Virgin Australia Unveils First Phase Of Inflight Entertainment Plans

[serfty]

[scoff] I have an Apple so this is a redundant question [/scoff]

Goodonya ....

... the question is redundant for you.

It is not redundant for me!

 

[krispyjim]

This is great news, but there is one major peice of information not provided with this announcement.

Will Internet be available via the Wi-FI or is it a closed system?

 

[casanovawa]

My earlier positive comments about it was more from Virgin's perspective in terms of an IFE solution for them that should cost them very little money as the hardware will be mostly being supplied by the customer and will need little maintenance or upgrading over time (although yes a few food and drink sales might suffer but most meals on short flights on the east coast are often just snacks i tend to find)...

Its not unambiguously good for the customer though, some will like it some won't... Those who have bigger better screens than what's available should prefer it (espeically as technology improves) and having devices that actually work rather than getting some dodgy screen that has to keep being reset... Lets face it on most domestic flights there is practically no IFE apart from the monitors/flat panels that drop from the roof with some news program and some lousy movie that most times i'm not interested in so almost anything is better than what we have at the moment (I'm talking more from a QF perspective so Virgin might be better at the moment???)...

But yes, not everyone will have a screen for everyone in the family so hopefully Virgin can rent some for the flight at not too exorbitant a cost... Yes some people will find the whole tray table/meal problem almost insurmountable even though at the moment i recall having to look up to the ceiling to watch anything in terms of getting a sore neck... Yes the inflight map may suffer and i do like the odd look at that, but again i don't find most domestic planes having that feature??? And yes battery life will be an issue, and sort of suxs a bit for us on the west coast so hopefully they have some solution for that...

There is the fact that if you bring your own device, yes you will probably have a range of your own content, but i suppose not everyone is madly downloading movies and tv series and so may get access to some movies/tv shows etc that they may not have seen before...

 

[Jama]

Sign me up for Beta testing !

 

[Jack Melon]

Yes and no for me.

Yes i have a laptop and iPhone 4S to use with your new system - Facebook and other sites at 40,000 feet - i love it!

No- I would have preferred seat back because it is gate to gate, and i don't want to hurt my neck looking down at it all flight, i don't want my siblings that are much younger, braking my devices, very disappointing if there is going to be no USB ports to charge devices.

You have to remember, we don't all have our own devices, we would prefer if you supply it by using it as soon as we get on-board - ie seatback. Children would prefer looking at a screen in front of them- i know this as my 6 year old sister and others said so.

We went on jetstar, used an ipad, she hated it, virgin- live2air, loved it. Its not all about us, we want our kids to be happy as well, but it differs to each person.

But, this is only phase 1, phase 2 could be seat back

Qantas will be bringing this to there newer planes as well, and they already have a great seatback system so - this fame wont last long.

Just my opinion.

Well done guys! About bloody time though.

Jack

 

[nlagalle]

What makes you think its not gate to gate, the restriction on transmission devices in planes is mostly due to older aircraft not being designed to handle such transmission, given the fleet age of Virgin, its possible this restriction will be removed.

I have not relied on airline IFE for some time, although I must admit 50% of my flights dont even have it, so the concerns you express I have already been through as far as operating limitations. I like the idea of using my own device, especially as I have no one to blame but myself when it does not work, and I am not paying in my airfare for something that I dont use. As for battery time, I get 10 hours out of the Ipad and the laptop, so onboard power is nice but not mandatory.

I can't see how they will allow it gate to gate with it. It'll be two things, one you won't always hear cabin announcements like you do now (nothing to stop me using my own movie app instead) and objects potentially flying around the cabin.

 

[cityloop]

I can't really see the point. If I'm bringing my own device, chances are I'm also bringing my own content. Although I can see how it will appeal to some.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using AustFreqFly

This is my thought exactly. I currently so this anyway with my MacAir with it's very long battery life and/or my iPad. I just load it up and watch my video content or play a few games. What's the point in introducing Virgin content that I would have to pay for?

 

[cityloop]

I posted the same message on the Virgin Australia blog so apologies for the repeat, especially as some of my points have been raised already

I think its a terrible idea for many reasons.

1) Availability - It's not gate to gate and I am assuming that you won't be able to use devices below 10,000ft so for MEL > SYD that's nearly half the flight where you won't be able to have IFE. It is also awkward to have your laptop under the seat in front of you so most people will be jumping up to get their laptop as soon as the seat belt sign comes off. Not so much an issue for iPads and smartphones though.

2) Power - Batteries run out and as it seems that there is no power points in the economy cabin, those flying trans-cons will want to ration their useage pretty carefully. Especially if you need to do work either before or after the flight. I certainly wouldn't want to be watching a movie on my phone inflight without being certain of how much I would need to use it when I landed and when I can get to the next power source.

3) Space - A meal tray doesn't have much space on it and when its out, there is very little space elsewhere. So if you order something to eat or get your food as part of a Flexi ticket then you will have to put your entertainment away. Not great while watching a movie or documentary, especially on the 2-3 hour sectors. On longer sectors I don't want the tray table out the whole time and restricting my space.

4) Map and Flight Info - This might be just me but I enjoy and rely on the Moving Map and Altitude indicators on most IFE systems. It lets me know where I am and how long to go. It is especially useful in the descent phase if I don't have a window seat. This may be coming in Phase 2 but I can't see how this feature can be used by passengers in the current form.

5) Ergonomics - Display units are displayed in the seat backs so that they are at the eye level of the viewer. With a laptop, smartphone or tablet the user will have a tilted head and neck for the majority of the flight. Seat back TV's are also comfortable to use, you don't have to hold them, you don't have to move them, they don't take up your space.

6) Distractions - People are afraid of flying and use the IFE to help distract them from the fact that they are flying in a narrow metal tube. Giving children something to watch or play will help them become more settled and less of a disruption to other people. I think it's a bit much to expect every passenger to have an entertainment device (or more if they travel with kids), even in this day and age.

I'm sure there are other reasons and while I think this type of IFE sounds futuristic and forward thinking, there are lots of options currently in the market that have seat back TV's and are more futuristic and forward thinking. Hopefully VA goes down the Virgin Atlantic path and installs the TV display sets to go with it to make it a truly perfect system.

Absolutely! Ergonomics are the biggest downsides to portable devices on aircraft. I always get a crook neck when trying to view something on the meal tray.

 

[greenfish]

It just seems so badly thought out. All it delivers is content - I already have an abundance of content on my PEDs. It doesn't address power, gate to gate, space etc.

It feels like someone woke up and thought "Bugger, we forgot to tick the IFE box where we ordered those new fitouts, quick, what can we do that won't cost much that we can put some spin on so it sounds like we didn't make a mistake?"

 

[docjames]

[scoff] I have an Apple so this is a redundant question [/scoff]

Perhaps my iphone is getting old but it chews through the battery when playing video / browsing interweb etc....

 

[Noob]

As Virgin has pointed out, only very minimal information about the IFE has been released at this stage - hence, most issues people have could indeed be non-existent.

Take a chill pill and wait and see!

 

[Justchecking]

Well for once I do actually think this is the future of airline entertainment. No more 'sorry your screens broken but we've got no other seats' or flickering screens you cant turn off, or IFE that packs it in halfway through a movie....grrr! Whether we like it or not airlines will always look for ways to cut the cost of equipping aircraft, and fleet renewal. I was highly resistant to the idea of mobile phones when they first arrived in non-brick form. I just couldnt see the point of someone being able to contact me 24/7. It sounded like my idea of hell. But here I am, mobile equipped.

Yet, so saying that I dont think I really care. I'm not an onboard IFE user anyway and unless they are talking about net access onboard I doubt I will be bothered hooking up. Its more bother than its worth on a one hour flight. Especially as Im sure you'll be subjected to the obligatory airline advertising and partners. As if I need more of that in my life.

Maybe kids will have to learn to play with real
toys instead of being hypnotised by the TV. In a world where we are cinstantly overstimulated, any relief from yet more stimulation is welcome in my book. I like the fact I have the choice o be bombarded with IFE or not

 

[pauly7]

Hope they will provide standard 3.5 1 prong headphones free of charge. I can see a heap of business pax who don't travel with them whacking on the laptop to stream the news through their speakers. Or *shudder* a kid whose family forgot headphones streaming the Wiggles.

Hope VA staff are happy to actively police this and make sure no one is playing anything through external speakers!

Feels pretty LCC to be honest. Not a huge fan but was expected I guess to save money.

 

[munitalP]

Perhaps my iphone is getting old but it chews through the battery when playing video / browsing interweb etc....

My iPhone does as well, mind you, scrabble kills it too!

I was referring im my smart cough post to my Macbook Air, in saying that, I also have the latest Lenovo X220 with solid state HD and its a moot point difference which battery lasts the longest.

 

[Noob]

Hope they will provide standard 3.5 1 prong headphones free of charge. I can see a heap of business pax who don't travel with them whacking on the laptop to stream the news through their speakers. Or *shudder* a kid whose family forgot headphones streaming the Wiggles.

Hope VA staff are happy to actively police this and make sure no one is playing anything through external speakers!

Feels pretty LCC to be honest. Not a huge fan but was expected I guess to save money.

Virgin already provides headphones to all PAX on live-2-air equipped liners free of charge, I don't think this will be an issue.

Check out this Video from Lufthansa Systems - feels hardly low cost:

[video=youtube;4u-HIUzp-_0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4u-HIUzp-_0&feature=player_embedded[/video]

 

[pshepvic]

... and unless they are talking about net access onboard ...

I reckon that might be part of phase 2.... just saying'!

 

[markis10]

Hope they will provide standard 3.5 1 prong headphones free of charge. I can see a heap of business pax who don't travel with them whacking on the laptop to stream the news through their speakers. Or *shudder* a kid whose family forgot headphones streaming the Wiggles.

Hope VA staff are happy to actively police this and make sure no one is playing anything through external speakers!

Feels pretty LCC to be honest. Not a huge fan but was expected I guess to save money.

QF are testing the same thing right now so it's hardly LCC, as for the free headphones, they have been available for a few years so I would grab them while they last, given said businessmen can play their own content on any plane right now it's hardly an issue for the airline when your neighbour likes to turn it up!

 

[pshepvic]

I am assuming that you won't be able to use devices below 10,000ft so for MEL > SYD that's nearly half the flight where you won't be able to have IFE.

Why wouldn't you be able to use it below 10,000ft?

I understand that in-flight Internet access doesn't work below 10,000, but on-board streaming should still work. I'm assuming the content is being stored on a server on the aircraft, not being transmitted from the ground or satellite of course. Maybe VA can confirm that? (Streaming from the ground would be virtually impossible anyway with any degree of reliability, and from a satellite would suffer the LTA issues of dropping out every time the plane makes a slight banked turn).

Additionally, VA are much better than QF in allowing devices to be used for longer on-board. On every QF flight I've ever been on, they've asked pax to turn electronic devices off immediately on commencement of descent (although I haven't flown them for a couple of months). VA however wait until at least the Captain says "Prepare the cabin for landing", and in most cases, not until the final approach just before the crew sits down. Not gate to gate, but not too bad though.

 

[docjames]

The success will come down to access cost and speed.

 

[nlagalle]

Additionally, VA are much better than QF in allowing devices to be used for longer on-board. On every QF flight I've ever been on, they've asked pax to turn electronic devices off immediately on commencement of descent (although I haven't flown them for a couple of months). VA however wait until at least the Captain says "Prepare the cabin for landing", and in most cases, not until the final approach just before the crew sits down. Not gate to gate, but not too bad though.

I disagree here, I've had the opposite. QF you can start using your own device once the seatbelt sign is off and use it until the announcement of "prepare the cabin for landing". VA the other week was turning it of not long after the descent started.

QF have done this for at least a year.