Flying on the day of the AFL Grand Final

[eckorock]

Howdy,

I'm flying out of SYD at 3:15pm with VA on the day of the AFL GF,
heading to Abu Dhbi & Dubai,

what's my best chance of watching the Grand Final?
- Does VA have live Australian TV on the flight?
- Is there some crazy sports channel (ESPN?) in UAE that I can catch a replay?

cheers

 

[aliens]

No
probably live on ESPN

 

[AIRwin]

I was flying JQ from MEL to SIN one day in October (in fact the 1st day) which happened to be AFL Grand Final Day 2011... No TV but the Captain did make an announcement during the flight that Geelong had won!

 

[robbie1984]

Are you flying in J?

 

[simongr]

I would be looking at a torrent site like kat.ph

 

[tuapekastar]

Howdy,

I'm flying out of SYD at 3:15pm with VA on the day of the AFL GF,
heading to Abu Dhbi & Dubai,

what's my best chance of watching the Grand Final?
- Does VA have live Australian TV on the flight?
- Is there some crazy sports channel (ESPN?) in UAE that I can catch a replay?

cheers

Check here... the AFL website says 'Orbital Showtime Network' brings AFL to the Middle East, but does not mention specific locations. GF live apparently, don't know about a replay.

 

[eckorock]

Check here... the AFL website says 'Orbital Showtime Network' brings AFL to the Middle East, but does not mention specific locations. GF live apparently, don't know about a replay.

Yeah the problem is the flight is at 3:15pm so we will be in the air throughout the whole GF - which is why it would be ideal if we could watch it on board ... :\

ps Flying in Premium Economy

 

[tuapekastar]

Yeah the problem is the flight is at 3:15pm so we will be in the air throughout the whole GF - which is why it would be ideal if we could watch it on board ... :\

ps Flying in Premium Economy

It certainly would, but I have no international experience flying VA (though would be very surprised if you could watch it live on board).

 

[Fruitcake]

There is no live TV onboard VA international services.

Even if live2air equipment were fitted, the signal is only available over Australia.

I'm not sure if VA Golds receive the same worshipful welcome that WPs receive when flying long haul but even if you don't get the personal welcome at your seat it certainly wouldn't hurt to ask an FA if they could ask the captain to pass along results if they receive them. You never know your luck.

 

[k_sheep]

I was unfortunate enough to be on a DJ ADL-Broome flight a few years back on grand final day.

Someone apparently vandalised the toilet during the flight, so when we landed they refused to let anyone off the plane until someone owned up to it (because apparently we're 7 year old children). After no one confessed, they called the police. Keep in mind it was 40 degrees on the tarmac.

Funnily enough, the police turned up and yelled at the CSM (easily heard throughout the cabin) that they had no right to keep a planeload of people as prisoners.

We all missed the game that day. Thanks DJ!

 

[777]

I flew VA MEL-LAX during the Australian Open tennis semi finals and there were a few people involved in the Tennis (Serena William's coach from memory) in the J cabin. Crew actually brought him regular updates via little printouts of some key match he was following. I know this because at one point they woke me up to give me the result - mistaking me for him. (I got a nice bottle of wine as a thank you for the misunderstanding).

I'm sure if you ask nicely they will provide the result and they clearly have the technology. What you could or should have done (or at least try now?) is to book onto an Etihad operated flight. They are offering in flight wifi on many of their long haul flights now which should be good enough for score updates if not live radio.

 

[eckorock]

I flew VA MEL-LAX during the Australian Open tennis semi finals and there were a few people involved in the Tennis (Serena William's coach from memory) in the J cabin. Crew actually brought him regular updates via little printouts of some key match he was following. I know this because at one point they woke me up to give me the result - mistaking me for him. (I got a nice bottle of wine as a thank you for the misunderstanding).

I'm sure if you ask nicely they will provide the result and they clearly have the technology. What you could or should have done (or at least try now?) is to book onto an Etihad operated flight. They are offering in flight wifi on many of their long haul flights now which should be good enough for score updates if not live radio.

I'm on a VA operating flight that I booked with points so how can I change to Etihad operated? is that possible?

(also what would be the equiv of VA Prem.Econ ... Etihad Business or Etihad Economy?)

 

[eckorock]

I was unfortunate enough to be on a DJ ADL-Broome flight a few years back on grand final day.

Someone apparently vandalised the toilet during the flight, so when we landed they refused to let anyone off the plane until someone owned up to it (because apparently we're 7 year old children). After no one confessed, they called the police. Keep in mind it was 40 degrees on the tarmac.

Funnily enough, the police turned up and yelled at the CSM (easily heard throughout the cabin) that they had no right to keep a planeload of people as prisoners.

We all missed the game that day. Thanks DJ!

LOL What!?!?! that is crazy.

Traditionally Ansett used to make all the passengers stand on the wings of the plane during landing until someone confesses, so you're probably lucky you didn't get THAT.

 

[777]

I'm on a VA operating flight that I booked with points so how can I change to Etihad operated? is that possible?

(also what would be the equiv of VA Prem.Econ ... Etihad Business or Etihad Economy?)

Unfortunately there is no etihad PE so changing is not an option.

 

[jmphoto]

I would be looking at a torrent site like kat.ph

In this case I'd be looking at aussierul.es - and please don't moan about piracy, it's free-to-air content. I can't recall if you need an invite, if you do then PM me. You'll have it within 20 minutes of logging in once you've landed in the UAE.