APEX in Profile: Maura Chacko
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Maura Chacko
Vice-President Development
Spafax
Maura joined Spafax eight years ago as TV Acquisitions manager, having previously worked in programming at HBO. She joined the APEX board last year and currently co-chairs the Membership Committee.
Fast Facts
Frequent flight: JFK-LAX
Favorite airport restaurant: Wagamama at LHR, T5
Paper or electronic boarding pass? Electronic
Passport stamp you wish you had? Iceland
Seatback or PED? Both
Favorite social network: Instagram
Did you choose the airline industry or did it choose you?
It definitely chose me. I was living in New York and working at HBO when I saw a job listing for a TV Acquisitions position in California. I didn’t even know that the in-flight entertainment (IFE) industry existed. I had a phone interview with two Brits living in California (Pam Ryan and Dominic Green). Somehow everything fell into place, and two months later I moved cross-country and discovered more acronyms than I ever knew were possible!
What do you think is the most overlooked aspect of the passenger experience?
The convenience. I know that in many ways travel can be a hassle – traffic on the way to the airport, security lines, delays, jet lag, etc. But in the end, we can go anywhere in the world in a matter of hours. It’s a privilege to be able to experience a variety of culture, architecture and art around the world so easily.
How do content and entertainment expectations change for people when they are traveling?
Now that people can watch content from anywhere, their expectations for in-flight entertainment and what’s available while traveling have expanded. People expect to be able to watch what they want, when they want – and that includes in the air. I believe that creating a content experience, and not just a lineup of shows and movies, while managing expectations, is the best way to entertain and engage passengers.
If you weren’t doing your current job, what would you love to be doing?
Realistically? I’d be a teacher or a book editor. Unrealistically? I would compete on So You Think You Can Dance and struggle to be a professional – if poor – dancer.
What’s the funniest thing that’s ever happened to you at work?
A former coworker of mine had a TV delivered to his office. He took the TV home and left a large, empty box in his office for a few days. One day, when he left his office, with the help of a couple of others, I hid in the box, so that when he got back to his desk, I jumped out and scared him. I’ve never laughed so hard at work – and that coworker clearly had a good sense of humor, since he later married me.
Every job has a cool factor. What’s yours?
I never thought that my lifelong love of television – and encyclopedic knowledge of pop culture – would actually pay my bills. I not only get to watch television as part of my job, but I’m encouraged to watch and follow as much as possible. I have also seen countries I may never have had the chance to visit otherwise. My job combines TV and travel, two of my greatest joys – with the added bonus that long flights give me uninterrupted time to read.
What’s the one item you can’t travel without?
Snacks! I always have an arsenal of snacks (healthy and unhealthy) with me. If you’re ever hungry at an APEX event or meeting, you can come to me!
Something that only a frequent flyer would understand?
The ability to speak in airline and airport codes. When I e-mail my friends and family, I have to remind myself to spell out the airline and city names rather than writing YUL or ORD.
Two things that you miss most about home when you’re traveling?
My husband and, if I’m abroad, my television shows.
Your top three films of all time?
Carmen (the 1983 Carlos Saura film about a flamenco dance troupe – I’m a sucker for dance movies), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Clueless. (Though West Side Story and Spaceballs are close behind!)
If you could sit beside anyone on a plane, who would it be?
Daveed Diggs or Stephen Colbert! I would suffer in a middle seat if they were on either side.