A380 WIFI Trial Starts tomorrow (7th March 12)

[Simo]

No it's general access, with the usual restrictions on voice and video.

Would be interested to see the restrictions that are placed on it.

I use some websites for work that are blocked when be accessed from outside Australia.

Would also be interested to know if they use a Aust based IP address or a foreign IP address.

 

[Paddy55]

Used the complimentary OnAero WIFI on Saturday 17/3 QF11 service out of Sydney for LA. It took between 2 1/2hr - 3 hrs to obtain access via the complimentary promotion code provided by the CSM. 90 minutes out of LAX access again cut out. For the time the connection was available the performance was reasonable for email, etc however any websites were there was a large amount of graphics were very slow.

In summary - I would look to see OnAero optimise the performance of this services over time. If anyone is expecting the same performance offered on AA, Alaskan, etc then you will be disappointed. If you want to use OnAero for basic email, IM, etc it works fine. Anything else where a reasonable amount of bandwidth is required is a challenge. All in all a good effort and look forward to using this service over time. I'd be interested in people's voew whether the $US40.00 discounted fee would be a reasonable amount to pay for the service?

I think I'll avoid the aggravation until the performance issues are sorted.

Sounds like it could painfully interrupt the degustation service

 

[wafliron]

In summary - I would look to see OnAero optimise the performance of this services over time. If anyone is expecting the same performance offered on AA, Alaskan, etc then you will be dissappointed. If you want to use OnAero for basic email, IM, etc it works fine. Anything else where a reasonable amount of bandwidth is required is a challenge. All in all a good effort and look forward to using this service over time.

Thanks for posting that - good to get more real user feedback.

I'd be interested in people's voew whether the $US40.00 discounted fee would be a reasonable amount to pay for the service?

Is it good value? Yeah, I reckon $40 is pretty fair for that sort of service on a long-haul flight. Would I pay for it? For personal travel no, but for business travel maybe.

There's no avenue for the system to be used by crew. That may change, but there's no way that I need my email so much that I'd be prepared to pay $40, or even $20 for that matter (or anything actually) ...especially given that I'll have access once I get to wherever we're going, and probably for free. There are no CASA rules that stop its use by off duty crew.

What, you don't feel the need to be connected to the web 24/7? How 2000s! ;-)

Would also be interested to know if they use a Aust based IP address or a foreign IP address.

I'm gonna guess it'll be routed back through the USA - more satellite providers / ground station options there, plus it would be logical to send traffic straight back to the USA for fastest possible access to most of the world's websites.

Maybe someone can do a traceroute or a http://www.whatismyipaddress.com from the plane and post the results.

I think I'll avoid the aggravation until the performance issues are sorted.

I doubt the current performance is due to an issue - just sounds like a limited-bandwidth satellite link. Maybe they can tweak it further, or open up more bandwidth... but I wouldn't hold your breath.

 

[serfty]

VH-OQG/H/I/J/K/L have WiFi enabled

Well I hope it's still going - J & L operated QF11/QF93 yesterday so should be returning for Anzac day as QF12/QF94.

'C is doing QF10 ...

.. sadly it looks like the inbound 94 tends to operate the 9 on the same day (as well as the 10 operating the 93) ...

Well it was K and I got to try it.

 

[milehighclub]

Re: Internet on Long Haul flights from Aust. Imagine the AFF posts!

Phase two of the trial commenced a not long ago.

Here are the current charges for Wifi - First class will continue to receive complementary access.
Mobile:
15MB $25
40MB $50

Laptop:
25MB $30
80MB $60

Singapore Airlines who also uses the same system (onair) charges $30 for 26MB. Remember the internet is satellite based, not ground based hence the higher costs and slower speeds than the system used by US carriers.

 

[serfty]

Re: Internet on Long Haul flights from Aust. Imagine the AFF posts!

Qantas are trialling it on 6 of their their 388's.

About Qantas - Media Room - Media Releases - Qantas commences inflight connectivity trial across the Pacific

I may be able to provide an update tomorrow.

80 M byte as a First customer free.

However it is glacial.

Yes posting from from somewhere north of tonga.

 

[serfty]

80 M byte as a First customer free.

However it is glacial.

Yes posting from from somewhere north of tonga.

Now halfway between HNL and Baja coast.

Must be careful since use over limit could be expensive:[TABLE="class: grid"]
[TR]
[TD][TABLE="width: 90%"]
[TR]
[TD="class: calloutLeft"]

Internet OnAir [/TD]
[TD="class: calloutRight"]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 2"]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 2"]

Status:	Connected To end charges, click Disconnect.
Plan details:	[TABLE="class: service_plan"] [TR] [TD="class: table_header"]Plan type	80 MB of Internet access
Promotion
US $0.146 per 100 KB of data over plan limit

[TD="colspan: 2"]
[/TD]

[TD="class: table_header"]Access fee[/TD]

[TD="class: table_header"]Optional Charges[/TD]

[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] Usage: [/TD]
[TD] [TABLE="class: fueltable"][tr][td]xx_xx_xx[/td][/tr]
[TR]
[TD="class: fuelholder"]

0 MB 80 MB
[/TD]
[TD="class: fuelamount"] 12.9 MB [/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] Current charges: [/TD]
[TD] US $0.00 [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 2"]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 2"] You can check your Internet usage at any time during this flight by viewing this page. Please bookmark this page. [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="colspan: 2"]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[infinity]

Re: Internet on Long Haul flights from Aust. Imagine the AFF posts!

Phase two of the trial commenced a not long ago.

Here are the current charges for Wifi - First class will continue to receive complementary access.
Mobile:
15MB $25
40MB $50

Laptop:
25MB $30
80MB $60

Singapore Airlines who also uses the same system (onair) charges $30 for 26MB. Remember the internet is satellite based, not ground based hence the higher costs and slower speeds than the system used by US carriers.

If they price the product like the Aiphone, it will be a waste of time for all

In North America on Air Tran and Virgin America you pay about $10-15 for a 3-5 hour flight

Have used Skype Video and didnt see any issue with data limits

Hopefully competition will emerge soon to bring the price dow

 

[serfty]

Re: Internet on Long Haul flights from Aust. Imagine the AFF posts!

I wouldn't worry too much.

80 Mbyte for $60 on last nights speeds represents about 6 hours browsing. It got there in the end,but at one stage I fell asleep while waiting for a response.

 

[serfty]

Originally Posted by eoinnz
The WiFi trial is now in phase 2 which allows access in all cabins.

For laptops:
USD$30 for 25MB or USD$60 for 80MB

For smart phones/tablets:
USD$25 for 15MB or USD$50 for 40MB

First class passengers continue to receive a code for complementary access.

Only 6 of the 12 aircraft have WiFi (VH-OQG/H/I/J/K/L)

Interesting post on FT from a 388 FA.

[EDIT]

But I did miss milehighclub's post​

[/EDIT]

 

[ashleyn]

If you can't survive a flight without contact with the outside world you need counseling IMHO.

 

[simongr]

I guess you are entitled to your opinion. Personally if I was able to check some emails, send off responses and get answers back real time then I could turn around documents much faster. As it is if I send emails offline, wait to get home to connect again I lose a couple of days in the turnaround.

Like many here I guess I work in a global business with a global team and if you happen to be in a similar time zone you can shave days off a conversation.

On a non-work front when I travel (not as much as many here) I often miss events, sports games, election results so why shouldn't I be able to keep up to date and make the travel less of a disturbance without being accused of needing counseling?

 

[gogo419]

Father gogo flew LAX-SYD arriving Sunday just gone. He said that they announced in flight that the wi-fi is only available to first class passengers? (He travels J) Has Red Roo changed the trial? Or was dad just being himself and giving me a lame excuse for not asking the FA for a code?

 

[markis10]

QF have modified the charges that will last until the trial ends at the end of this month:

https://www.qantas.com.au/agents/dyn/qf/info/201208/0803

 

[chrisb]

Excess usage charges? I really hope they don't plan to keep that. At $2 per meg you're in Trouble if windows update runs.

Either that table isn't displaying properly or I don't get it. What does the cabin have to do with it?

 

[serfty]

Excess usage charges? I really hope they don't plan to keep that. At $2 per meg you're in Trouble if windows update runs.

Either that table isn't displaying properly or I don't get it. What does the cabin have to do with it?

I doubt Windows update would complete ...

My experience with the speed is that excess rate equates to about 25¢ per minute ...

 

[chrisb]

I'm sure you get my point.

Why not just sell it in prepaid blocks. When it runs out you buy another block of X MB.

Also, I'm not sure why laptops and mobile devices are priced differently. I think someone let marketing come up with this plan without talking to anyone with a clue.

 

[markis10]

The trial is over with discussion on the events taking place in this thread: http://www.australianfrequentflyer....am/qantas-axes-inflight-internet-45451-5.html