British Airways to offer in-flight text and data on new all-business services

[Nigelinoz]

From The Times Online
British Airways to offer in-flight text and data on new all-business services -Times Online
Passengers on services from London City to New York JFK will be able to use mobiles, Blackberries and data-enabled laptops

Passengers on British Airways’ new all-business-class services from London City Airport to New York’s JFK airport, which start this autumn, will be able to use their mobile phones, Blackberries and laptops for text messaging and data services. The airline may introduce voice calls at a future date.
Willie Walsh, British Airways’ chief executive said: “This is a great service for our customers whom we know want to do business in the air or simply stay in touch via email or text. It’s a perfect fit for our new business class only services from London City airport to JFK which we will launch later this year. “

Wonder if they'll offer it on flights to Australia or will Qantas pick it up here?

 

[nlagalle]

Wonder if they'll offer it on flights to Australia or will Qantas pick it up here?

Qantas did trial this on a 767 last year. Not sure when it will be introduced or cost.

 

[MelUser]

I wonder whether BA will allow DONE travellers on to this all business aircraft?

I had a flight last year out of LCY and found it reasonably relaxing (staying near airport night before) compared to the usual Heathrow departure, although no airline lounges of any sort!

 

[Dave Noble]

I wonder whether BA will allow DONE travellers on to this all business aircraft?

I had a flight last year out of LCY and found it reasonably relaxing (staying near airport night before) compared to the usual Heathrow departure, although no airline lounges of any sort!

No lounge but the regular waiting lounge is a lot nicer imo than a regular lounge

LCY beats LHR so much that it would be a great option

Dave

 

[JohnK]

Wonder if they'll offer it on flights to Australia or will Qantas pick it up here?

If can see some merit in introducing it on all business class configured flights but I do not understand the push to have the service available on all flights. Flying will never be the same again....

 

[Nigelinoz]

To my mind it raises an interesting question about where airlines are headed,by that I mean I would never expect to see a true LCC like Ryanair
introduce this sort of facility because as I see it joe bloggs from manchester is very unlikely to be interested in this sort of thing if he's taking the wife and kids to Ibiza for a holiday,but for full service airlines like BA who have a larger number of business class passengers then introducing this technology would seem to be another way of maintaining/boosting market share

 

[pauly7]

Qantas did trial this on a 767 last year. Not sure when it will be introduced or cost.

QF has been quoted in the press as looking to roll this out post the trial but gave no dates. They did rule out voice calls though as they quoted 85% of people they surveyed said no way.... (What were the other 15% thinking!!)