Virgin and QF to allow gate to gate use of handheld devices from tomorrow

[medhead]

well, announcement on my VA flight on Thursday night that wifi had to stay switched off until the seat belt sign was turned off after take off. 1 out of 2 flights with usch an announcemnet. But it matches my view that the VA wifi based IFE isn't accessible if the device is in flight mode.

 

[travelislife]

But it matches my view that the VA wifi based IFE isn't accessible if the device is in flight mode.

You can have your device in flight mode and have wifi on and it will work on the inflight wifi so not sure what you're getting at there.

 

[medhead]

You can have your device in flight mode and have wifi on and it will work on the inflight wifi so not sure what you're getting at there.

This has zero to do with what is possible. And no a device cannot be in flight mode and have wifi on, because wifi on means it is no longer in flight mode.

There are two issues.

One: VA announced gate to gate use of devices, but wifi cannot be used until the seat belt sign is turned off.

Two: flight mode turns off wifi, that is exactly what it does. Turning wifi back on means the device is no longer in flight mode - by definition. Flight mode = no transmission.

 

[mannej]

This has zero to do with what is possible. And no a device cannot be in flight mode and have wifi on, because wifi on means it is no longer in flight mode.

There are two issues.

One: VA announced gate to gate use of devices, but wifi cannot be used until the seat belt sign is turned off.

Two: flight mode turns off wifi, that is exactly what it does. Turning wifi back on means the device is no longer in flight mode - by definition. Flight mode = no transmission.

But my iphone can be in flight mode and have wifi on as per the attached picture

 

[RooFlyer]

But my iphone can be in flight mode and have wifi on as per the attached picture <snip>

I noticed that phenomena a while back as well. I guess flight mode stops the broadcast of wi-fi and other EM signals but still allows the receipt and use of them

 

[medhead]

But my iphone can be in flight mode and have wifi on as per the attached pictureView attachment 34631

Activating Flight mode turns off wifi. Turning in back on un does one of the elements of flight mode. I really don't give a damn about your screen shot, you have turned on a transmitting device and in practical terms circumventing flight mode.

Then there is my wifi only iPad. Flight mode turns off wifi. Turning it back on means it is not in flight mode. Regardless of little green buttons.

 

[medhead]

I noticed that phenomena a while back as well. I guess flight mode stops the broadcast of wi-fi and other EM signals but still allows the receipt and use of them

It does not stop the broadcast of wifi.

 

[mannej]

Activating Flight mode turns off wifi. Turning in back on un does one of the elements of flight mode. I really don't give a damn about your screen shot you have turned on a transmitting device.

Then there is my wifi only iPad. Flight mode turns off wifi. Turning it back on means it is not in flight mode. Regardless of little green buttons.

Enough of the personal attacks - the screenshot straight from my iphone suggests that it is still in flight mode, with or without wifi on.

 

[medhead]

Enough of the personal attacks - the screenshot straight from my iphone suggests that it is still in flight mode, with or without wifi on.

I'm not sure why you've bothered joining this discussion. As I said you have circumvented flight mode by turning on the wifi. That fact is not changed by a little green button. As I said you screenshot isn't worth the electrons it's printed with, it does not tell the true story. And at least one VA crew member agrees, as per the announcement that I reported up thread.

Btw, I have nothing more to say to you on this topic.

 

[ketsuzei]

To facilitate discussion, we could perhaps work with the Apple definition rather than the medhead one:

iOS: Understanding airplane mode

If allowed by the aircraft operator and applicable laws and regulations, you can re-enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth while in airplane mode:

• Wi-Fi: While airplane mode is on, tap Settings > Wi-Fi, then turn Wi-Fi on and choose a Wi-Fi network.
• Bluetooth: While airplane mode is on, tap Settings > Bluetooth, then turn Bluetooth on.

 

[mannej]

I'm not sure why you've bothered joining this discussion. As I said you have circumvented flight mode by turning on the wifi. That fact is not changed by a little green button. As I said you screenshot isn't worth the electrons it's printed with, it does not tell the true story. And at least one VA crew member agrees, as per the announcement that I reported up thread.

Btw, I have nothing more to say to you on this topic.

Sorry Medhead, but according to Apple, Flight Mode and Wifi can co-exist.

 

[RooFlyer]

It does not stop the broadcast of wifi.

What does it [flight mode] do then, please? (and of course I was talking about broadcast of wi-fi and other EM signals by the unit concerned)

 

[JohnPhelan]

Surely the Q Streaming ipads must have wifi enabled to allow them to receive the signal?

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Surely the Q Streaming ipads must have wifi enabled to allow them to receive the signal?

Yes thats correct they have wifi enabled

 

[777]

Not only does Virgin seem to allow gate to gate wifi use, they are very aggressively advertising it.

As noted above it is possible to have wifi active in flight mode on most devices.

 

[markis10]

All in all we could simply state that flight mode means telephonic facilities via the SIM card (such as SMS messaging, GSM voice calls HSPDA based data, etc.) are disabled.

Or we could say flight mode activation just turns off the radios (not just the transceivers) in the device, which is exactly what happens as GPS is also taken out.

 

[serfty]

Sorry Medhead, but according to Apple, Flight Mode and Wifi can co-exist.
That would suggest that your posts are incorrect, no need to be arrogant about things.

Same with my Samsung Galaxy ... yes, putting it in flight mode will turn wifi off but I can easily turn that back on while still in "flight mode".

All in all we could simply state that flight mode means telephonic facilities via the SIM card (such as SMS messaging, GSM voice calls HSPDA based data, etc.) are disabled.

Here's the upper part of my GS4 with flight mode and WiFi activated:

 

[medhead]

To facilitate discussion, we could perhaps work with the Apple definition rather than the medhead one:

iOS: Understanding airplane mode

If allowed by the aircraft operator and applicable laws and regulations, you can re-enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth while in airplane mode:

• Wi-Fi: While airplane mode is on, tap Settings > Wi-Fi, then turn Wi-Fi on and choose a Wi-Fi network.
• Bluetooth: While airplane mode is on, tap Settings > Bluetooth, then turn Bluetooth on.

You will find that apple and my definition agree. For your edification

I notice you left off the first bit that says flight mode turns off wifi. I repeat flight mode turns off the wifi. Even with your selective quoting you have proven my point. By turning it back on the device is no longer in flight mode regardless of little aircraft icons.

Then if we actually read the bit that you quoted (selectively) the very first words are "if allowed by the aircraft operator". That means VA must give an explicit statement that wifi can be turned on for gate to gate. They have no done so, they have only said devices in flight mode can be used gate to gate. I have directly asked the social media team about this and they did not make a statement that wifi can be turned back on. In fact, as I reported, On board VA have explicitly stated (once) that wifi can only be turned on after the seat belt sign in turned off.

Then we get to the casa change. Is that for flight mode at all stages or flight mode and wifi turned back on?

 

[medhead]

Same with my Samsung Galaxy ... yes, putting it in flight mode will turn wifi off but I can easily turn that back on while still in "flight mode".

All in all we could simply state that flight mode means telephonic facilities via the SIM card (such as SMS messaging, GSM voice calls HSPDA based data, etc.) are disabled.

Here's the upper part of my GS4 with flight mode and WiFi activated:

View attachment 34633

Yet that does not agree with the "apple" definition. Flight mode clearly means all transmitting mode turned off. I notice you fail to address the case of my iPad that does not have telephonic facilities. What is flight mode with such a device?

 

[medhead]

Sorry Medhead, but according to Apple, Flight Mode and Wifi can co-exist.
That would suggest that your posts are incorrect, .

No, that suggests your not reading what I've written. I have NEVER written anything about co-existing. What I have said is that turning on wifi means the device is technically not in flight mode. That fact is not changed by a little plane icon. Even apple clearly state the aircraft operator must allow wifi to be turned back on. VA have only stated flight mode can be used gate to gate. They have not said wifi can be turned back on. As per my original report at least once VA have said wifi must not be turned on until after the seat belt sign is turned off.

Before accusing people for being wrong and arrogant it helps to actually understand there point.