Video On-Demand Rollout

[Optics]

Hi all,

I have been perusing this board for a little while now and have learnt quite a few things I did not know, which is a bit embarrassing considering I have been a WP for a few years now . I am amazed at the level of knowledge here. For example I have for the first time now checked my seat allocation for my flights to Spain in May (not the very best recommended by NM, but included in his list of good ones at least .

My question now is, does anyone know the rollout schedule for the video on-demand system? I am flying QF5/9 and QF6/10 to/from Frankfurt via Sin first week of May (yes, there and back in same week :cry: , but at least it is in Business). Will these flights have video on-demand? I hope so, as it is a good system and I have really enjoyed it when flying SIA.

Thanks in advance if anyone can answer this query.

 

[markis10]

I was on QF9 last week and it had AVOD installed but not operational (had to select news channel to get movie channels). I suspect this will not be the case when your trip comes up!

 

[Optics]

I was on QF9 last week and it had AVOD installed but not operational (had to select news channel to get movie channels). I suspect this will not be the case when your trip comes up!

Thanks for the very prompt reply. I'll keep my fingers crossed. The only time I get to watch movies is when I am flying OS, so I like to make the most of the opportunity.

 

[NM]

Right now, there are seven 747-400s with the AVOD upgrade. This includes 4 of the 3-class configs, and 3 of the 2-class configs.

QF5/6 is operated by 2-class aircraft, of which QF has seven. So right now, its just less than half the 2-class fleet. However, keep in mind that Qantas is planning to operate some 2-class QF25/26 services with 747-300 aircraft between April and July, indicating that they are planning to have 2-class aircraft undergoing maintenance at that time, and I think it is fair to assume that will also mean AVOD upgrades for those aircraft.

Also note that in May (you trip time), if one 2-class is off-line and we know the 743 is only scheduled for QF25/26, then you must be at least a 50% chance.

So my guess is that by July, most (if not all) of the 2-class fleet will have AVOD, while the 3-class fleet will lag behind a little.

 

[Damien]

My question now is, does anyone know the rollout schedule for the video on-demand system? I am flying QF5/9 and QF6/10 to/from Frankfurt via Sin first week of May (yes, there and back in same week :cry: , but at least it is in Business). Will these flights have video on-demand?

Welcome to AFF, Optics.

I flew the SIN - SYD leg of QF6 (seat 1J is an excellent position) last week, and it had AVOD installed. So if it's the same metal, you're in luck! I have to admit that I didn't use it - the flight timing is just bad.

However, I did use it for the first time on QF51 BNE - SIN a couple of days earlier. It's a huge improvement on the old system and I loved it. Perhaps the biggest unpublished advantage is that it means everyone finishes their movies at different times, so there are no lines in places where you don't want to be.

 

[QF WP]

Optics, welcome to AFF. Isn't it just amazing what we can learn from each other...in the words of a song by the Goo Goo Dolls "The least they ever told you is the most you ever knew".

Then you find out that others know and are willing to share their knowledge - that enhances everybody's flying enjoyment.

We look forward to your input

 

[Optics]

My question now is, does anyone know the rollout schedule for the video on-demand system? I am flying QF5/9 and QF6/10 to/from Frankfurt via Sin first week of May (yes, there and back in same week :cry: , but at least it is in Business). Will these flights have video on-demand?

Welcome to AFF, Optics.

I flew the SIN - SYD leg of QF6 (seat 1J is an excellent position) last week, and it had AVOD installed. So if it's the same metal, you're in luck! I have to admit that I didn't use it - the flight timing is just bad.

However, I did use it for the first time on QF51 BNE - SIN a couple of days earlier. It's a huge improvement on the old system and I loved it. Perhaps the biggest unpublished advantage is that it means everyone finishes their movies at different times, so there are no lines in places where you don't want to be.

Thanks Damien, that's 2 pieces of good news, the AVOD and the seat. I have seat 1J on both QF5 and 6 . I find it is especially when the timing of a flight is bad that the AVOD is most useful, as you can watch the movie you want when you want. At the end of a one week flight to Europe and back, I find that time means nothing anyway. I just start with a champagne, eat the meal accompanied by a couple/few red wines and then relax with a cognac or similar while I watch a movie. Who cares if my body thinks it should be breakfast time :?

 

[Optics]

Optics, welcome to AFF. Isn't it just amazing what we can learn from each other...in the words of a song by the Goo Goo Dolls "The least they ever told you is the most you ever knew".

Then you find out that others know and are willing to share their knowledge - that enhances everybody's flying enjoyment.

We look forward to your input

Thanks Lindsay, I will try to contribute but I can see I will need to pay attention more to what is happening around/to me, so that I have something to share :roll:

As another quick question, does anyone think it worthwhile taking a points upgrade to F between SIN/MEL? I have plenty of points available (I think it costs 25,000?), but she who must be obeyed is not keen on me wasting them on myself rather than the annual family holiday. I just think it may be good to have some real pampering at the end of the long trip and be more ready for the day when I land early Saturday morning. Is F all it is cracked up to be?

 

[NM]

As another quick question, does anyone think it worthwhile taking a points upgrade to F between SIN/MEL? I have plenty of points available (I think it costs 25,000?), but she who must be obeyed is not keen on me wasting them on myself rather than the annual family holiday. I just think it may be good to have some real pampering at the end of the long trip and be more ready for the day when I land early Saturday morning. Is F all it is cracked up to be?

Yes, its 25,000 points. And yes, it is worth doing it at least once so that you know whether it is all its cracked up to be 8) . Tell SWMBO that you will give her the emenities pack and the pyjamas after the flight :wink: .

SIN-MEL (QF10) is an overnight flight, so you will likely spend much of it sleeping. So if you can get LHR-SIN leg you will be in for a longer flight and hance better experience (and a few more points). But it looks like you are starting in FRA, so that won't help unless you reroute via LHR.

 

[Optics]

As another quick question, does anyone think it worthwhile taking a points upgrade to F between SIN/MEL? I have plenty of points available (I think it costs 25,000?), but she who must be obeyed is not keen on me wasting them on myself rather than the annual family holiday. I just think it may be good to have some real pampering at the end of the long trip and be more ready for the day when I land early Saturday morning. Is F all it is cracked up to be?

Yes, its 25,000 points. And yes, it is worth doing it at least once so that you know whether it is all its cracked up to be 8) . Tell SWMBO that you will give her the emenities pack and the pyjamas after the flight :wink: .

SIN-MEL (QF10) is an overnight flight, so you will likely spend much of it sleeping. So if you can get LHR-SIN leg you will be in for a longer flight and hance better experience (and a few more points). But it looks like you are starting in FRA, so that won't help unless you reroute via LHR.

I have provided SWMBO with numerous J class ammenity bags, and don't think this will sway her unless the F bag is much better. The PJs may be worth a try though

Schedule won't allow a reroute via LHR. It is actually the sleeping at the end of a hard week that interests me, so I will definitely think about the upgrade on QF10. Though, if the wine selection is much better, I may not actually sleep much anyway

 

[Wunala Dreaming]

Hello Optics.

I've created a thread over at Flyteralk with information on the Qantas Fleet. I have also included which aircraft have AVOD. You can access the thread here - Qantas Fleet Information [updated regularly]. I will try and update it as much as possible.

Also if you want, you can send me an email [with your QF flight details] close to the day of departure and I'd be more than happy to get you the aircraft rego. [you can then check whether it has AVOD etc] and I can also check the flight load for you.

There are problems associated with the installation of AVOD, but Qantas has found a solution and will be able to hopefully keep to their schedule of having AVOD across 744 fleet by JAN 2007.

Cheers
David

 

[Optics]

Hello Optics.

I've created a thread over at Flyteralk with information on the Qantas Fleet. I have also included which aircraft have AVOD. You can access the thread here - Qantas Fleet Information [updated regularly]. I will try and update it as much as possible.

Also if you want, you can send me an email [with your QF flight details] close to the day of departure and I'd be more than happy to get you the aircraft rego. [you can then check whether it has AVOD etc] and I can also check the flight load for you.

There are problems associated with the installation of AVOD, but Qantas has found a solution and will be able to hopefully keep to their schedule of having AVOD across 744 fleet by JAN 2007.

Cheers
David

Hey thanks a lot, that will be most useful I will check out the other forum when I get a chance, and give you a mail closer to departure.

By the sounds of your post, you will be contributing much more to the forum than I could ever hope.

 

[Maca44]

Optics, what she doesn't know won't hurt her. Go for the upgrade to F and enjoy the bed, or the wine, or both.

 

[justinbrett]

Do you think they will eventually put them in some of the 737s that are used on the Perth and Darwin routes?

 

[DPG]

I just flew on a AVOD upgraded 744 from SYD-LHR (QF31)... I think the reg was OJK...

Unfortunately this was the first time I have had problems with the AVOD system, even though I have known about issues on previous flights.

On the SYD-SIN leg, it worked for the first few hours, then died. I had the CSM trying to fix it, but all of the screens that didn't have someone sitting at them had the same error. It was odd, as the guy sitting next to me (16B) was working fine. :shock:

Between SIN-LHR I had to alternate between 16J and 16K as both would work for a couple of hours, then need to 'cool down' before working again! The CSM was quite helpful, but also mentioned that the engineering company supplying the AVOD units was now in court with QF due to the extensive issues.

Interestingly on the SYD-SIN flight, the CSM mentioned that the plane was on Version 1 of the software, and the most up to date version is Version 4. He said that it takes around 12 hours to download it, so it hasn't happened as the plane doesn't sit on the ground long enough.

So hopefully by May, a lot more of the bugs will be ironed out, as I do think that when it works, it is fantastic, incredibly easy to use, not as much content as SQ and EK, but even so, it is definately up there!

D P G

 

[oz_mark]

Do you think they will eventually put them in some of the 737s that are used on the Perth and Darwin routes?

No.

Not unless something pretty radical happens in the domestic aviation market, which seems unlikely. Without that, there is certainly no competitive pressure to do so.

 

[serfty]

... It's a huge improvement on the old system and I loved it. Perhaps the biggest unpublished advantage is that it means everyone finishes their movies at different times, so there are no lines in places where you don't want to be.

I got to use it properly for the first ime in Jan PER-SIN.

In a similar vein about unpublished advantages of AVOD is the additional ability to Pause your show in order to attend to ones personal needs including "lines in places where you don't want to go".

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

unpublished :?

NZ's advertising of their avod includes promoting the ability to start, stop, pause, rewind when you like - pax in control

 

[serfty]

unpublished :?

NZ's advertising of their avod includes promoting the ability to start, stop, pause, rewind when you like - pax in control

I was using Damien's terminology

 

[moa999]

Also the Fast forward works like a charm
2x,4x,8x,16x,32x.

After watching one movie, allowed me to watch the last 10 min of another movie that I had missed due to the dreaded seat belt sign on descent.

Hints for using
---------

Look through the movie guide to pick your movie.
Turn the screen on.
The minute the system is turned on go select what you want, then pause as appropriate.

That way you don't have to work when the system is all sluggish as 200 pax try and load up a movie.