Any time frame on when WiFi will appear on Qantas 787s long haul?

[ozstamps]

Given Velocity has stupidly mangled their FF scheme this year, decided to spend some money on Qantas after a long lapse. And I will not be alone.

Ten+ year Platinum, and I am now done with them.

There are Biz Class round trip tickets to Santiago, Chile for about $6000, and 25 years since I was there, so was about to book them today for August.

Looks like about a 13 or 14 hours direct flight on Qantas.

Always fly Singapore or Etihad or Ethiopian Air or Thai overseas, and for many years Wi-Fi has been automatic on such carriers.

https://www.thaiairways.com/en-th/content/in-flight-experience/in-flight-connectivity

Spend near all of each flight on WiFi doing work, and for me it is absolutely essential.

Was gobsmacked to read that it appears none of the Qantas long haul flights appear to have Wi-Fi?

https://www.executivetraveller.com/news/qantas-free-wifi-asia-flights

So looks like nothing likely on 787s in August or September?

 

[Cloud9]

I'd be hugely surprised if it happens before Q4 2026, personally, mate.

 

[justinbrett]

I feel sorry that you have to work for all of your J flights

 

[RooFlyer]

Given Velocity has stupidly mangled their FF scheme this year, decided to spend some money on Qantas after a long lapse. And I will not be alone.

There are Biz class tickets to Santiago, Chile for about $600o and 25 years since I was there, so was about to book them today for August.

If Virgin hadn't mangled their FF program, would you have flown them to Santiago?

Was gobsmacked to read that it appears none of the Qantas long haul flights appear to have Wi-Fi?

I'm surprised that you are surprised. Well known that they are way behind their peers.

This gives some insight

https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-advice/flights/qantas-free-international-wifi-to-switch-on-from-next-week/news-story/5326b6e9230a4d8a9fccd00b5661baac

 

[SYD]

Presumably you’re not going to SCL for work if booking on a whim of a good fare? So why work on the flight?

And yes, its a really good fare by post Covid standards - $5.6k nonstop ex SYD (cheaper from ADL and BNE with the extra stop).

I’m still of the view that no wifi has its benefits - disconnect and chill. Enjoy the flight. Which I did last year flying QF SYD-SCL J (return) on points.

 

[justinbrett]

Presumably you’re not going to SCL for work if booking on a whim of a good fare? So why work on the flight?

And yes, its a really good fare by post Covid standards - $5.6k nonstop ex SYD (cheaper from ADL and BNE with the extra stop).

I’m still of the view that no wifi has its benefits - disconnect and chill. Enjoy the flight. Which I did last year flying QF SYD-SCL J (return) on points.

Neither QR flight I took yesterday had Starlink. I don’t think QF will be the last airline to have fast and free wifi on long haul.

 

[ozstamps]

I'd be hugely surprised if it happens before Q4 2026, personally, mate.

Shame.

Oh well, that is $12,000 that Qantas will not be getting off us.

It was a purely impulse booking I was looking at. Plenty of other options.

Will now just book Singapore Air etc to somewhere interesting or whomever has a decent Biz deal, in planes with WiFi.

Quite gobsmacked that in mid 2025 Qantas seems to have near nothing flying long haul reliably equipped with WiFi .. talk about taking their eye off the ball.

Flown for so many years using it, assumed it was just bog basic kit for all tier #1 carriers. Silly me!

A few months back used it for near all 24 hours LHR-AUH-SYD, and got no sleep at all. Wife slept all the way.

It really is up to each passenger - to use it or not - but if you choose to, the system should be in place. To those paying FIVE figures a person long haul, to have no Wi-Fi without checking first, I bet this comes as a nasty shock.

Likewise, I may not want to drink alcohol on long flights, but if it is my choice to do, so I like it to be an option, which is why some dirt cheap fares on Saudi Air I've sadly bypassed.

 

[elanshin]

I think the whole QF wifi debate has been explained a while ago, but basically its like the 777X, the partner delivering the service is many years late. Iirc viasat 3 was initially slated for 2020, but here we are in 2025.

 

[RooFlyer]

Neither QR flight I took yesterday had Starlink. I don’t think QF will be the last airline to have fast and free wifi on long haul.

Not being the last to have 'fast and free wi-fi' is hardly a desirable KPI.

Didn't have Starlink - but did it have 'ordinary' wifi? Starlink is being rolled out - from their website

In just four months, we equipped over 55% of our Boeing 777 aircraft with Starlink, and plan to complete the rest by May 2025. We’ll also introduce Starlink on our A350 aircraft from summer 2025.

By 2026, we aim to have Starlink installed on more than 100 aircraft across our entire fleet.

So why work on the flight?

Just noting that you need to have to work to appreciate wi-fi. I haven't 'worked' for abt 7 years and just having the choice to connect, or not, is great.

I'm not keen on the potential for calls to be made over Starlink, though.

 

[Cloud9]

Shame.

Oh well, that is $12,000 that Qantas will not be getting off us.

It was a purely impulse booking I was looking at. Plenty of other options.

Will now just book Singapore Air etc to somewhere interesting or whomever has a decent Biz deal, in planes with WiFi.

Quite gobsmacked that in mid 2025 Qantas seems to have near nothing flying long haul reliably equipped with WiFi .. talk about taking their eye off the ball.

Flown for so many years using it, assumed it was just bog basic kit for all tier #1 carriers. Silly me!

A few months back used it for near all 24 hours LHR-AUH-SYD, and got no sleep at all. Wife slept all the way.

It really is up to each passenger - to use it or not - but if you choose to, the system should be in place. To those paying FIVE figures a person long haul, to have no Wi-Fi without checking first, I bet this comes as a nasty shock.

Likewise, I may not want to drink alcohol on long flights, but if it is my choice to do, so I like it to be an option, which is why some dirt cheap fares on Saudi Air I've sadly bypassed.

Your error in judgement here is calling QF Tier 1

 

[SYD]

Just noting that you need to have to work to appreciate wi-fi. I haven't 'worked' for abt 7 years and just having the choice to connect, or not, is great.

Yes, it’s certainly convenient. I take the opportunity to grab the 1 hr freebie on QR but the pay to play isn’t worth it.

I'm not keen on the potential for calls to be made over Starlink, though.

Nope, nor the ever increasing unwashed masses who think it’s ok to play a movie sans headphones….

 

[justinbrett]

Not being the last to have 'fast and free wi-fi' is hardly a desirable KPI.

Didn't have Starlink - but did it have 'ordinary' wifi? Starlink is being rolled out - from their website





Just noting that you need to have to work to appreciate wi-fi. I haven't 'worked' for abt 7 years and just having the choice to connect, or not, is great.

I'm not keen on the potential for calls to be made over Starlink, though.

They had the slow wifi, and it wasn’t free (even for “F”)

I don’t see the difference between QR rolling out Starlink and QF rolling out Viasat. Both competing technologies that will take time.

On my JAL flight it had free wifi but not fast enough to stream video. It was only free to J, not Y.

I don’t mind QF’s decision to do it properly the first time, for all. They’ve got it on domestic where it’s really needed. For me it’s a nice to have on long haul but not essential.

 

[justinbrett]

Nope, nor the ever increasing unwashed masses who think it’s ok to play a movie sans headphones….

Oh I forgot to rant about that!

Yesterday on QR it had a prerecorded announcement, with IFE graphic, to “ensure your device volume is low or use headphones”

No! Use headphones or not at all! I did not expect that from QR.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Happy to wait for fast and free.

Disappointing to be offered ‘free’ wifi that you can’t actually use because it is so slow (several carriers recently), or having wifi available but at eye-watering prices (the rest of the carriers).

 

[RooFlyer]

Disappointing to be offered ‘free’ wifi that you can’t actually use because it is so slow (several carriers recently), or having wifi available but at eye-watering prices (the rest of the carriers).

.. or in the case of AY on one of my recent trips, both expensive AND useless.

 

[ozstamps]

Happy to wait for fast and free.

Disappointing to be offered ‘free’ wifi that you can’t actually use because it is so slow (several carriers recently), or having wifi available but at eye-watering prices (the rest of the carriers).

No idea which 'rest of carriers' in mid 2025 you are referring to in this vague blanket statement, but have never had an issue on a dozen leading airlines. Even bankrupt old Thai now offer it free to all FF members from this month - and it was always free for Biz and First - for very many years.

https://www.thaiairways.com/en-th/content/in-flight-experience/in-flight-connectivity

If most leading carriers can get it to work seamlessly for ages, Qantas has zero excuse IMHO.

'Delighted to be Waiting and waiting' is a pretty lame acceptance of Qantas missing the boat on this basic necessity for any long haul carrier in 2025.

It certainly is the very major reason I chose not to make this 12K booking today, I was about to proceed with, and will not be alone in that view I am sure. There are endless options out there.

 

[Cloud9]

No idea which 'rest of carriers' in mid 2025 you are referring to in this vague blanket statement, but have never had an issue on a dozen leading airlines. Even bankrupt old Thai now offer it free to all FF members from this month - and it was always free for Biz and First - for very many years.

https://www.thaiairways.com/en-th/content/in-flight-experience/in-flight-connectivity

If most leading carriers can get it to work seamlessly for ages, Qantas has zero excuse IMHO.

'Delighted to be Waiting and waiting' is a pretty lame acceptance of Qantas missing the boat on this basic necessity for any long haul carrier in 2025.

It certainly is the very major reason I chose not to make this 12K booking today, I was about to proceed with, and will not be alone in that view I am sure. There are endless options out there.

Again....... "leading"... I mean...

...until they get rid of VH? Treat it like Joyce is still in charge.

Edited to add: I have fallen in love with CX... they actually treat you with a bit of kudos.

 

[moa999]

This thread summaries the current position.

Thread 'Qantas starts international wifi'

May 28, 2023

Good news - but it’s only A332 & B738 and only while over Australia

Qantas pushes back international WiFi

The international fleet is getting an upgrade for worldwide Internet coverage.

www.executivetraveller.com

• justinbrett
• Replies: 162
• Forum: Qantas | Frequent Flyer

• 

Inflight internet is working on 13 of 16 332s when they fly into Asia.

Satellite dishes are meant to be installed on 333/787 and 380s from this year.

Unfortunately Qantas chose ViasSat3 that has continually faced launch issues (only one of the three sats has been launched, and it's significantly degraded in capacity). The constellation is now expected to complete in mid-2026.

 

[Cloud9]

This thread summaries the current position.

Thread 'Qantas starts international wifi'

May 28, 2023

Good news - but it’s only A332 & B738 and only while over Australia

Qantas pushes back international WiFi

The international fleet is getting an upgrade for worldwide Internet coverage.

www.executivetraveller.com

• justinbrett
• Replies: 162
• Forum: Qantas | Frequent Flyer

• 

Inflight internet is working on 13 of 16 332s when they fly into Asia.

Satellite dishes are meant to be installed on 333/787 and 380s from this year.

Unfortunately Qantas chose ViasSat3 that has continually faced launch issues (only one of the three sats has been launched, and it's significantly degraded in capacity). The constellation is now expected to complete in mid-2026.

Not a dig at you, mate. But "expected"... kinda distills it all down. And makes you shake your head.

 

[moa999]

Not a dig at you, mate. But "expected"... kinda distills it all down. And makes you shake your head.

But that's the nature of many management decisions. Signing long-term contracts where a lot of elements are out of their control.

Could be worse. Qantas could have ordered 777Xs and planned for their introduction from 2020.