Roundtrip to the UK with Curated In-Flight Entertainment Options

Reading the news that President Biden and Bill Clinton would travel to Northern Ireland to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement with Irish, British, and American leaders, was a reminder of a post-pandemic vacation to the UK. Several airlines would require or strongly encourage employees and travelers to get vaccinated against Covid. As an extra incentive to attract passengers, airlines developed promotional campaigns offering a mix of Wi-Fi and Entertainment options to enhance the in-flight experience: Icelandair began offering European travelers a stopover in Iceland as a part of a Transalantic Journey; Delta would partner with Peloton to add enhancements to make it easy for travelers to continue their workouts in-flight – Calming Meditation and Seated Stretch “Classes In The Clouds;” United expanded the range of In-flight Entertainment Options: Movies | Podcasts | TV Shows | New Albums and customized programs featuring tourist attractions: local entertainment, businesses, professionals, and artists in line with the travel destination. Featured on the flight to the UK: English Chef, Restaurateur, and Cookbook Author Jamie Oliver introduced a special dish; London Photographer Rankin showcased his Great British Photography Challenge and Masterclass, a four-part video series involving six (6) aspiring photographers as contestants faced with a range of photo assignments leading up to being selected as Britain’s best amateur photographer. The masterclass was a competition that incorporated mentoring, teaming, and a healthy rivalry among the participants.

Rankin would publish Rankin’s 2020: Photographs Of A Year Like No Other focused on the first year of the Covid-19 Pandemic. Amateur and professional photographers would respond to a call to celebrate the power of photography, with 21,000 submissions. Images were shared in a series on Sky Arts across six themes, with select favorites selected for the publication of the book.

An added United entertainment highlight was the movie Belfast, a New York Times Critic’s Pick, written and directed by Kenneth Branagh about his childhood during a tumultuous time of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland that is often referred to as “the Troubles.” The headliner cast includes Caitriona Balfe, Jamie Dorman, Judi Dench, Ciarán Hinds, Lewis McAskie, and eleven-year-old Jude Hill, who starred as the 9-year-old fictional version of Branagh.

Belfast would be nominated for seven (7) Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Kenneth Branagh, as Director, would WIN the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay in 2022. Belfast would be nominated for Best Picture; Judi Dench for Best Supporting Actress; Ciarán Hinds, Best Supporting Actor; and the Sound Design team for Best Sound. In 2021 Belfast was the Winner of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) People’s Choice Award.

The Official Belfast Trailer is available on YouTube. The movie can be viewed on HBO Max, Amazon Prime, and other streaming platforms.

After watching Belfast you will appreciate learning about the early industrial maritime history and an economy supported by shipbuilding, which included the design and building the ocean liner RMS Titanic. Samantha Brown, WETA PBS Places To Love Feature Belfast and Antrim Coast, Northern Ireland captures this legacy, now memorialized by the renovated dockyards’ Titanic Quarter and Titanic Belfast, a museum designed in the shape of a ship’s hull that features the shipbuilder Harland & Wolff Drawing Offices and workers involved in the design and the craft that contributed to building vessels.

The movie Belfast and Samantha Brown's Belfast and Antrim Coast, Northern Ireland will provide for a weekend virtual trip to the UK until you complete your summer or fall vacation plans.