Virgin Australia Unveils First Phase Of Inflight Entertainment Plans

[lovestotravel]

The other point not mentioned yet, is that they will have a fleet of A330's with a proper IFE system and then the 737's with a WiFi system.

Now it does make sense to have a full IFE solution on the A330's for the longer flights, but I expect the A330's to start creeping on the MEL-SYD-BNE routes over the next few years, so it's going to be a mixed bag to what you get...

 

[maninblack]

You make valid points. But like I said earlier, don't fly VA then... simple solution to your issue :mrgreen:

Do you think that is part of Virgin's business startegy with this new IFE concept? To have their customers leave them in favor of the competition.

Anyway. Had my say now. Will wait and see how it turns out.

 

[lovestotravel]

Do you think that is part of Virgin's business startegy with this new IFE concept? To have their customers leave them in favor of the competition.

Anyway. Had my say now. Will wait and see how it turns out.

In another year, who knows what will be happening.....

As for their "business strategy" I will re-quote this..

Martin Daley, Virgin Australia Group Executive for Product and Guest Services. “Personal devices are becoming more and more prevalent, smartphones are almost ubiquitous and one day everyone’s going to have a tablet, especially as costs keep coming down” Daly enthuses."

 

[dk4]

VA the other week was turning it of not long after the descent started.

I thought the order was -
Jetstar - at the top of descent
Qantas - after the "flight attendants prepare the cabin" PA from the pilot
Virgin - on descent, after the pilot turns the seat belt sign on

?

The tray tables are unstable and at an angle.

Their J tray tables flip, then slide. There is a little black tab on the side of the tray table, you pull this across towards the centre arm rest until it sits on the arm rest, which eliminates the problem you describe.

I am with those against -

• The viewing angle is wrong
• I don't like IFE taking up tray table real estate
• Ergonomically, while eating I want to sit upright, however, when the table is deployed I can't slouch or cross my legs when I am trying to relax: also provides a difficult viewing once reclined.

 

[travelislife]

The issue here is they have essentially gone with a jetstar solution but only half way. At least jetstar have made a positive change to their seat design (which is brilliant and creates the feeling of more space by removing the seat pocket in your knees) to allow for the ergonomics of attaching a tablet at eye viewing level to the back of the seat freeing up the tray table.

I would have preferred drop down screens like QF over this. IMO this is nothing new, if I have my laptop with me I already have the content on it which I want to watch. So what are Virgin providing that will change my current experience - zero.

 

[markis10]

The issue here is they have essentially gone with a jetstar solution but only half way. At least jetstar have made a positive change to their seat design (which is brilliant and creates the feeling of more space by removing the seat pocket in your knees) to allow for the ergonomics of attaching a tablet at eye viewing level to the back of the seat freeing up the tray table.

I would have preferred drop down screens like QF over this. IMO this is nothing new, if I have my laptop with me I already have the content on it which I want to watch. So what are Virgin providing that will change my current experience - zero.

Virgin are providing content which you wont have on your laptop in many cases, hardly zero, and they do have the ability in the BSI aircraft to offer the net, that could be a game changer at the right price. I would be hesitant to judge a book by its cover when we have hardly seen the cover.

 

[pauly7]

The other point not mentioned yet, is that they will have a fleet of A330's with a proper IFE system and then the 737's with a WiFi system.

Now it does make sense to have a full IFE solution on the A330's for the longer flights, but I expect the A330's to start creeping on the MEL-SYD-BNE routes over the next few years, so it's going to be a mixed bag to what you get...

Given the VA A330 fleet have old loopy loop Emirates IFE in them I have a sneaking suspicion they'll rip that out potentially.....

But what about the 777s....?

 

[Flashback]

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

And I ........ have a banana!

 

[straitman]

Now now swanning_it, I'm sure phase two will involve a deal with devil....I mean Apple.....whereby for a measly 10 trillion velocity points you too can tote an iPad instead of a laptop.

.... or an apple laptop.


(sent from my apple laptop that has a great battery life)

 

[ash.1111]

Electronic devices only need to be turned off once the seatbelt sign has been switched on. If the sign is already on during the flight, then devices must be switched off once 'cabin crew prepare for landing' is said. However, some pilots switch the sign on at the same time as they say 'cabin crew prepare for landing'.

 

[pshepvic]

Electronic devices only need to be turned off once the seatbelt sign has been switched on. If the sign is already on during the flight, then devices must be switched off once 'cabin crew prepare for landing' is said. However, some pilots switch the sign on at the same time as they say 'cabin crew prepare for landing'.

Actually I think we established already that this is not consistent between the airlines, or even within the same airline. This might be the logical way to do it, however every QF flight I've been on for the last 10 years they've said switch off devices immediately as descent has started, not when the captain has made an announcement or when the seatbelt light goes on. Others have had different experiences.


Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly app

 

[pauly7]

Actually I think we established already that this is not consistent between the airlines, or even within the same airline. This might be the logical way to do it, however every QF flight I've been on for the last 10 years they've said switch off devices immediately as descent has started, not when the captain has made an announcement or when the seatbelt light goes on. Others have had different experiences.


Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly app

I would agree with you but last 4 flights I've noticed QF letting people leave their laptops/electronic devices on past descent.

 

[Major]

I'm sure that this has been properly thought through by VA. I'm equally sure that they have concluded there will be a considerable percentage of pax on all flights who will be technically challenged. This could be by age, choice ( holidays ) financial or other considerations.

I cannot see FA's handing out tablets ( or whatever ) and then explaining operating procedures to half the flight.

On East Coast flights they will not have the time.

I will be interested in what options VA intend to offer those pax who want some form of IFE and do not have, or will not have some form of electronic device with them.

 

[Noob]

I'm sure that this has been properly thought through by VA. I'm equally sure that they have concluded there will be a considerable percentage of pax on all flights who will be technically challenged. This could be by age, choice ( holidays ) financial or other considerations.

I cannot see FA's handing out tablets ( or whatever ) and then explaining operating procedures to half the flight.

On East Coast flights they will not have the time.

I will be interested in what options VA intend to offer those pax who want some form of IFE and do not have, or will not have some form of electronic device with them.

IMO one of the best posts in this entire thread, logic goes a long way!

 

[maninblack]

I'm sure that this has been properly thought through by VA. I'm equally sure that they have concluded there will be a considerable percentage of pax on all flights who will be technically challenged. This could be by age, choice ( holidays ) financial or other considerations.

I cannot see FA's handing out tablets ( or whatever ) and then explaining operating procedures to half the flight.

On East Coast flights they will not have the time.

I will be interested in what options VA intend to offer those pax who want some form of IFE and do not have, or will not have some form of electronic device with them.

Okay I cannot resist

Not one thing you say here points to it being a good decision. In fact everything you say here points to it being a bad/strange/unusual/problematic/inconvenient decision. One that will likely annoy passengers and FA's alike.

So why do it when there are far simpler and better IFE options out there?

Some smarty has convinced them and they have become caught up in their own hyperbole I suspect. You see these bad management decisions in all sorts of industries with new technology and then everyone starts saying, "well if we could do it all over again..." I suspect the die has been cast so we will just have to wait to see whether how it all turns out.

 

[pshepvic]

I would agree with you but last 4 flights I've noticed QF letting people leave their laptops/electronic devices on past descent.

I haven't flown QF for a couple of months so maybe they have officially changed the policy. Someone said this has been the case for 12 months, but in my experience it hasn't.


Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly app

 

[777]

Well, i've been thinking about this a bit and count me firmly in the meh category.

I can see that on some flights i'd take advantage of it but really for a hop from SYD-MEL and vice versa which is most of my flying these days it's pretty bloody useless. By the time you've dealt with the black out at either end and the food service there won't be any time to use it. The time i most appreciate embedded IFE (which includes LTA and even an in cabin audio system) is during the periods when electronic devices can't be used at either end of the flights or when you are eating so you can't use the laptop. So, the fact that this isn't a gate-to-gate solution and requires me to fumble with my own devices is probably my biggest gripe.

What bugs me most about this decision is that prior to this Virgin had a perfectly functioning gate-to-gate system (be it LTA or simply audio channels) and then they've gone and pulled it out as they've "improved" their cabin. As a result I think in many respects for me the new cabin is worse than the old one - i briefly got excited when i got on board a refitted aircraft but these days my reaction - particularly when heading home at the end of a long days work - tends to be "oh, bugger, no LTA or entertainment ... again."

Is it the end of the world? No. But it's a big disappointment.

Things that could improve it...

1. Actual wifi - as a bridge to offering wifi in flight this makes a lot more sense and wifi is actually genuinely useful.
2. Integrating some live content into the feed - news, sports, etc - i will miss this about LTA and it is something that i can't actually bring from home. Audio would be fine, but video would be better - if you could at least pick up say, streaming ABC radio in it's various guises that would be useful and the bandwidth to do so may be available via current systems. Oh and birds that still have the foxtel domes should stream foxtel around the cabin.
3. Maximising the time such devices can be used - let's make it as soon after take off and as long before landing as humanly possible. A separate "electronic devices" sign or announcement would help. Maybe you can change the non smoking signs over - we get the point about that now?
4. Power points (or USB charge points). If this was the plan all along whoever ordered the new interior without powerpoints deserves some kind of demotion.
5. Fixed units in the pointy end. Having flown in the new 737 in the business cabin i can officially declare that juggling your meal and dig-e-player is a debacle so an embedded device (i guess it can probably be any kind of android tablet or a dedicated IFE device). For my own selfish reasons, i think including a seat back version for the front rows of Y would be nice too but i realise that's just because that would selfishly suit me.
6. A better mounting solution for phone, ipad, etc. on the seat back.
7. Put the audio system back in so at least there is some bloody alternative in all the obvious periods when this wont' be working or active.

Thinking about some or all of the above in the implementation would be an improvement but i can't help think this has been done purely to save money and hence the implementation has been poorly thought through.

 

[Noob]

1. Actual wifi - as a bridge to offering wifi in flight this makes a lot more sense and wifi is actually genuinely useful.
2. Integrating some live content into the feed - news, sports, etc - i will miss this about LTA and it is something that i can't actually bring from home. Audio would be fine, but video would be better - if you could at least pick up say, streaming ABC radio in it's various guises that would be useful and the bandwidth to do so may be available via current systems. Oh and birds that still have the foxtel domes should stream foxtel around the cabin.
3. Maximising the time such devices can be used - let's make it as soon after take off and as long before landing as humanly possible. A separate "electronic devices" sign or announcement would help. Maybe you can change the non smoking signs over - we get the point about that now?
4. Power points (or USB charge points). If this was the plan all along whoever ordered the new interior without powerpoints deserves some kind of demotion.
5. Fixed units in the pointy end. Having flown in the new 737 in the business cabin i can officially declare that juggling your meal and dig-e-player is a debacle so an embedded device (i guess it can probably be any kind of android tablet or a dedicated IFE device). For my own selfish reasons, i think including a seat back version for the front rows of Y would be nice too but i realise that's just because that would selfishly suit me.
6. A better mounting solution for phone, ipad, etc. on the seat back.
7. Put the audio system back in so at least there is some bloody alternative in all the obvious periods when this wont' be working or active.

All of these things could easily be part of the finished product - as we have only heard brief details of phase one, as Virgin Australia made clear.

The BoardConnect system is capable of live content etc.

 

[pshepvic]

3. ...A separate "electronic devices" sign or announcement would help. Maybe you can change the non smoking signs over - we get the point about that now?

Funny you should say that - this is exactly what Virgin America has done (as have a number of other airlines). They just have a permanent (non-illuminated) non-smoking sign, as of course for the last 20 years there has been no need for a light that goes on and off.

Where the non-smoking light used to be, they have a "no electronic devices" light.

 

[travelislife]

Funny you should say that - this is exactly what Virgin America has done (as have a number of other airlines). They just have a permanent (non-illuminated) non-smoking sign, as of course for the last 20 years there has been no need for a light that goes on and off.

Where the non-smoking light used to be, they have a "no electronic devices" light.

Virgin Australia already have this on their international 777s.