Declining levels of IFE

[markis10]

My biggest issue with the iPads was never the meal, but the glare you just can't get rid of. It's rather unsettling seeing yourself in every movie or TV show you watch. Even in that shiny Qantas promo it looks like the guy can see far more of his reflection than he can of any IFE

I have learned to ignore myself, it something I recommend to others so please ignore this post .

 

[dk4]

...the glare you just can't get rid of. It's rather unsettling seeing yourself in every movie or TV show you watch. Even in that shiny Qantas promo it looks like the guy can see far more of his reflection than he can of any IFE

Totally agree, I have put mine on the back of the seat next door to avoid the problem. Even then you can see a vague reflection outlined on the screen.

 

[hobo]

Virgin Australia Wireless IFE has over 300 hours of content

100 hours or 1/3rd more content than:

- Qantas QStreaming at 200 hours
- Qantas 737 seat back at around 200 hours

That's a possible extra 40 feature-length movies or an extra 300 TV episodes

QF 737 seat back 'hours of content' calculated using the Qantas website description of their content options (e.g 20 movies x 3 hours etc)

Most people will not be interested in the entire 300 hours of content. Usually when I jump on a plane, I can see 2 or 3 things I really want to see, then another 5-6 things I wouldn't mind seeing, and the rest I have no interest in.

My issue is that flying from SYD-LAX and back with a 6 week gap, I would have expected a reasonable re-hash of the content. Particularly in the TV shows section as most of it is out of date anyway. At least put some different episodes up. However it was almost all the same, and led to a very boring flight.

It's not really an issue on normal routes unless you fly weekly.

That was mainly a side remark anyway, the main issue is the equipment not working.

 

[JohnK]

Tablets/WiFi are not an IFE solution

You can say that again.

I do not understand why I need to provide my own entertainment. You are selling seats that could potentially involve a lot of hours in the sky. Put something decent in there. Stop worrying about silly senior management bonuses and start taking care of the customers again.

The Qantas tablets have not been updated since they were rolled out. I am bored already. Not a single game in there.

 

[lovestotravel]

I fly both Qantas and Virgin and have to say that the new wifi that is being rolled out on the VA 737 aircraft is by far the best domestic IFE in Oz. The QF 767 wifi setup is also good and to be honest I'm not even sure why I prefer the VA offering.

They are having the wifi IFE fitted (which is much better than the QF offering on most a/c) within a very short period of arrival.

No ability to charge my device
No ability to mount my device
Bringing my own device to watch content which likely won't be updated for many months

I'll believe the VA timeframes once all aircraft are fitted with IFE.......

VA can't get much happening on time, and this IFE rollout is so far behind schedule!

 

[lovestotravel]

Virgin Australia Wireless IFE has over 300 hours of content

100 hours or 1/3rd more content than:

- Qantas QStreaming at 200 hours
- Qantas 737 seat back at around 200 hours

That's a possible extra 40 feature-length movies or an extra 300 TV episodes

QF 737 seat back 'hours of content' calculated using the Qantas website description of their content options (e.g 20 movies x 3 hours etc)

That's nice.... so how often is the VA IFE updated ?............................. :shock:

 

[suze2000]

I flew VA recently and used the streaming IFE on my iPad for the first time. It was okay, I felt, but there are a couple of things:

a) the first flight I was on, I was informed that it was available too late to boot up my iPad and tether my phone and download the software before takeoff! (being a compliant and prepared flyer, I had put both into flight mode and shut them down prior to boarding)

b) the second flight, I'd had time to install it, but then I read in the fine print of the Voyeur mag that you have to activate it online BEFORE you can use it on the plane! At least I spotted this before it was too late this time.

c) I think VA should, when someone first books a flight on a plane with this available, email them to let them know to be prepared before they board the plane. A lot of people have iPads with only wifi capacities and once they leave their homes would be unable to take advantage of this. I tether my phone to my iPad, but I'd be reluctant to download a whole app using tethering in case I break my d/l limit on my phone plan.

d) it would be good to have whole series of shows rather than just a couple of episodes.

e) I like that I can use my own device for this (not one that might have been sneezed over by the last passenger or similar), and I hope QF develops apps like this and also that BOTH airlines extend this to cover Android devices as well.

 

[MartinMemo]

I find the tablet option annoying because where do you put it while you eat? It is too big and has to be on your counter, or on an empty seat next to you at which point you have to keep turning your head. I usually just decline it whenever offered in J east coast MEL/SYD-BNE/OOL.

Qantas long haul international on the A380 was impressive, and i understand why they are so awarded, but again I had an issue with so much being available that you cant chose what to watch.

I kind of miss the days where there was one forced movie - its why i like foxtel movie channels, it gives you a change to watch something you may not normally watch (sometimes good sometimes bad).

The best advice I have seen is just pre-load what you want on your own device. If im on a long enough flight I just load to my Samsung Galaxy S4 which suffices - but typically will just listen to music over watching anything.

 

[DGW]

c) I think VA should, when someone first books a flight on a plane with this available, email them to let them know to be prepared before they board the plane. A lot of people have iPads with only wifi capacities and once they leave their homes would be unable to take advantage of this. I tether my phone to my iPad, but I'd be reluctant to download a whole app using tethering in case I break my d/l limit on my phone plan.

This is in place at the moment, although only a day or two prior to the flight rather than at the time of the booking; given the whole fleet has not yet been fitted with the new system it would be impossible to know whether the aircraft operating a specific flight would have it fitted or not until a couple of days out.

An email I received recently:

 

[MartinMemo]

This is in place at the moment, although only a day or two prior to the flight rather than at the time of the booking; given the whole fleet has not yet been fitted with the new system it would be impossible to know whether the aircraft operating a specific flight would have it fitted or not until a couple of days out.

An email I received recently:

View attachment 19035

Yeah I have gotten one of these before every flight with it too - usually just after check in is available. I have also heard the cabon crew advise upon boarding to download and open the app before the cabin door is closed.

 

[suze2000]

Obviously I didn't see that, but I can see how I might have missed it.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I find the tablet option annoying because where do you put it while you eat? .......on an empty seat next to you

Good idea. VA can give everyone a shadow to manage their IFE solution. I'd be happy with that! (who says VA can't impress me these days).

 

[russ]

I find the tablet option annoying because where do you put it while you eat?

I strap it around the seat in front with a piece of elastic. It puts it at eye level. I have a photo somewhere if you would like to see it.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I strap it around the seat in front with a piece of elastic. It puts it at eye level. I have a photo somewhere if you would like to see it.

You don't feel that your "fix" to a VA problem may just impinge a little on the person in front? They've paid for their seat as well and I doubt everyone would be happy to be told "just lean forward while I strap on my device :shock:".......nor be overly happy to have their hair caught in the elastic strap and be told "stop whining, it only hurts for a minute".

 

[jmphoto]

You don't feel that your "fix" to a VA problem may just impinge a little on the person in front? They've paid for their seat as well and I doubt everyone would be happy to be told "just lean forward while I strap on my device :shock:".......nor be overly happy to have their hair caught in the elastic strap and be told "stop whining, it only hurts for a minute".

Quite. I'm always amazed at the disdain people show to the person in front, do most people not realise that every bump, kick, push, grab, and now strapping of elastic is really, really annoying?

 

[russ]

Huh? I wouldn't do it if it disrupted the person in front. The strap goes behind their headrest so they don't notice a thing.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Huh? I wouldn't do it if it disrupted the person in front. The strap goes behind their headrest so they don't notice a thing.

Oh, sorry. Misunderstood the concept. How about that photo so we can see it in action?

 

[phily]

My advice is to buy your own tablet/laptop, pre-load what you want to watch and then fly with whoever is cheaper

Agreed. Most of my travel is long-haul with QF, so I always take my iPad loaded up with a number of films I want to see. The IFE is disappointingly very low-resolution, so I only use it to watch some of the fascinating documentaries that they regularly load. My iPad has 2048 x 1536 resolution, so it's far superior to any IFE.

 

[russ]

It's a bit hard to see, but the strap goes between the seat and the headrest that moves up and down. No contact with person or their hair.
I usually sit in row 2, so when the seat belt sign goes off, they usually get up for their hand luggage and I can put it on then.

Photo is of a QF 737, but the same size strap works for VA

 

[jazza1971]

You should shop that to the Velocity Rep, What a functional idea! They would want to increase the headphone length thou!