Virgin Blue - Live2air TV Update

[Petch]

Have you used the L2A system and if so, what's your opinion of it? It's just I haven't heard much feedback and would like to know what experiences AFF members have had with the system.

I am a Virgin Blue novice, however -

• I like knowing where I am when I am flying/staring out the window, and enjoy having Qantas Air Show playing on aircraft where it is fitted.
• Comparing Virgin Blue Flight Tracker (sponsored by Map Quest) to Qantas Air Show - I don't like the ads & I don't like the way the zoomed maps are static, so the aircraft icon flies off the edge of one map, before flying on the edge of another. (i.e. I prefer the icon centred, and the map to move - like on Qantas). However, it is better than the nothing Qantas serves up on most domestic flights, and at least it's free on Virgin Blue. (So I will always turn it on.)
• I also need a bigger screen, particularly if I have to pay on board to view it.
• Being able to watch what I want when I want, including pause & rewind buttons, is important to me. I have, therefore, pre-paid money on Jetstar to use their digiplayer, but probably won't ever swipe my card through the seat in front of me on Virgin Blue.
• I do generally prefer systems built into the seat (arm rest or seat in front), I find them much less fiddly, but did I mention Virgin Blue's actual video size is too small.
• Oddly, on several occasions at the Sydney T2 Qantas Club, I have heard kids playing around the windows pointing out to their friends/siblings/parents that "those red planes have TVs on them" as they head off to a silver one or white one they are actually flying, so probably a big hit with the younger generation.

 

[Yada Yada]

AFAIK, all the aircraft that were supposed to get Live2Air TV now have the system. I know that there are a few aircraft on lease that will not get the system (VH-VBT).

I remember reading a post by crazydave98 that the Embraers may also feature the Live2Air TV system. Any updates?

Also, I'd like to hear the thoughts of regular Virgin Blue flyers. Have you used the L2A system and if so, what's your opinion of it? It's just I haven't heard much feedback and would like to know what experiences AFF members have had with the system.

Howdy!

I use Live2Air on most flights and really like the system. I don't feel that the screen is too small - works fine for me. Most of my flights are on the east coast and reception is very good. The only times it drops signal briefly is when the plane approaches MEL and does a right turn to head west.

Channel selection is good - I can always find something I like to watch. I'll often start with Sky News and then flick around to pick up bits of other programs. Watching an episode of Seinfeld is often a great way to start a day!

The only problem I have is if the person in front reclines (which is rare), the viewing angle is not optimal as I am tall and the amount of screen swivel is limited. Oh, and I have trouble working out which way to orient my credit card for swiping (even after looking at the little icon next to the slot) but I put that down to age (mine).

 

[thegurio]

Thought i would chime in on this one. I use L2A pretty much everytime i get into a DJ. Mostly because i am a very impatient and easily bored person and my notebook battery only lasts 20 mins these days away from a power point (damn you Sony!) I think it is more than worth the $6 that they charge. Heck, most of the time i spend that on coffee per cafe visit!

One gripe i have is that no-one, unless i pay exorbitant QF J prices, has power in the seats for laptops...

Having recently been in Europe and travelling by train a fair bit, i was amazed/excited/shocked to see that pretty much every seat had a power point in it. Now i know that that might not be an option but what about the point for the Air/Car adapters, such as the one sitting in my car atm.

As for screen size i have a Sony UX17GP which is pretty much the same size as the screens anyway, and lets face it - you arent that far away anyway. Just so that you know i know what quality is a there is a delightful Sony Bravia X-series sitting in pride of place in my lounge room but as its really only an hour on most flights i can put up with it. (I mostly travel HBA-ADL so its barely even that)

Like i said my main gripe is pc power, surely there are those of us who like to get through all of our emails, yes even those nasty personal ones, without out the phone ringing every 5 mins to distract you.

 

[jakeseven7]

My little sister flew DJ the other day, doesn't have a card so couldn't use it, but she was annoyed that DJ have apparently removed all the free audio (save for a couple of radio stations) so people are forced into paying...

She thought the screen was pretty small as well as per the other posters.

(Not my opinions as haven't experience it just reporting what I was told )

 

[SIA1A]

Virgin is marketing itself as a business airline. Have any recent travellers noticed whether L2A carries the new Sky Business News channel? Such a move would be quite appealing and deal another blow to the tired QF offering.

 

[SIA1A]

I remember reading a post by crazydave98 that the Embraers may also feature the Live2Air TV system. Any updates?

My sources indicate that current L2A equipment is too bulky to economikcally fit into an Embraer so we won't see Emraers with L2A in the short to medium term.

However, this could change if more compact kit kit is developed. This will require appropriate signals from the market, which at this stage are not forthcoming. Just a handful of the world's airlines currently operate L2A (and only in the US and AUS). Other airlines are reputedly not exactly beating a path to the equipment maker's door.

For international airlines program licensing is also a problem. L2A is relatively easy to implement, license wise, when an airline flies domestic routes only. However, there are many complications when multiple countries become involved.

 

[crazydave98]

Virgin is marketing itself as a business airline. Have any recent travellers noticed whether L2A carries the new Sky Business News channel?

Not yet, we have vanilla Sky News, Fox News and CNN - maybe we should ditch one of those for Sky Business News - I will have it looked at.
cheers
CrazyDave98

 

[alien]

I'm also disappointed that there are no free radio stations.

Not having used L2A I think I might from time to time if the Business News channel was included.

 

[crazydave98]

My sources indicate that current L2A equipment is too bulky to economikcally fit into an Embraer so we won't see Emraers with L2A in the short to medium term.....For international airlines program licensing is also a problem. L2A is relatively easy to implement, license wise, when an airline flies domestic routes only. However, there are many complications when multiple countries become involved.

I assure you it is not the bulk of the equipment - note that JetBlue have LiveTV fitted to their E-jets. Internationally the problem is not so much licences as the signal footprint - the transponders for Australian Foxtel are not "pointed" at NZ (we are continuing to use dig-e players for Pacific Blue and Polynesian Blue).
cheers
CrazyDave98

 

[wallacej]

My little sister flew DJ the other day, doesn't have a card so couldn't use it, but she was annoyed that DJ have apparently removed all the free audio (save for a couple of radio stations) so people are forced into paying...

She thought the screen was pretty small as well as per the other posters.

(Not my opinions as haven't experience it just reporting what I was told )

Just a note on the free radio station channels. Most people are not aware that they are there. I think there are three.

Be sure that you turn the channel to the high 20's, and wait for the ads to stop rolling, then it is uninterrupted music.

On the short flights, I tend to watch the free preview, then if something I like is on I might pay, but otherwise the free music.

I do get a little annoyed when bad weather causes the signal to be lost. I have had a couple of flights where there were constant problems, and at least one where for more than half the flight I had no signal "due to normal aircraft movement"

REQUEST::I think that if you are a Gold FF then DJ should provide free L2A by simply swiping my FF card.

Has anyone ever been able to get a credit when the service has been interupted frequently?

 

[pauly7]

Not yet, we have vanilla Sky News, Fox News and CNN - maybe we should ditch one of those for Sky Business News - I will have it looked at.
cheers
CrazyDave98

Farewell Fox. Nice knowing you

 

[SIA1A]

Not yet, we have vanilla Sky News, Fox News and CNN - maybe we should ditch one of those for Sky Business News - I will have it looked at.
cheers
CrazyDave98

I would happily dispense with the 'How To' channel and Fox News is also of marginal interest if the assessment is that 'How To' must be kept because it has a big following out there in frequent flyer land. However, CNN is well worth retaining as of course is Sky News.

...Just the view of one in many thousands of passengers.

 

[SIA1A]

I assure you it is not the bulk of the equipment - note that JetBlue have LiveTV fitted to their E-jets. Internationally the problem is not so much licences as the signal footprint - the transponders for Australian Foxtel are not "pointed" at NZ (we are continuing to use dig-e players for Pacific Blue and Polynesian Blue).
cheers
CrazyDave98

So are there any plans to equip the Embraers with L2A?

 

[Yada Yada]

I do get a little annoyed when bad weather causes the signal to be lost. I have had a couple of flights where there were constant problems, and at least one where for more than half the flight I had no signal "due to normal aircraft movement"

I saw that on Thursday afternoon for the first time. I elected to recline (!) and listen to my iPod but could see it happening to others. Assumed it must have been an equipment problem.

 

[tigerblue]

im flying virgin perth to sydney next Wednesday (CANT WAIT) and i am wondering, if i pay for Live2Air would i still be able to listen to the audio channels??? whenever i fly with virgin though, the audio stations never work properly...

 

[Yada Yada]

im flying virgin perth to sydney next Wednesday (CANT WAIT) and i am wondering, if i pay for Live2Air would i still be able to listen to the audio channels??? whenever i fly with virgin though, the audio stations never work properly...

My understanding is that the audio does not exist on aircraft fitted with Live2Air. Hopefully someone else can confirm. There are audio channels on L2A but I assume these are part of the paid-for service.

I'd recommend taking your iPod if you just want music.

 

[wallacej]

My understanding is that the audio does not exist on aircraft fitted with Live2Air. Hopefully someone else can confirm. There are audio channels on L2A but I assume these are part of the paid-for service.

I'd recommend taking your iPod if you just want music.

There are 2 free music channels on aircraft fitted with L2A... these come on about 40 minutes into the flight (after copious amount of ads to trick you into thinking there is none)

If the aircraft does not have L2A installed, then there are nine audio channels to chose from, and IMO this is not updated anymore.

So as suggested, if it is music you want, take an Ipod. The free L2A music is MIX and I beleive GOLD radio stations (but not live)

 

[alien]

Can't say I've found them initially however I'll see this week when I fly.

 

[alien]

Ok, I found the music channels around 26, 27 and 28 on my flight from syd to mel on thursday afternoon however on my return flight on sunday afternoon I couldn't find them at all. The channels were not available.

 

[SIA1A]

No music sans video on flights that I took ADL => HBA and HBA => ADL recently.

On the HBA => ADL leg, Fox News was 'stuck' with a static screen showing the studio and presenters at their desk, no sound - but can't say I missed it either. Also on this leg, the music TV channel MAX was simply a blank screen - rather more disappointing.

The other channels were all working fine.

Disappointed to note that there don't seem to be any moves to show the Sky Businesss Channel. My preferred airline is still Qantas because VB simply doesn't have enough airport lounges. However, if te Biz Channel was available on L2A, I think that would be a tipping point for me (and several colleagues) to fly VB far more often.