Virgin Australia’s free Wireless In-flight Entertainment system

[777]

Re: Virgin WIFi IFE

In the next 2 weeks my sources say

I hope so. I average about 2 virgin flights a week and have NEVER been on a flight with it on. I've tried looking for it a few times but is there any sort of other sign when it's working? An announcement? A sign? Something in the seat pocket?

 

[MarkD]

Re: Virgin WIFi IFE

is there any sort of other sign when it's working? An announcement? A sign? Something in the seat pocket?

I have scored it a couple of times, and all of the above are present.
Having said that, Every flight on a BSI, I run the app anyway Just incase, one time it was, so used it, and no info at all on it on the aircraft (Didnt grab rego)

 

[BAM1748]

Re: Virgin WIFi IFE

Seat back is the way to go, back of plane passengers can watch gate to gate. Tablet is inferior for this application.

 

[openseat]

Re: Android App!

Look what I found on the Google Play Store this evening.....

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.lufthansa.ife.va

Nice find and just in time.

 

[Noob]

Re: Virgin WIFi IFE

Seat back is the way to go, back of plane passengers can watch gate to gate. Tablet is inferior for this application.

True, gate to gate is not possible with the current regulations, but this is not necessarily going to be the case forever!

They're looking at allowing tablets & e-readers during takeoff & landing (no phone calls etc.)

FAA Could Allow Electronic Devices During Takeoff, Landing | NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

At one point or another in the medium term we could see such amendments made.....

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Re: Android App!

Look what I found on the Google Play Store this evening.....

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.lufthansa.ife.va

I've had the iApp downloaded for months. Never had a plane to try it on.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Re: Virgin WIFi IFE

is there any sort of other sign when it's working? An announcement? A sign? Something in the seat pocket?

A sandle, a gourd, a juniper bush...................

 

[robbie1984]

Re: Virgin WIFi IFE

I flew YIQ on Sunday and Boardconnect was working great. No mention of it over the PA so I think I was the only one who was aware of it.

Aircraft are still being tested, YID is the only one that they make a point of telling people when they are flying on it. It will be launched soon and those with it installed will be actively marketed as such.

 

[carpenteria]

Re: Virgin WIFi IFE

I was on a flight with it loaded on Monday, but yeah no announcement or sign of any kind. I only discovered it when the plane landed, I turned my phone on, switched off airplane mode and... whats this wifi network? Ahh great. would of been useful to know it was there 2 hours ago but what can you do...

 

[Jama]

Re: Virgin WIFi IFE

I've occassionally asked for this very reason. They have agreed so perhaps next time, just ask the FA and explain you need to finish a movie from previous flight.

Ok swanning_it. I evidently don't have your charm. I asked for one and the FA said she would see what she could do. Returned indicating she was told she was not to give me, but if it was up to her she would.

I haven't flown with Qantas. Would IFE be a standard experience or are they IFE for business only too.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Re: Virgin WIFi IFE

Ok swanning_it. I evidently don't have your charm.

I'm not exactly known for my charm or animal magnetism. I find that response very poor from the CS. I've only done this twice and twice it was OKed without issue.

The crew seem to be transitioning as well, to a more hard line and inflexible attitude, which is very disappointing. I've said it on other threads and I may as well say it here, VA seem to have lost the "vision" somewhat and it's becoming very evident, very frequently.

 

[Jama]

Re: Virgin WIFi IFE

I have to agree completely.

Seems pointless to give VA all your business to get to Platinum when a Gold level would be sufficient. Same seat choice, same lounge access, same priority boarding, same lack of personal service. Probably best to spend the minimum to keep Gold and spend it elsewhere. I have said it before, but in my experience once in the air, is absolutely no different now as Platinum to when I had no status. (Back then you could sit anywhere without status). Sorry for getting off topic.

 

[Ansettaddict123]

Re: Virgin WIFi IFE

I find that response very poor from the CS. I've only done this twice and twice it was OKed without issue.

In fairness, I have to disagree.
Yes it may have been oked before but it's not a listed benefit and should as such be treated that way; an exception to the rule, not the rule itself. We know Virgin isn't your favourite thing in the world right now but calling it very poor form is a little over the top. If you agree to give a player out to one person, be it in row 3 or 23, it's bound to make others want the same. Inevitably, they run out and if you're someone who misses out you're left with a bitter taste in your mouth.

If you want the player (and god knows why you would when there are many better BYO options) then pay for a J fare, simple.

(As for the lack of IFE in general on VA aircraft, I completely agree. give us back live2air!)

/Endrant

 

[Jama]

Re: Virgin WIFi IFE

I agree with your comments too, but it is still nice to see some niceties in recognition of a lot of travel and a big spend. At this moment, as commented, the in the air experience is pretty much identical regardless of the loyalty level. To suggest frequent flyers should only get recognition when they pay for it, by flying J, is also a bit over the top.

When Platinum was new this was not the case. The comments by swanning_it is representative of what many have experienced and commented on. When continuing to support VA, at this point, I don't know how that can be interpreted as dislike. Hopefully, continuing to post feedback whilst continuing to support VA in the air will result in improvements benefiting ultimately both sides.

Forgive me if you haven't updated your profile but perhaps you would feel different if you had earn't a status level yourself.

 

[Ansettaddict123]

Re: Virgin WIFi IFE

I agree with your comments too, but it is still nice to see some niceties in recognition of a lot of travel and a big spend. At this moment, as commented, the in the air experience is pretty much identical regardless of the loyalty level. To suggest frequent flyers should only get recognition when they pay for it, by flying J, is also a bit over the top.

When Platinum was new this was not the case. The comments by swanning_it is representative of what many have experienced and commented on. When continuing to support VA, at this point, I don't know how that can be interpreted as dislike. Hopefully, continuing to post feedback whilst continuing to support VA in the air will result in improvements benefiting ultimately both sides.

Forgive me if you haven't updated your profile but perhaps you would feel different if you had earn't a status level yourself.

Fair call on the in air experience. To that end however I would highlight comp upgrades as a nice little perk, but beyond that I agree the world of VA WP perks is looking a little sparse (particularly in air)
I do agree that little perks like this are appreciated, and retrospectively cost VA nothing to provide, however sometimes for whatever reason it is impractical to do so.

As a small VA shareholder I would like to think that more is being done to keep high spend and yield clients like yourself, and it is a shame that the transition to a truly full service carrier has hit a rough patch and interfered with this. As you've rightfully pointed out continued support while providing feedback is key. That said it would be nice of VA to take a little more of a proactive approach and get it together on its own accord.

Also, for what it's worth, I'm a lowly 19 year old red member I don't have much experience with VA in the pointy end and recognise that there is a difference in perspective, however I call it like I see it

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Re: Virgin WIFi IFE

In fairness, I have to disagree.
it's not a listed benefit and should as such be treated that way;

Actually I agree with you. Thank you for pulling me back into line a bit.

My focus was not so much on the pure written benefit (which I also rant about from time to time) but it was more bemoaning the VA story as I see (experience) it. A few short years ago, we had a good LCC with some really nice perks at a fair price. Then they decide to provide a difference, by giving QF some competition which meant much higher fares for all of us (even though we were quite happy before), but by and large, we were impressed and happy at the transformation, which really showed QF to be an archaic dinosaur, very set in their ways and inflexible. Unfortunately, VA now seem to be following QFs lead in that regard whilst over at QF (judging by my recent experiences with them) they have moved very much around to a more flexible and approachable attitude (although getting a dinosaur to change it's spots is far more difficult than mixing metaphors).

So where does that leave many of us? We now pay considerably more, we now don't have the option of ife, the in-flight F&B offering has been dramatically reduced and is considerably more expensive, point redemptions are more expensive, of late heaps of little perks (which cost VA nothing) have wained and VAs best weapons (their staff in the GCC, in the air, and in the lounge) seem to be transitioning from angels to dragons. I wonder why I'm a little grumpy of late?

Also, for what it's worth, I'm a lowly 19 year old red member

Eh? 19YO with a handle of Ansettaddict123? Now there has to be a story in that one. You must have only just graduated out of kindy when Ansett went belly-up (along with a truck load of my points).

 

[Ansettaddict123]

Re: Virgin WIFi IFE

As someone who flies much more often than me you definitely have the right perspective to be making an informed comment Re. offering degradation, my apologies for coming across so harshly!

Eh? 19YO with a handle of Ansettaddict123? Now there has to be a story in that one. You must have only just graduated out of kindy when Ansett went belly-up (along with a truck load of my points).

hahaha, yep! My family used to live in Broome, at one stage only serviced by Ansett so I became quite entrenched with them! I have really fond memories of flying with them and its something I think that really sparked my interest in aviation ever since (be it aircraft or airlines). I remember getting our gold global rewards cards in the mail some days after the collapse and couldnt understand for the life of me while mum was cutting them up, in hindsight I wish I could have kept mine! (We lost about 500,000 points). Times change and bad things happen, but every time I fly I always think of the what ifs and how Australian Aviation would have been different had Ansett survived. A great airline but a terrible business Anyway, enough reminiscing!

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Re: Virgin WIFi IFE

every time I fly I always think of the what ifs and how Australian Aviation would have been different had Ansett survived. A great airline but a terrible business

Some might consider them a business stripped by a foreign corporate raider........

I was on the last Ansett flight between SYD and OOL and even as sombre as it was, with the crew losing their jobs and no money left, an apologetic crew managed to offer us all bottles of water.........now, with the new beaut "full service" VA, all we manage to get is a half full dinky plastic cup of water. They have a long way to go.

 

[777]

Re: Virgin WIFi IFE

Some might consider them a business stripped by a foreign corporate raider........

I was on the last Ansett flight between SYD and OOL and even as sombre as it was, with the crew losing their jobs and no money left, an apologetic crew managed to offer us all bottles of water.........now, with the new beaut "full service" VA, all we manage to get is a half full dinky plastic cup of water. They have a long way to go.

... and how much cheaper are fares these days?

 

[jetlagger]

Re: Virgin WIFi IFE

Times change and bad things happen, but every time I fly I always think of the what ifs and how Australian Aviation would have been different had Ansett survived. A great airline but a terrible business Anyway, enough reminiscing!

Ansett was a great business.. Simply.. They just had foolish 'out of touch" management without sensible strategic foresight running the operation.. very much similar to the whole QF operation of today.