Qantas axes inflight internet

[trippin_the_rift]

Qantas has axed its plans to offer sky-high surfing across its Airbus A380 fleet, citing a lacklustre response from travellers.Over the weekend the airline ended its nine-month trial of inflight Internet on selected A380 routes.

 

[The Rok]

No real loss IMO


Sent from AFF Mobile Edition

 

[smit0847]

Really?! its not the future of IFE?

Im guessing cost and speed had something to do with the customers 'lacklustre response'

 

[ozmille]

have never flown on an aircraft that had it fitted but not really sure what I would do online, apart from AFF updates off course but you can't do that all the time en route to LHR...

 

[lovestotravel]

That's disappointing!

 

[Bundy Bear]

Maybe I was unlucky but never seemed to be on an aircraft when it was actually working.

 

[simongr]

I would almost rather have it on a short domestic hop than long haul. I would hope it would be cheaper domestically than over massive expanses of water.

I think the lacklustre response would have something to do with this:

 

[serfty]

Really it was quite slow - any web site with more than a little Glitz became snooze material when loading.

It was nice to post back in April from First as a one off, but I would not really consider paying for it.


http://www.australianfrequentflyer....am/a380-wifi-trial-starts-tomorrow-37298.html

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ns/internet-long-haul-flights-aust-38836.html

 

[moa999]

Sure the response had something to do with pricing, but I assume the satellite charges and kitting out an aircraft aren't cheap either.
(albeit it is cheaper than some Australian hotel internet charges)

But moreso because most people appreciate the serenity of NOT receiving emails on an airplane, or have already predownloaded whatever documents they want for the flight.
You would probably get higher takeup if people knew it would be available on the flight.

 

[yohy?!]

the pricing was ridiculous as was the speed - maybe they should ask their new alliance partners EK for tips

 

[Boris spatsky]

Swift Broadband in aviation is astronomically expensive - hence the charges to the end user. I cannot see how airlines could ever price it competitively for users.

 

[reductionist]

I tried it once but I couldn't get it to work. So yes, my response was full of lacklustre.

 

[samh004]

I'd have thought free for F, to a limit greater than 35MB, and cheaper than it is currently for the rest of the plane might have helped. There's lots of ways it could have been better, but it seems like they designed it to fail.

 

[tuapekastar]

Used it (gratis) somewhere over the Pacific back in April and while it was a novel and mildly pleasant experience, I wouldn't be paying for it, especially at the speed provided.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Im guessing cost and speed had something to do with the customers 'lacklustre response'

Yes I suspect so but that's hardly the airlines fault

The problem for QF is that vast expanse of water called the Pacific in which basically no one lives and therefore no data satellites hover. Then there is the stupid rules in some countries (e.g. India) that prevent the use of inflight internet - which means the system is switched off, then back on once out of Indian airspace.

 

[Flying mermaid]

We were offered it for free when we flew back from LA in July, but we weren't interested, so definitely part of the lack lustre response. When I am flying, I enjoy being cut off from the rest of the world!

 

[MatF]

When I am flying, I enjoy being cut off from the rest of the world!

My thoughts exactly. It's one of the few opportunites these days.

 

[maomaocat]

I loved it on Delta last year, was a good distraction from the terrible snacks and drinks.

 

[atreides]

I have often wondered how a LCC like DY can offer it for free (though really only fast enough for mobile Facebook, etc), yet some legacy carriers charge a fortune for the same slow service.

 

[Mal Ware]

Another Qantas FAIL with Joyce at the helm.