wi-fi or messaging on A380 to USA ?

[wendlle]

I've never flown with Qantas before on an International Flight.
The last few times I've gone to the USA with United I've been able to use Messenger (Facebook) to keep in contact with family while in the air.
Is this possible on Qantas A380 ?
I'm really hoping I can message with my young kids who will be at home while I'm in the air.

 

[kpc]

No WiFi on Qf international flights.

 

[justinbrett]

No WiFi on Qf international flights.

Some WiFi on QFi. But not A380 (yet).

 

[defurax]

But not A380 (yet).

They had it 12 years ago though (Albeit very slow, but could send a few emails...)

 

[wendlle]

Some WiFi on QFi. But not A380 (yet).

Ok, thanks. I did do a bit of a google search and found this, but it's not from a Qantas website:

"According to the airline, passengers on Australia-Asia and Australia-USA flights will enjoy inflight WiFi across its A330, 787 and A380 fleet by the end of this year."

I'm going in Feb and then again in May 2025, in economy. So I hope it's accurate. Seems crazy not to have it when so many airlines do now.

 

[AIRwin]

"According to the airline, passengers on Australia-Asia and Australia-USA flights will enjoy inflight WiFi across its A330, 787 and A380 fleet by the end of this year."

What the airline actually said:
"The good news is we’re gearing up to start rolling out the fast and free service across the existing Qantas international fleet, which will be progressively switched on from the end of 2024."

https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/roo-tales/more-connected-than-ever-before-a-fast-and-free-history-of-qantas-wi-fi/

 

[sudoer]

"According to the airline, passengers on Australia-Asia and Australia-USA flights will enjoy inflight WiFi across its A330, 787 and A380 fleet by the end of this year."

The next line also states:

Installation on the B787, A380 and A330-300s will begin in 2025.

How could they have internet on the 787 and A380 by the end of 2024 if they're not starting installation until 2025?

They do have some wifi enabled A330s and which have coverage while flying international routes over Australia (mostly SE Asia)

 

[UP4014]

I’m pleased not to have wifi.

 

[justinbrett]

Ok, thanks. I did do a bit of a google search and found this, but it's not from a Qantas website:

"According to the airline, passengers on Australia-Asia and Australia-USA flights will enjoy inflight WiFi across its A330, 787 and A380 fleet by the end of this year."

I'm going in Feb and then again in May 2025, in economy. So I hope it's accurate. Seems crazy not to have it when so many airlines do now.

Installation starts early next year (787/A380/A333), but will be progressive as they cycle through heavy maintenance. It’s extremely unlikely you’ll have it in Feb and I wouldn’t count on having it in May. The remainder of the A332s are already being fitted now.

In short QF didn’t want to charge for it and wanted to wait until broadband speeds could be achieved with viasat.

 

[RichardMEL]

They had it 12 years ago though (Albeit very slow, but could send a few emails...)

I remember that trial too on the 380. Was in F on one flight and got a free code to use (iirc the pricing was horrible) and yeah it was.. very basic.

To be fair though, at the time many others were not able to iffer high speed service such is common these days.

I think they only had it on a couple of birds.

 

[defurax]

I remember that trial too on the 380. Was in F on one flight and got a free code to use (iirc the pricing was horrible) and yeah it was.. very basic.

To be fair though, at the time many others were not able to iffer high speed service such is common these days.

I think they only had it on a couple of birds.

Yeah, I think it was USD29 for 35MB, good thing the AUD was at parity back then!
I've recently heard more and more people at meetings saying they can't justify being completely "off the grid" for 15 hours anymore, so they are switching their transpac business to UA, DL and AA. I understand QF approach to wait for high speed free/affordable wifi, but they are starting to lose some business customers. And yes I know some people love being without wifi for 15 hours...

 

[p--and--t]

I survive very well on the ground without any facebook account at all and I don't check my emails hourly, In the air a breeze and pleasant relief to disconnect entirely for a few hours.

The network separation anxiety complex that seems to pervade at present doesn't auger well for future mental health of the population.

 

[downgraded]

I’m pleased not to have wifi.

Me too, but I love the way people use wifi as a synonym for the Internet. Don't QF provide streaming via wifi on some planes that don't actually have Internet access already (or did at one point a few years ago)?

 

[defurax]

I love the way people use wifi as a synonym for the Internet.

I guess it helps differentiate true mobile connectivity via roaming (eg EY), versus accessing internet via wifi.

 

[justinbrett]

Me too, but I love the way people use wifi as a synonym for the Internet.

It is standard. WiFi is the means to get the internet. “Internet access” could mean anything - eg Ethernet port or a provided PC.

Yes equally WiFi doesn’t mean it necessarily has internet connectivity, but I can’t ever remember seeing someone advertise “free WiFi” when it didn’t include internet access. If it’s a closed system like QF IFE that’s normally spelt out.

“Free WiFi with internet connectivity” would be the most correct answer, but I think everybody has settled on “free WiFi” to mean the same thing.

 

[djkelly69]

FJ has it on their SYD-Fiji-US flights if you can book/change to them? In business you even get a voucher to use it for free (spoiler: it is not great, but should be sufficient for messaging).

 

[lovestotravel]

Ok, thanks. I did do a bit of a google search and found this, but it's not from a Qantas website:

"According to the airline, passengers on Australia-Asia and Australia-USA flights will enjoy inflight WiFi across its A330, 787 and A380 fleet by the end of this year."

I'm going in Feb and then again in May 2025, in economy. So I hope it's accurate. Seems crazy not to have it when so many airlines do now.

No WIFI will be the first of many disappointments when flying QF

 

[RichardMEL]

I enjoy the downtime of no wifi tbh

 

[wendlle]

I enjoy the downtime of no wifi tbh

Normally I wouldn’t care but my kids are anxious, it’s the first time I’ve been away without them so being connected would have been really great