Virgin Australia’s free Wireless In-flight Entertainment system

[Deleted member 29185]

Re: Virgin WIFi IFE

... and how much cheaper are fares these days?

Considerably. But no point comparing a cozy protectionist duopoly with free competition. It also cost a few airlines and their investors to break into that vault.

 

[Ansettaddict123]

Re: Virgin WIFi IFE

... and how much cheaper are fares these days?

To that end, all Mum and Dad remember about Ansett is selling their kidneys to pay for the fares

Some might consider them a business stripped by a foreign corporate raider........

I share that sentiment, but for the sake of keeping things concise I thought I would leave it out!

Ansett was a great business.. Simply.. They just had foolish 'out of touch" management without sensible strategic foresight running the operation.. very much similar to the whole QF operation of today.

That is very true. Things like collecting fleet types, 3 crew 767s and ground handlers on as much per year as some uni lecturers didnt help prepare the airline for a deregulated market. As they say the cause of any accident is always a collection of factors, and in the case of Ansett it was definitely a death by a thousand cuts.

 

[Boof1]

Re: Virgin WIFi IFE

According to Ben Sandilands the full launch of this product is happening on Thursday with 25 jets already set up. Virgin Australia about to launch free in flight wi-fi app | Plane Talking

Also for all of you lovely members that have driven me nuts over the past few months with the posts "still no android" have a look in the Google Play store. The Virgin App is there for downloading!!

Should be fun times ahead for all!!

Cheers,

Boof

 

[777]

Re: Virgin WIFi IFE

It's heavily promoted in the current In flight magazine. Looking forward to finally trying it but i have to say that that content selection (at least as summarised in the Voyeur mag) seemed very underwhelming. I assume this is rights issues (and may just be what they chose to highlight in the mag) but the content looked a bit disappointing this month.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Re: Virgin WIFi IFE

Looking forward to finally trying it but i have to say that that content selection (at least as summarised in the Voyeur mag)

So no plane to try it on yet?

This has been my problem.....all loaded but no plane! Disappointing to hear about the content. I was led to believe they'd have so much that we could fly all day every day for a month and still not see half of it.............

 

[koonyaflyer]

Re: Virgin WIFi IFE

I had the chance to use the new IFE last Monday on a very short flight MEL to HBA. I found the choice of viewing much broader than I expected. There was a real mix of Genre,and quality and speed of connection was geat.

To me the key is how often they update content. I fly weekly, and find I go through IFE content quickly.

The CS was a little confused about the messages on Flight Mode, and was chatting amongst his team about it. Such a different message to hear ... please ensure your device's flight mode is NOT enabled!

 

[Boof1]

Re: Virgin WIFi IFE

The CS was a little confused about the messages on Flight Mode, and was chatting amongst his team about it. Such a different message to hear ... please ensure your device's flight mode is NOT enabled!

Isn't it supposed to be Flight Mode On, Wifi On? With flight mode off any phone or tablet with a sim would be trying to connect to a network...

I'm certain that this is how the inflight wifi works on most US based carriers. I've seen screen shots of Virgin America and Southwest's offerings and they are in flight mode with the WiFi turned on.

Cheers,

Boof

 

[toowongman]

Re: Virgin WIFi IFE

Yes - you put the tablet into flight mode (which turns off any chance of cellular communications), then power it off. Take off, table on, flight mode stays on then wifi on.

 

[erkpod]

Re: Virgin WIFi IFE

I've used Wifi on DL. They have a free section & a paid section. I did manage to tweet for free after seeing what they were tweeting about.

 

[KCMil]

Re: Virgin WIFi IFE

I am told the IFE goes live tomorrow, not all aircraft fitted as yet, supposedly they are still saying all a/c will be fitted by end of year...here's hoping.

 

[notzac]

Re: Virgin WIFi IFE

I have a flight tomorrow morning, so will report back..

 

[notzac]

Re: Virgin WIFi IFE

I was on VH-YFC this morning, and I can report that the Wireless IFE was indeed functional. I've already written a review elsewhere and I'm much too lazy to write it out again, so here 'tis:

The Frequent Flyer • View topic - Wireless IFE begins!

 

[Noob]

Re: Virgin WIFi IFE

I was on VH-YFC this morning, and I can report that the Wireless IFE was indeed functional. I've already written a review elsewhere and I'm much too lazy to write it out again, so here 'tis:

The Frequent Flyer • View topic - Wireless IFE begins!

As per your screen shot, was there indeed 45 movies available?

45 Movies + plenty of TV episodes + plenty of Music.......

That's a pretty amazing selection for domestic flights, and I can see why they've taken their time getting it right!

 

[Princess Fiona]

Re: Virgin WIFi IFE

Screen shots from today

 

[EuroKick]

Re: Virgin WIFi IFE

Signs will be up soon at airports advising passengers to download the app before boarding. Having just used it, it's great!

 

[QPProletarian]

Re: Virgin WIFi IFE

Why not Inflight internet? Surely this would pull the business crowd from Qantas. The US shows that this can be delivered affordably.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Re: Virgin WIFi IFE

Why not Inflight internet? Surely this would pull the business crowd from Qantas. The US shows that this can be delivered affordably.

I think it is in-flight internet

 

[mannej]

Re: Virgin WIFi IFE

Why not Inflight internet? Surely this would pull the business crowd from Qantas. The US shows that this can be delivered affordably.

Are we capable of delivering the same services in Australia? I am fairly sure it's been discussed before...

 

[Ansettaddict123]

Re: Virgin WIFi IFE

Why not Inflight internet? Surely this would pull the business crowd from Qantas. The US shows that this can be delivered affordably.

The US is a different ballgame altogether than Australia in terms of in flight internet. For a country as large geographically as ours you would need a huge investment in base stations (how most US in flight data is delivered), something that simply wouldn't be justified by the return on investment it would generate. That said, it would probably work for the triangle flights provided the price isnt obscene.

Also on topic, glad to see that the reaction has been positive from those that have tried it so far, the real test however will be when lovestotravel does

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Re: Virgin WIFi IFE

Screen shots from today

Princess, did that "unfortunately" screen appear due to a VA issue, or had you not downloaded the "VA entertainment" app? (and if not, I hope you have a bloody good excuse!)