No Audio in "J"

[n17]

I flew PE in a refurbish 737 800 Mel-OOL yesterday, very nice.

However I was rather alarmed to discover that there were no audio channels in the new "J" class. There was a young baby on the lap of another PE flyer, which is fine, but the child kept crying on and off. I’m not anti kids but I do like to have headphones on and blank out any noise when flying.

Call me miserable or petty but I generally like to get on a plane, get in to my book and listen to music from the time I enter the cabin. I really do have a real issue with the lack of audio channels in any class; especially "j”

The didgE-TV was also very basic with very poor content and few channels to choose from. The lack of these facilities will make me consider whom I fly with. i know DJ are trying to save money and gearing up for wireless but I think the airline has taken a great step backwards

 

[straitman]

I flew PE in a refurbish 737 800 Mel-OOL yesterday, very nice.

However I was rather alarmed to discover that there were no audio channels in the new "J" class. There was a young baby on the lap of another PE flyer, which is fine, but the child kept crying on and off. I’m not anti kids but I do like to have headphones on and blank out any noise when flying.

Call me miserable or petty but I generally like to get on a plane, get in to my book and listen to music from the time I enter the cabin. I really do have a real issue with the lack of audio channels in any class; especially "j”

The didgE-TV was also very basic with very poor content and few channels to choose from. The lack of these facilities will make me consider whom I fly with. i know DJ are trying to save money and gearing up for wireless but I think the airline has taken a great step backwards

The reason for this has been discussed here.

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....rgin-australia-unveils-first-phase-35148.html

 

[777]

Yep, it's cough. Whoever thought it was a good idea to save a few bucks by leaving audio (at least) out of the refit?

 

[n17]

The reason for this has been discussed here.

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....rgin-australia-unveils-first-phase-35148.html

I get that Bill, but my point is you can no longer blank out noise from the time you enter the cabin. When the new system is installed you will have too wait 10-15 mins or longer in some cases before you can fire up your device. I am therefore unable to eliminate any environmental noise from the cabin whereas currently I can simply plug in my headphones into a jack and enter my own little insular world

 

[Moopere]

I get that Bill, but my point is you can no longer blank out noise from the time you enter the cabin. When the new system is installed you will have too wait 10-15 mins or longer in some cases before you can fire up your device. I am therefore unable to eliminate any environmental noise from the cabin whereas currently I can simply plug in my headphones into a jack and enter my own little insular world

Its a problem for sure. The only thing I can suggest is to plug into your idevice / android and play music from there - these devices are generally allowed to be used throughout a flight except for takeoff and landing

The J experience on a 737 I think will always be a problem, certainly with the config chosen by DJ anyway, still, it impressed me recently and is far from bad, but no seatback IFE irked me too.

 

[serfty]

...my point is you can no longer blank out noise from the time you enter the cabin. When the new system is installed you will have too wait 10-15 mins or longer in some cases before you can fire up your device....

Its a problem for sure. The only thing I can suggest is to plug into your idevice / android and play music from there - these devices are generally allowed to be used throughout a flight except for takeoff and landing
...

The timings/availability of this option would be the same, takoff/landing/10-15mins ...

I personally thinks it's an ordinary idea - just like no power.

 

[maninblack]

It's a major league screw up. Their whole decision surrounding th new IFE is un-fathomable. My guess is the people at Virgin who made these decisions are not seasoned flyers. They certainly have managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

 

[elbarto]

*rolls eyes* deal with it. There's big costs in installing, removing and reinstalling ife systems. Virgin just skipped a step. There are plenty of ac flying around without ife. I believe their embraers never had an ife system and if you were to jump to QF and fly on a dash they don't have ife either.


Sent from an Apple iPad wireless device

 

[Justchecking]

*rolls eyes* deal with it.
Sent from an Apple iPad wireless device

+1, if its that big a deal then fly an airline with audio. Personally the last thing I would want to do is plug myself into some airline musak, complete with intermittent advertising. But horses for courses... I get the impression from AFF in-seat IFE is a really big deal. Yet no-one seems to be voting with their feet and not buying tickets on DJ over it.

Or you could just sit where the FAs cant see you and use your iPhone anyway. Its what half the economy cabin is doing on takeoff and landing...:shock:

 

[cavemanzk]

Whats a basic in-seat audio system worth these days?

Its not just DJ that has been getting new builds without IFE. NZ's new domestic A320s are the same, although fitted with drop down LCD Screens with no audio.

 

[markis10]

Whats a basic in-seat audio system worth these days?

Its not just DJ that has been getting new builds without IFE. NZ's new domestic A320s are the same, although fitted with drop down LCD Screens with no audio.

Whats it worth to the airline to get the product into place quickly, the time it would have taken to refit audio would have been significant, and the new aircraft were too close to reconfig those.

 

[Justchecking]

Whats a basic in-seat audio system worth these days?

Its not just DJ that has been getting new builds without IFE. NZ's new domestic A320s are the same, although fitted with drop down LCD Screens with no audio.

Maybe thats because airlines have researched this subject, done their sums and found out that the lack of a personal IFE on a short haul flight isnt a significant purchasing decider with the travellng public. Sure, people get very vocal on internet forums about it, but in reality it doesnt sway the majority of purhasers towards one airline or another. Price and schedule are still the biggest deciders.

 

[lovestotravel]

Maybe thats because airlines have researched this subject, done their sums and found out that the lack of a personal IFE on a short haul flight isnt a significant purchasing decider with the travellng public. Sure, people get very vocal on internet forums about it, but in reality it doesnt sway the majority of purhasers towards one airline or another. Price and schedule are still the biggest deciders.

More than likely!

Given that DJ and QF are pretty much the same pricing, and that you get free food/drinks on QF & free IFE either via seatback, drop down or even just audio, it seems that Virgin thought about proper IFE, looked at their cash-flow and profits and then said "No" let's go "full service" and forget about IFE.

Funnily enough lack of IFE is one reason why I am now back to Qantas for most domestic flights, this year, that combined with 10 QFF points per $1 spent.....

 

[JohnK]

Yes it is disappointing there are no in flight audio channels. And to say they were in a hurry to get the refit done and left it out is a poor excuse in my opinion.

 

[lovestotravel]

Yes it is disappointing there are no in flight audio channels. And to say they were in a hurry to get the refit done and left it out is a poor excuse in my opinion.

Exactly, especially in J class

If VA want to be serious about J, they should have had seatback IFE installed there at the very least, portable devices is a LCC solution!

Given that "Phase 1" is a trial of WiFi it will then take months to roll it out, so likely the end of 2012, then if they trail "Phase 2" if there is such a thing it will be years before any seatback IFE is added.. Anyways we have done that subject to death, so back on topic

Yep no audio in J

 

[Jack Melon]

What is really embarrassing and disappointing is that even Jetstar has better IFE then Virgin. iPad over a digiplayer any day. I'm sure the phase 2 solution will make up for it .

 

[serfty]

What is really embarrassing and disappointing is that even Jetstar has better IFE then Virgin. iPad over a digiplayer any day. I'm sure the phase 2 solution will make up for it .

How can an iPad be better per se than a Digiplayer".

One purpose build for the task and does that well enough.

 

[777]

How can an iPad be better per se than a Digiplayer".

One purpose build for the task and does that well enough.

It's smaller, lighter and has the capacity to hold a lot more content. It's technology developed several generations later in electronics terms and it has the ability (not necessarily realised) to run thousands of 3rd party apps. The digiplayers are an ageing technology that were clunky when they were new. Actually i think Android tablets (for the fact they combine sheer flexibility with the technological advances realised int he ipad) or android based IFE platforms are better than both.

 

[serfty]

It's smaller, lighter and has the capacity to hold a lot more content. It's technology developed several generations later in electronics terms and it has the ability (not necessarily realised) to run thousands of 3rd party apps. The digiplayers are an ageing technology that were clunky when they were new. Actually i think Android tablets (for the fact they combine sheer flexibility with the technological advances realised int he ipad) or android based IFE platforms are better than both.

Fair enough ...


... anyway IME this style of carrier provided IFE sucks; the only thing to consider is which sucks more. ...

 

[lovestotravel]

How can an iPad be better per se than a Digiplayer".

One purpose build for the task and does that well enough.

Either solution is not suitable for a "full service carrier" or in J class that's for sure

But the iPad/iPad2 is far better than a digiplayer

Screen is better/clearer, better battery life, lighter and huge amounts of storage

As for Jetstar while I would never fly them domestically, their idea is far better Jetstar to install iPad seats with extra legroom on Airbus A320 & A321 planes - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

The main problem with a "portable" solution is that it needs to sit on your tray-table and is the wrong height for viewing, is in the way of food service and you need to move it if the person next to you wants to get out of their seat. It's a pain! The iPad solution mounted on the seatback is great, as it's at a better height and leaves you with much more room. I struggle on J* in Star Class with the stupid Dig-e-players! Of course Virgin has also missed this chance as their seats don't support the iPad holders.. They really did not think out the iFE solution at all!

Not sure if they have any of the new seats yet though on Jetstar ???