Listening to music is now a thing of the past when flying Qantas. The radio stations, music playlists and CD library collections have all been removed from Qantas in-flight entertainment on domestic and some international flights.
Music is no longer available through the in-flight entertainment system on Qantas Boeing 737 flights. The Boeing 737s operate most domestic flights and international flights to Denpasar, Noumea, Port Moresby and New Zealand. Music is also gone from domestic Boeing 717 and Airbus A330 flights where entertainment is offered in the form of an iPad with Q-Streaming.
Replacing the music, a limited number of podcasts are available. Two podcast channels were available on a recent Qantas flight – “talking business” and “kids audiobooks”.
Radio programs and on-demand music albums are still offered on international aircraft including the Airbus A380, Boeing 747, Boeing 787 and internationally-configured Airbus A330s.
Many AFF members have expressed their disappointment with the lack of music on Qantas in-flight entertainment…
Nothing but podcasts on the radio channels – cant think of anything worse. They could have kept some of the radio channels with music. Very dissapointed…..
Only speaking for myself (and perhaps a few others), but the radio channels have been the best thing about flying QF domestically in recent times. It’s been some years since I’ve bothered with any of the meagre unattractive food & beverage offerings, so the only value-add for me was the music… The well-curated radio channels were in some ways the last hold-out … the last “touch of class” with QF.
My advice to Qantas – just shut the whole IFE down if it is going to continue in that vein. A singing nun with a guitar would be more entertaining
A Qantas spokesperson told Australian Frequent Flyer that the decision to remove radio and on-demand music from domestic flights followed a “comprehensive review” of the Qantas in-flight entertainment offering. “Our research showed that fewer and fewer of our customers are tuning into the radio and music channels. It also indicated that many passengers on both domestic and international flights bring their own device with music already downloaded,” the spokesperson said.
Going forward, Qantas recommends that customers download or stream music onto their own devices. Qantas also points out that customers can now access up to 4 months of free Apple Music subscription and stream music via the free wifi that continues to be rolled out on Qantas domestic aircraft.
Join the discussion on the Australian Frequent Flyer forum: Let The Music Play or NOT !
