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

[justinbrett]

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.

But even Thai still don’t have wifi on all aircraft. As I mentioned above for QR the claims of other carriers wifi status is somewhat questionable (ie the rollout is still in progress, as it is with QF)

As for only offering your own FF members free wifi, I think that’s a bit mean especially when you are in an alliance (including QF/EK) when those other passengers are loyal to your partners.

So yes, other carriers have had cough expensive wifi for ages. Who cares.

 

[ozstamps]

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.

Well in a competitive world, dump them, and sign up with the vendors who clearly CAN deliver in flight Wi-Fi globally to the many large carriers who have successfully offered Wi-Fi for MANY years.

It is not like there is just one vendor in this space. There are other tried and long proven systems to sign up for. In this day of 17-18 hour type flights they are selling, and cheerfully charging 5 figure tickets prices for them, they are in La La Land to be 'hoping' in a year or two 'something might happen.'

Sounds like the sadly laughable Australia Submarine fleet that has essentially not worked for decades.

 

[moa999]

Well in a competitive world, dump them, and sign up with the vendors who clearly CAN deliver in flight Wi-Fi globally

Those pesky little things called contracts.These three ViaSat3 sats cost something like US$2.5bn to design build and launch, and you can guarantee customers are locked in fairly tight.

Much like we haven't seen anyone walk away from Boeing 777Xs orders despite the delays.

And airlines are still signing up with ViaSat, even with the more recent competition from StarLink - eg. Starlux only three months ago - STARLUX commits to Viasat with launch of enhanced in-flight connectivity service

StarLink in particular has issues with the Kangaroo route as it doesn't currently have agreements when overflying India or much of the Middle East.

 

[SYD]

Sounds like the sadly laughable Australia Submarine fleet that has essentially not worked for decades.

Have you served on one? Probably not I guess.