Qantas WiFi (aka Qantas inflight Internet)

[greyyy]

"By the time our domestic B737s and A330s are all fitted in late 2018 – around 80 aircraft in total – an estimated 15 million passengers a year will be able to stay connected in the air. That’s a whole lotta emails, selfies and streaming"

 

[moa999]

The most interesting quote though

By the time our domestic B737s and A330s are all fitted in late 2018 – around 80 aircraft in total

So 80 equals
67 AU registered 737s (leaving out the 8 ZK aircraft - which would need a different solution as the NBN Ka band doesn't cover the ditch)
13 332s (leaving out 5 332s - possibly again supporting the international sub fleet rumours)

Also unsure how the recent EK announcement and QF 330a from SYD-AKL plays into this all

 

[greyyy]

Also unsure how the recent EK announcement and QF 330a from SYD-AKL plays into this all

It doesn't. Wifi internet is only for domestic flights at the moment, much to the shame of some international flights that spend half the time over Australia (SIN flights, for example).

Planes fitted with wifi may fly to international destinations occasionally (VH-XZC did today to both Bali and Auckland, and XZB has done in the past), but wifi is not enabled for these flights (XZC hasn't got wifi enabled at all yet anyway)

 

[moa999]

Yea but the 330s were at least meant to get a Ka/Ku band antenna which would enable them to access non-NBN satellites (subject to agreements) which may enable coverage to NZ/Asia.

Hence why the approx 80 is an interesting number

 

[shuuy]

Guess where the wifi plane is parked at SYD right now ... at the international gates (I thought the Wifi didn't work across the Tasman)

 

[mannej]

Guess where the wifi plane is parked at SYD right now ... at the international gates (I thought the Wifi didn't work across the Tasman)

The wifi won't work across the Tasman, but nothing to stop the plane from doing that flight.

 

[DavidFlynn]

The wifi won't work across the Tasman

Nothing that good old Cat 6 Ethernet cable can't fix. In fact, just last week I saw Kogan doing a sale on 2,200km runs of Cat6. That's SYD-AKL with a few km's to spare!

 

[moa999]

Pace of installation has picked up - latest aircraft took 8 days it seems.
As well as XZB which is active, the following appear to have WiFi fitted, all done at SYD maintenance:
XZC, XZL, XZM, XZN, XZO
XZP currently in for maintenance so expect it to return late August

I think QF had previously said September for a launch - so would likely have 7 aircraft for a 1-Sep launch, or up to 10 for a late-Sep launch

 

[travellerqff]

Flew QF881 OOL MEL on XZB (the 'wifi onboard' decals) this week. There was no mention of internet use, and I couldn't connect on any device.

 

[moa999]

Still no news from Qantas, and we are nearing the end of September.

Did a quick review of theqantassource.com and have the following:
Active (1) - XZB
Installed (9) - VZL, VZV, XZA, XZC, XZL, XZM, XZN, XZO, XZP
Maintenance (1) - VZO Expected out 25-26/9

 

[moa999]

So we've missed September, but the bubble install continues.

The list is now 13 aircraft.

Active (1) - XZB
Installed (12) - VZL, VZO, VZS, VZV, VZW, XZA, XZC, XZL, XZM, XZN, XZO, XZP

 

[moa999]

With some thanks to Zac M on YSSY

Trial (1) - XZB (bubble seemingly removed from FB photo taken yesterday and posted on an FF forum)
Installed (16) - VZL, VZO, VZS, VZT, VZV, VZZ, XZA, XZB, XZC, XZI, XZJ, XZL, XZM, XZN, XZO, XZP

So ready to go on about a quarter of the AU flagged fleet

 

[moa999]

From a post on a Facebook forum, VH-VZT was active today, so possibly the turn on has begun

 

[led-zep]

How can you tell which aircraft has WiFi enabled?? I mainly do Syd-Mel and return.

 

[mannej]

How can you tell which aircraft has WiFi enabled?? I mainly do Syd-Mel and return.

You are looking for the bump on the aircraft

 

[moa999]

Think you are looking for the sticker.

From what I understand while there are 15 bumps there is still only one trial aircraft (think now VZT, with the bump being removed from XZB).

There was a post on the Whirlpool tech forum suggesting some issues

There have been massive delays on this project from what i've heard, lot of fingers at Telstra right now (who are supporting Qantas through this).

 

[baggyred]

How would one know which equipment if flying on a particular route.

Have a 4 hour Mel-> Per coming up and praying for a miracle that I'll get the cricket

 

[Daver6]

How would one know which equipment if flying on a particular route.

Have a 4 hour Mel-> Per coming up and praying for a miracle that I'll get the cricket

Didn't QF advertise that all domestic flights with IFE would have the cricket live and free?

Do QF still have the ABC audio streaming of the cricket?

 

[mattm199]

I flew BNE-CNS on VZS on Friday, and could connect to the WiFi, seeing the home page and cricket information etc. Couldn't seen to connect to internet though when I checked other apps during the flight. The info cards were in the seat pockets, but the crew didn't mention WiFi availability.
Once in service, I would hope the equivalent of Q Streaming was also available, as would be hard for everyone to stream movie and TV content vis the Satellite feed!

 

[pjm99au]

Active inflight on 506 Syd BNE this morning full internet with circa 5 mps download speed and streaming