Virgin Australia’s free Wireless In-flight Entertainment system

[toowongman]

Re: Virgin Australia WIFI IFE

The Galaxy tablets are fine - however the white earphones are rubbish. Take your own.

 

[DJVA]

Re: Virgin Australia WIFI IFE

why is Apple and PC first?

Because just about every poll/survey/study clearly states more high-end business travellers are using iPads and iPhones.
Don't know about you but when I walk down a 737 on a MEL-SYD run there are often a dozen or so people using iPads and almost no one, if any one, using an android tablet for entertainment/work.

iOS is also a much easier platform to develop for - an app for iPhone and iPad that's it. Android involves supporting all kinds of screen sizes and 5/6 different versions of the operating system.

 

[attroxx]

Re: Virgin Australia WIFI IFE

I just don't watch the Galaxy tabs anymore - too often, I've had volume problems with them (with the white earplugs) and just can't hear them. I've requested another of each a couple of times and just found the exact same problem. Sometimes, the volume suddenly jumps up to proper levels but it's not worth trying to fiddle with the tab, headset, settings, etc to get it working.

My solution is to just bring my own tablet or kindle...

 

[docjames]

Re: Virgin Australia WIFI IFE

Hi Doc,
Are you saying that the tablets don't fit in the seat pockets while the tray tables are down?
Will pass on your feedback about the headphones, and what programs would you like to see offered?

It's impossible to eat and view the tablet at the same time. The setback also has the gate to gate advantage (I forgot to mention). A seatback holder would let that happen.

Re: program's - for me personally I like being on an aircraft as the phone doesn't ring, I rarely have to do work so it's great to relax. So more "light" entertainment (eg. Top gear, bear grills - stuff you don't have to concentrate too hard!) and more series. Movies are really only good if they are new and popular, or "old favourites".

I know it's impossible to please everyone!

 

[grubbidok]

Re: Virgin Australia WIFI IFE

Because just about every poll/survey/study clearly states more high-end business travellers are using iPads and iPhones.

This would be an acceptable reason if Virgin didn't keep talking up why it chose an Android tablet for its preferred IFE platform (including on the same IFE website that mentions wireless). The ultimate irony is that they've sent out Android tablets to all new members of 'the Club', but haven't ensured they're compatible with the on-board service VA provide. I just don't think the ad-hoc approach is a particularly good, consistent or professional look.

 

[Velocity Frequent Flyer]

Re: Virgin Australia WIFI IFE

WTF Virgin? A few months is not good enough - and that's just to 'hear more' about it? Considering it is an Android tablet you send to your fancy elite members and used for IFE why is Apple and PC first?

It's like everything seems to be a half-a***d effort. Why are you so keen to have great ideas and then completely screw up the implementation? Anyone would think you're being run by the Labor party.

If you're going to launch something, do it properly - not 'early'. </rant>

We were going to launch it this weekend but it was too 'early'...

 

[markis10]

Re: Virgin Australia WIFI IFE

We were going to launch it this weekend but it was too 'early'...

A good sign in my book, a couple of other early launches have not been good, like J in the e190s and 700s.

 

[gwilli1]

Re: Virgin Australia WIFI IFE

Another +1 for the audio on the Galaxy ...it's a shocker with the VA issued earphones.

 

[Fruitcake]

Re: Virgin Australia WIFI IFE

We were going to launch it this weekend but it was too 'early'...

Thanks VFF. Even though I'm an Android user and think not having seat mounting will be a limiting factor I'm still looking forward to rollout of the system.

I'm guessing one advantage of the delay is that (a) you might be able launch with android support (given Lufthansa have had an android app for a couple of months) and (b) you'll have more of the fleet fitted out at launch. Are you allowed to publicly speculate on what percentage of the fleet will be fitted with BoardConnect at the time you switch it on?

 

[aurora]

Re: Virgin Australia WIFI IFE

If you're going to launch something, do it properly - not 'early'. </rant>

Seems to me the product hasn't launched yet, it's still in a trial... which implies ongoing testing and improvement... so that it could be launched properly. It's not like VFF started this thread, we did. So shouldn't we wait for the launch before we criticise?

 

[moa999]

Re: Virgin Australia WIFI IFE

We were going to launch it this weekend but it was too 'early'...

Pity VFF doesn't work on the Sabre implementation team.

 

[serfty]

Re: Virgin Australia WIFI IFE

...

My solution is to just bring my own tablet or kindle...

No need for that. The following is good advice:

The Galaxy tablets are fine - however the white earphones are rubbish. Take your own.

Unless you've seen all the content available:

Here's this months:

 

[Noob]

Re: Virgin Australia WIFI IFE

I think a press release stated over 300 hours of content with the new streaming IFE - which at a glance is over 6x times the content currently available on pre-loaded Galaxy Tabs.

Effectively, I'd assume that means you could have roughly 30 movies available and not even be using 1/3 of the systems capacity. Sounds pretty good!

 

[straitman]

Re: Virgin Australia WIFI IFE

xx_ Virgin? A few months is not good enough - and that's just to 'hear more' about it? Considering it is an Android tablet you send to your fancy elite members and used for IFE why is Apple and PC first?

It's like everything seems to be a half-a***d effort. Why are you so keen to have great ideas and then completely screw up the implementation? Anyone would think you're being run by the Labor party.

If you're going to launch something, do it properly - not 'early'. </rant>

grubbidok,

A very contradictory post IMHO. First you are criticising VA for taking too long then in the last line saying don't rush it out.

The reasons for the delays and the approach taken by VA have been discussed to death previously so I see it is positive that the progress is being made. it would be wonderful IF the process was complete but it is better that they hurry up slowly and get it right on roll out.

(I hardly use the IFE so it doesn't really matter to me)

 

[grubbidok]

Re: Virgin Australia WIFI IFE

A very contradictory post IMHO. First you are criticising VA for taking too long then in the last line saying don't rush it out.

The reasons for the delays and the approach taken by VA have been discussed to death previously so I see it is positive that the progress is being made. it would be wonderful IF the process was complete but it is better that they hurry up slowly and get it right on roll out.

I know I know - after a 4hr BNE-DUD flight twiddling my thumbs this just got my goat (particularly as ground staff had assured me my own Galaxy would be fine so I'd put everything else away and they'd not supplied enough tabs for me to rent one).

Have cooled down now. It was actually not having a small delay between the apps per se that irritated me, but rather the casual "we'll let you know how we're doing on this in a few months" brush-off line thrown out by VFF (as well as the lack of knowledge or conflicting information from ground staff about VA service, which I find is becoming an increasingly worrying trend). Quite totemic of other frustrations at VA at the moment.

I do still think it's odd that they chose to launch (trial, whatever - for a trial it's sure being advertised heavily) this product on everything *but* their flagship IFE unit.

 

[lovestotravel]

Re: Virgin Australia WIFI IFE

View attachment 15805

10char......

Sorry for the delay

Does not matter how long it takes VA to roll out this wireless IFE it's not a solution for IFE and the topic has been done to death on here.

The Virgin fanbois will say it's great, meanwhile the majority of people will say that trying to watch your iPad/tablet/device sitting on your tray table while trying to eat/drink/relax is just not that useful nor conductive to avoiding neck pain.

Plus the fact I have zero interest in flying Virgin domestically

Oh and I guess we should all be thankful that Virgin is "trying"

Once again, sorry for the delay

 

[docjames]

Re: Virgin Australia WIFI IFE

Sorry for the delay

Does not matter how long it takes VA to roll out this wireless IFE it's not a solution for IFE and the topic has been done to death on here.

The Virgin fanbois will say it's great, meanwhile the majority of people will say that trying to watch your iPad/tablet/device sitting on your tray table while trying to eat/drink/relax is just not that useful nor conductive to avoiding neck pain.

Plus the fact I have zero interest in flying Virgin domestically

Oh and I guess we should all be thankful that Virgin is "trying"

Once again, sorry for the delay

Other than the fact they have a bracket for the ipad, how is this worse than QF's 767 offering, or the "old" 737 fold down screens?

I think Virgin's "solution" would be a lot better if there was some way to attach the tablet to the seat in front.

 

[Velocity Frequent Flyer]

Re: Virgin Australia WIFI IFE

Both the tray table space and headphone quality are issues that our team are aware of and working hard to fix for our Business Class guests; although we’re not in a position to provide more detail just yet, we will certainly keep you informed.

As for aircraft installations and an Android app... Our intention is to have the system available to most Android devices by the time we launch the Wireless IFE product, subject to the successful completion of current testing. While we can’t give a figure for the percentage of our fleet that will be activated next quarter, we can say that it will be significantly more than the one aircraft we’ve had during the trial phase!

 

[Velocity Frequent Flyer]

Re: Virgin Australia WIFI IFE

Plus the fact I have zero interest in flying Virgin domestically

What would make you change your mind to have an "interest" in flying with us?

 

[dfcatch]

Re: Virgin Australia WIFI IFE

What would make you change your mind to have an "interest" in flying with us?

Join Star Alliance



Sorry for being OT - but you asked the question!