres. That’s fortunate because I found it difficult to find anything worth reading in Rhapsody, the latest in a disturbing trend I see in more places than just the airplane cabin. The Wall Street Journal did the same thing a year or two ago with WSJ. But I like to learn something new when I read. I like it to be well written. I like it to be relatively free of advertising and hard sells.

None of these are qualities you’ll find often in the “luxury” magazine segment represented by Rhapsody and others. Flipping through, at least every other page was a full-page advertisement. The few articles that did attract my attention were not-so-artfully disguised ads of their own. Want to learn what Daniel Boulud looks for in a fine Scotch? Sadly it’s just a story about Mr. Boulud’s own line of whisky — now on sale! — without much discussion of what he was looking for when he made it.

Other “articles” devolve into nothing more than a photo-shoot of the latest fashions, as if that’s supposed to tell us anything about the location where they were taken.

There was one piece that didn’t appear to be an ad, discussing some showdown between Amazon.com and a loud-mouthed financial analyst. But it seemed horribly out-of-date with references to the Dot Com bust. Besides, what does being based in Silicon Valley have to do with a company in Seattle? There is a potential connection there, but that’s not the best description of it.

Free Wi-Fi Coming Your American Airline Flight
Trending
Free Wi-Fi Coming Your American Airline Flight

I do think Hemispheres is one of the better in-flight magazines. It has ads, it has some product placement, but it also has more content than much of what I find in these glossy extras. Before the recent changes to the use of personal electronics on board, I was always able to get enough out of Hemispheres for take off and landing.

Rhapsody says it wants to discuss the “finer thoughts in life.” Apparently it thinks rich are dumb enough (or just bored enough) if such poorly disguised copy is all it takes to sell an extra Swiss watch. I would prefer United save the effort and just put copies of The Economist at every seat, although I guess that would actually mean paying for content rather than being paid for poorly disguised advertising.

  • 11shares
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Email

Read This Next

  • a group of people sitting in a plane
    United Announces New Premium Economy Product: Premium Plus
  • United Flight Attendant Makes Me…. an iPhone Stand?
    United Flight Attendant Makes Me…. an iPhone Stand?
  • a woman sitting in an airplane
    United Re-Launches Slogan "Fly the Friendly Skies"

About Scott Mackenzie

Scott is a former scientist and business student who created Travel Codex to unravel the complexity of travel loyalty programs. After 11 years in Seattle, he now lives in Austin with his wife and flies over 100,000 miles every year.

Primary Sidebar

Over 100K+ Followers

Subscribe to updates from Travel Codex

none

Learn to how to find the cheapest awards.

Search Now

none

Transfer points to get more value.

See Options

none

Compare credit cards to earn more miles.

Explore Offers

Contact

If you have a question or would like to make a press inquiry, please contact:

Scott Mackenzie
Editor in Chief
scott@travelcodex.com

For updates:
Subscribe to RSS
Subscribe to Apple News

Privacy Policy


© Travel Codex, LLC All Rights Reserved.


Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Travel Codex with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.