In-flight Wi-Fi on Virgin Australia

[Luke B]

VH-8IE tonight on VA696 PER-MEL. Wifi was working on the ground until engine start then offline for over 1hr, crew tried a reset but that didn't work. Randomly came back approx 1hr 15min after take-off.

 

[Human]

I’m wondering whether anyone has noticed a change to Virgin’s Wi-Fi functionality relating to streaming video.

I’ve often used Virgin’s inflight Wi-Fi to stream live or on-demand video, mostly using the Foxtel Go app on my iPad. Generally it’s worked OK — there have been some dropouts and screen freezes, but generally I’m able to watch what I want to watch, while in the air.

For the past few Virgin flights I’ve logged onto the Wi-Fi and connected to the internet, but the Foxtel Go app gives a “not-connected to the internet” error message. Web surfing, emails, even music streaming all work fine … but video streaming does not.

Has anyone else noticed this?

 

[henrus]

Has anyone else noticed this?

I've not had any issues streaming videos so I wonder if it's a foxtel app issue? Did you try something else like youtube to see if it worked?

 

[Human]

I've not had any issues streaming videos so I wonder if it's a foxtel app issue? Did you try something else like youtube to see if it worked?

No, I wasn’t quick enough on my feet to think of doing that!

I next fly with VA on Friday week and I’ll try to do some proper troubleshooting then.

 

[simmomelb]

No, I wasn’t quick enough on my feet to think of doing that!

I next fly with VA on Friday week and I’ll try to do some proper troubleshooting then.

I always stream HBO and YouTube without any issues.
Last time, just over a week ago.

 

[ben95]

For the past few Virgin flights I’ve logged onto the Wi-Fi and connected to the internet, but the Foxtel Go app gives a “not-connected to the internet” error message.

Foxtel geoblocked you.

VA’s onboard WiFi used to land on an Optus IP in Australia. That has since changed last year and now lands on a Intelsat IP in the UK which caused some apps with geographical restrictions to no longer work.

For example you can no longer sign up for a new velocity account onboard a VA flight using onboard WiFi lol because the internet now thinks you are in the UK

 

[RooFlyer]

VA’s onboard WiFi used to land on an Optus IP in Australia. That has since changed last year and now lands on a Intelsat IP in the UK which caused some apps with geographical restrictions to no longer work.

That probably explains why if I have my Nord VPN set ( USA) the network won’t connect.

 

[PERLHR]

Last night between MEL and PER I actually was able to watch "live tennis" on my phone without to much annoyance. Spooling did happen regularly but only for a few seconds on each occasion.

 

[Human]

Foxtel geoblocked you.

VA’s onboard WiFi used to land on an Optus IP in Australia. That has since changed last year and now lands on a Intelsat IP in the UK which caused some apps with geographical restrictions to no longer work.

For example you can no longer sign up for a new velocity account onboard a VA flight using onboard WiFi lol because the internet now thinks you are in the UK

I think this has been fixed now — for the first time in almost a year I’ve been able to watch stuff via the Foxtel app during a flight.

It was quite ridiculous, being geoblocked by Australian sites on an Australian flight.