Return of Wifi on Virgin Australia

[SJF211]

Virgin brings back free WiFi for business class, Platinum flyers

A new high-speed Internet service will launch in the coming months.

www.executivetraveller.com

 

[Human]

That's great news ... but it's frustrating that this will involve installing new hardware on every Virgin plane, rather than using the hardware that's already been there for their pre-COVID WiFi. The above article says that that will take over a year.

 

[exceladdict]

It is a shame they are limiting this to platinum. Wifi, as I have mentioned in a number of surveys to virgin, is a huge thing to stay connected when flying transcon and trying to get work done. Despite being VA gold, I'll keep flying QF where the wifi is free.

 

[moa999]

Equipment upgrade is interesting. Possible means faster speeds?

 

[jase05]

Jane and Co must be listening.
One one of their surveys a few months I suggested free WiFi for J class and Plats only.
I do think Plats need to have a few more perks to seperate them from the Golds
I did suggest a new tier above Platinum for those of us who earn 2000+ SC’s but they haven’t listened to that yet

 

[SheikYerbouti]

It is a shame they are limiting this to platinum. Wifi, as I have mentioned in a number of surveys to virgin, is a huge thing to stay connected when flying transcon and trying to get work done. Despite being VA gold, I'll keep flying QF where the wifi is free.

I quite like the lack of wifi, and the ability to disconnect for 2-4 hours.

 

[exceladdict]

Jane and Co must be listening.
One one of their surveys a few months I suggested free WiFi for J class and Plats only.
I do think Plats need to have a few more perks to seperate them from the Golds
I did suggest a new tier above Platinum for those of us who earn 2000+ SC’s but they haven’t listened to that yet

Fair point, I guess the gold threshold is a bit lower than QF especially considering family pooling. IMO it's not a high enough benefit to solely chase WP for (as compared to the QF WP offering of a less crowded J lounge, release of extra reward seats, etc)

I quite like the lack of wifi, and the ability to disconnect for 2-4 hours.

That's fair, of course YMMV but for me it means less pressure to travel on personal time because I can get more work done while in transit.

 

[Saab34]

Equipment upgrade is interesting. Possible means faster speed

Strange but, the current tech works. I was thinking vendor pricing disagreements with the previous mob? Or perhaps they are a creditor that got the short straw and want nothing to do with them? Wouldn’t be the first vendor that has refused to deal with VA 2.0 after being burnt.

It’s dragged on a bit regardless. At least they have a solution, hopefully the MAX8s arrive with it pre installed.

 

[Milefest]

Jane and Co must be listening.
One one of their surveys a few months I suggested free WiFi for J class and Plats only.
I do think Plats need to have a few more perks to seperate them from the Golds
I did suggest a new tier above Platinum for those of us who earn 2000+ SC’s but they haven’t listened to that yet

Don't be deceived by the marketing, removing a perk available to everyone isn't an enhancement to the platinum value prop, it's actually a weakening of the program as a whole.

 

[SheikYerbouti]

That's fair, of course YMMV but for me it means less pressure to travel on personal time because I can get more work done while in transit.

Ouch. I only travel for work in work time. My personal time is not for work activities (or if happens, I get paid for it!).

 

[bladeau1981]

Don't be deceived by the marketing, removing a perk available to everyone isn't an enhancement to the platinum value prop, it's actually a weakening of the program as a whole.

I agree with this. Virgin keeps trying to compete with Qantas on product but always is just behind (yes Qantas is failing miserably on delivery at the moment so Virgin isn't as far behind). Qantas - Give everyone WiFi, Virgin hmm how can we make money off this?

 

[ag4647]

Seems reasonable to charge for wifi. In the US messaging is free for everyone. doesnt seem like a crazy model.

 

[Daver6]

Seems reasonable to charge for wifi. In the US messaging is free for everyone. doesnt seem like a crazy model.

Not on AA. You can usually get 20 or 30 minutes free by watching a short advert though.

 

[bladeau1981]

Seems reasonable to charge for wifi. In the US messaging is free for everyone. doesnt seem like a crazy model.

It's the LCC model. I thought Virgin was trying to not be an LCC but they are doing everything they can to appear as one.

 

[Saab34]

From what they said last time, operating costs are much more considerable here, when comparing to US Domestic. I don’t think much has changed.

 

[simmomelb]

It is a shame they are limiting this to platinum. Wifi, as I have mentioned in a number of surveys to virgin, is a huge thing to stay connected when flying transcon and trying to get work done. Despite being VA gold, I'll keep flying QF where the wifi is free.

It's not free on Qantas, really, it's built into the cost of their tickets, that's just marketing doing its job to convince you it's free.

Virgin could increase the cost of every ticket by, let's say $15, and then say it's "free" to all customers.

I'd rather a mostly user pay system so others aren't hit with the cost of running satellite WiFi internet on every plane, which isn't cheap.

Ultimately, whether it's Qantas or Virgin, the running costs have to be covered by customers somewhere.
I'd be happy pay $15 (a pure guess) for internet from Melbourne to Brisbane if I really can't go without it for the duration of the flight.

What do others think?

 

[jakeseven7]

Another exception excuse for people who have to fly BFOD (not like you really need it, so easy to game!).

 

[simmomelb]

Equipment upgrade is interesting. Possible means faster speeds?

Yep, It'll be faster than before, and a different service provider

 

[bladeau1981]

To those that say user pays is better as it is built into the cost on Qantas, that is the point. For lots of people who fly for work, work pays for the flight and when on board Qantas you don't have to pull out your card to pay for food, WiFi, using the toilet or whatever, on Virgin you do and then it's submitting re-imbursement forms and the hassle that goes with that and being out of pocket personally for X- Days. If I have a choice I just say book my on Qantas as it is much easier for me in general.

 

[Human]

To those that say user pays is better as it is built into the cost on Qantas, that is the point. For lots of people who fly for work, work pays for the flight and when on board Qantas you don't have to pull out your card to pay for food, WiFi, using the toilet or whatever, on Virgin you do and then it's submitting re-imbursement forms and the hassle that goes with that and being out of pocket personally for X- Days. If I have a choice I just say book my on Qantas as it is much easier for me in general.

I get asked quite a bit for advice on whether to fly Virgin or Qantas. My advice is the same: if you're paying for it, fly Virgin. If someone else is paying, fly Qantas!