QP/JL Wireless Access problems [Fixed Oct 2011]

[jdlover23]

I seldom complain about things, but my continued experience in Qantas lounges in regards to their wireless internet has got me frustrated and exasperated.

I did a series of flights last week that saw me in the BNE J lounge, SYD J lounge, SYD F lounge, MEL J lounge. Not in one lounge was using the provided wireless internet a viable option. Now when a lounge is busy at peak times I can understand that speeds would be decreased, however when in BNE it was 430am! and I was only 1 of 2 people in the lounge and still the wireless was unuseable. I love Qantas's F lounges and all of their facilities but to still not be able to provide wireless internet that is functional is embarassing and frankly pathetic.

To put into perspective and to show how poor the wireless is in these lounges I did a test last week - trying to update my iphone OS so i could use as my own wireless hot spot. BNE J lounge at 4am - 40mb file time to download estimate 5hrs!

To put that in perspective - in Air Pacifics Tabua lounge in Fiji - which provides wireless internet for its guests - which is only from 3G service not even ADSL - the download time for the same file was 17 minutes - not fast by any means - but considering where I was and the underlying internet infrastructure - it puts the Qantas lounges to shame

Having updated my iphone OS in Fiji - I used as a wireless hot spot for the remainder of my trip when i got back to Australia in all of the QF J lounges.

To further drive home the point - hope you are reading this Red Roo - I had to fly back from BNE on DJ, as the last flight out of BNE on QF was 7pm and I needed to fly at 9pm - so I used one of my DJ lounge passes. Well as expected there werent too many in the DJ lounge - but opening my laptop - found the wireless no problems - connected and was online for the 2hrs i had to kill in the lounge with no issues

Qantas lift your game - for lounges, especially J lounges, working wireless internet should be the most basic of provisions. In my opinion there should be a separate wifi for the J lounges that you can connect through using a daily code available for collection at the J counter on entrance etc like many lounges overseas - or connect through using your QF login details like AA uses in the US for their F

 

[docjames]

Re: Qantas domestic Lounges pathetic wifi

This has been covered in a recent thread (which for the life of me I cant find using search).

I had enquired of QF and they kept calling me back until they had a final answer.

To summarise my post in that thread, after some followup and discussion with QF:

Essentially, the demand on the system has outgrown the initial capacity, due to the rapid proliferation of wifi-capable devices (read: smartphones eg. iPhones). The system was designed for laptop users to be able to connect, but now everyone connects automatically with their smartphones and the system gets over burdened if the lounge is moderately busy.

If I can find the old thread (mods help may be required), there was a work-around that at least allowed easier connection (if not resolving the overall speed issues).


Edit: found it! Look at posts # 36, # 45 and #50.

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....nt-flyer-program/lounge-wi-fi-gone-27207.html

 

[gumpy]

Re: Qantas domestic Lounges pathetic wifi

I'm surprised to hear this to be honest.

The only issue i've had is to do with the clearing of temp internet files each time i connect because it mucks up my connection. One connected I've found the wireless speed to be very acceptable. The places i've recently visited are BNE, Cairns, Perth, Syd and Mel.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Re: Qantas domestic Lounges pathetic wifi

Yes it's cough.

They knowhow many members go there, assume 90% have a wifi requirement and sort it out.

Not hard.......keep up with Asian Tiger Red Roo!

 

[Princess Fiona]

Qantas domestic Lounges pathetic wifi

Yes it's cough.

They knowhow many members go there, assume 90% have a wifi requirement and sort it out.

Not hard.......keep up with Asian Tiger Red Roo!

Agree 100% must re-negotiate the Telstra contract. My own 3G is also quicker. As I have posted previously can download movies to the iPad in T5 Galleries, can't watch a You-Tube video in the SYD Flounge.
Not good enough!

 

[jdlover23]

Re: Qantas domestic Lounges pathetic wifi

This has been covered in a recent thread (which for the life of me I cant find using search).


Essentially, the demand on the system has outgrown the initial capacity, due to the rapid proliferation of wifi-capable devices (read: smartphones eg. iPhones). The system was designed for laptop users to be able to connect, but now everyone connects automatically with their smartphones and the system gets over burdened if the lounge is moderately busy.



Edit: found it! Look at posts # 36, # 45 and #50.

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....nt-flyer-program/lounge-wi-fi-gone-27207.html

Thanks for finding that - ill give it a crack

but the load issues couldnt explain 430am the other morning in BNE

im guessing ill just be using my iphone as my own wireless hot spot for the forseeable future - maybe i should have posted this in the Qantas thread - because im guessing Red Roo - if hes even still around, bothers to trawl these other sections

if he does, there certainly hasnt been any improvement since your linked post 4 months ago...

 

[NM]

Re: Qantas domestic Lounges pathetic wifi

To put that in perspective - in Air Pacifics Tabua lounge in Fiji - which provides wireless internet for its guests - which is only from 3G service not even ADSL - the download time for the same file was 17 minutes - not fast by any means - but considering where I was and the underlying internet infrastructure - it puts the Qantas lounges to shame

Maybe Qantas has an ADSL plan that includes a monthly download cap, above which the throughput is throttled down to some trickle speed :shock:

 

[TonyHancock]

Re: Qantas domestic Lounges pathetic wifi

The internet in the Singapore F lounge, on Saturday, evening was worse than dial up speeds at one point.

It improved as people left but only a little.

 

[jdlover23]

Re: Qantas domestic Lounges pathetic wifi

Maybe Qantas has an ADSL plan that includes a monthly download cap, above which the throughput is throttled down to some trickle speed :shock:

haha yeah must be on a $9.95 "unlimited" Dodo plan - shaped after 10Gb

 

[Archphoto]

Re: Qantas domestic Lounges pathetic wifi

Used the BKK lounge last week, and Internet access was non-existent!
The password issued was "unrecognised" and basically they had no idea how to fix. You could use their computers (though how they thought that would solve the access problem, I really don't know.)

And from memory, I've had to pay for the right of using the lounge internet access in the past. What gives with that?? (Sydney if I remember correctly.)

 

[pshepvic]

Re: Qantas domestic Lounges pathetic wifi

There seems so be some major Internet problem in the BNE lounge. Not only is the wi-fi ridiculously slow, but on Monday I had issues with 3G on both my iPhone and my iPad. They were ridiculously slow in the lounge on wi-fi, so I switched to 3G on both (with Telstra). Same problem - I couldn't even load the Qantas website.

When I walked out into the terminal though, it wad a perfect connection. It seems to be some sort of wireless black hole in the lounge. Or is it an anti-black hole because a black hole would suck all the signal IN, rather than stop it?!

 

[greg-777]

QP/JL Wireless Access problems [Fixed]

Currently sitting in the QP at Darwin Domestic, and everyone ive spoken too in the Lounge cannot connect to the wireless network, Ladies at the front could not really care less, can Red Roo assist, or any ideas on who to call, ive got 3 hrs before my flight and wanted to get some work done.

The service desk acknowledged a problem but simply dont care.

 

[markis10]

Ring Telstra, but try this shortcut first:

Telstra Wireless Hotspot - Login

 

[greg-777]

Seems to have righted itself just minutes ago.

Thanks for the link

 

[shippo]

I've actually thought that the WiFi in all of the lounges I've been in recently have been taking increasingly longer to display the initial login screen.

Has anyone else felt the same way?

 

[futurism]

I've actually thought that the WiFi in all of the lounges I've been in recently have been taking increasingly longer to display the initial login screen.

Has anyone else felt the same way?

yes, absolutely
and sometimes not at all
I dont understand why it takes more than 1 second

are they using access points that are acting as web servers to show the login page and they are totally overloaded with http requests for login?
That might explain it if the cpu and ram on the access point is so slow that it cant serve more than 20 web sessions at once

I note on my various home routers the web interface for logs etc is often excruciatingly slow also

 

[russ]

The DRW QP has excellent WiFi. To access it:

1. Exit the DRW QP
2. Turn on your computer
3. Connect to the free Internode WiFi

 

[serfty]

I've actually thought that the WiFi in all of the lounges I've been in recently have been taking increasingly longer to display the initial login screen.

Has anyone else felt the same way?

Yes, it's been noted.

That why the link in post #2 has been discerned.

It gives one a better chance of connecting.

 

[Red Roo]

Currently sitting in the QP at Darwin Domestic, and everyone ive spoken too in the Lounge cannot connect to the wireless network, Ladies at the front could not really care less, can Red Roo assist, or any ideas on who to call, ive got 3 hrs before my flight and wanted to get some work done.

Firstly, apologies for the inconvenience.

As noted in another thread, we're currently reviewing Wi-Fi services and we'll keep you up to date with any developments.

 

[warpspeed]

Firstly, apologies for the inconvenience.

As noted in another thread, we're currently reviewing Wi-Fi services and we'll keep you up to date with any developments.

Red Roo, perhaps you guys should approach Internode to handle the Qantas Club free WiFi. They seem to do a pretty good job with the WiFi in Darwin and Adelaide Airports.