Qantas axes inflight internet

[auskiwiflyer]

Yep, if Qantas wants to price themselves as a premium airline they need to provide the premium products/services

The AKL lounge is OK, but the computers there are a disgrace, not one of them works properly and the AKL staff are embarrassed and admit that QF won't spend money on new ones!

I don't use the computers as I use my iPad mostly when travelling, but just the space - the furniture, toilets, and mostly the food - are all rubbish. I am referring to both the F and J lounges (anyone notice ANYTHING nicer in the F?). On the other hand the EK lounge at AKL is very nice indeed - great food (both in range and quality) lots of space, nice showers, great staff and so on.

I want to support QF/NZ on the route but I just can't compromise to such a large extent to support them!

 

[Sprucegoose]

Just get the Internet right in your lounges, not worried about the air.

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Just get the Internet right in your lounges, not worried about the air.

Are there any particular lounges where the wi-fi is still an issue? All the lounges that I've been in recently have the new Optus setup, and it has always worked quite well, even when the lounge has been full.

 

[defurax]

Apparently UA is considering satellite internet across the ocean (maybe they will be more successful than QF since UA does not offer in seat entertainment in whY which makes answering emails potentially very entertaining!!!) US airlines adding Internet on overseas flights - Yahoo! Finance
I don't really get the "overnight" flight statement, never realised QF93 was an overnight flight departing at 9:30 AM...

 

[defurax]

Are there any particular lounges where the wi-fi is still an issue? All the lounges that I've been in recently have the new Optus setup, and it has always worked quite well, even when the lounge has been full.

QF/BA First lounge in HKG...the lounge dragon highly recommended connecting to the Free HKG airport wifi instead of the lounge network...

 

[lovestotravel]

I don't use the computers as I use my iPad mostly when travelling, but just the space - the furniture, toilets, and mostly the food - are all rubbish. I am referring to both the F and J lounges (anyone notice ANYTHING nicer in the F?). On the other hand the EK lounge at AKL is very nice indeed - great food (both in range and quality) lots of space, nice showers, great staff and so on.

I want to support QF/NZ on the route but I just can't compromise to such a large extent to support them!

I didn't mind the space itself, the food was not great though

The food in an Emirates lounge is far superior!

As for QF they could easily close down the AKL lounge and use the EK one very soon

 

[Kangol]

Are there any particular lounges where the wi-fi is still an issue? All the lounges that I've been in recently have the new Optus setup, and it has always worked quite well, even when the lounge has been full.

LAX, TBIT...
T4, just like the other A/Cs, is pretty good.

 

[uvkelly]

This is something that I am highly disappointed by. Absolutely loved the ability to email on my way to LAX, saved hours once on the ground and could enjoy the time rather than catch up on emails. I used the service every time I could BUT on multiple flights was told that the wifi was not working (reliability would have been good), which destroyed my plans for after landing. Still at least now I know that I just have to plan for 3 or 4 hours after landing to deal with emails etc. that could have been handled in the air.

 

[DeKa]

This is something that I am highly disappointed by. Absolutely loved the ability to email on my way to LAX, saved hours once on the ground and could enjoy the time rather than catch up on emails. I used the service every time I could BUT on multiple flights was told that the wifi was not working (reliability would have been good), which destroyed my plans for after landing. Still at least now I know that I just have to plan for 3 or 4 hours after landing to deal with emails etc. that could have been handled in the air.

Can't you just write all your emails offline, and they send when you arrive?

I guess if you refer to responding to emails received whilst you're in the air that's a different matter.

 

[uvkelly]

I have a seemingly endless stream of emails which come in, and it is the replies to new emails that can be critical. Still I would assume another carrier will offer the service and more than likely appreciate the 10 round-trips a year between Australia and the USA.

 

[medhead]

If another carrier could provide the service across the vast empty pacific ocean they would already. Also if you have an endless stream of email, I fail to see how you're going to be able to enjoy you time over there since you'll still have to deal with the endless stream.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Who the hell wants to connect when you fly. It's the only ME time i get!

 

[defurax]

If another carrier could provide the service across the vast empty pacific ocean they would already.

United and Delta: http://m.usatoday.com/article/news/1836839?articlePage=0

 

[medhead]

United and Delta: http://m.usatoday.com/article/news/1836839?articlePage=0

Oh ok. Announced a month ago and on one aircraft.

 

[markis10]

Oh ok. Announced a month ago and on one aircraft.

United is new but Delta have had it on all flights for some time, as have SQ ex Asia and NZ (email only) on the 777s.

 

[serfty]

United is new but Delta have had it on all flights for some time, as have SQ ex Asia and NZ (email only) on the 777s.

This is about over ocean connectivity using satellites, not the land-based (GoGo) one DL have been using for several years.

From the article linked:

Delta announced this past June that it planned to begin offering satellite-based Wi-Fi on international flights in "early 2013.

Delta Expands World's Largest Wi-Fi-Equipped Fleet to Include International Aircraft - Jun 28, 2012

...
The expanded Wi-Fi service will use satellites to provide coverage internationally and will complement the existing air-to-ground service already provided by Gogo for aircraft flying within the domestic U.S.


Delta already operates the world's largest Wi-Fi-equipped fleet of aircraft with more than 3,000 flights daily, including its entire fleet of 550 domestic mainline aircraft. ...


The international service will use high-bandwidth Ku-band capacity satellites to provide global coverage. When complete in 2015, Delta will operate approximately 1,000 Wi-Fi-equipped aircraft in its worldwide fleet. ...

 

[medhead]

Well that's cleared up then. By comparison it should be easy to coordinate 10 trips with unitied's one aircraft.

 

[defurax]

Well it's good for people to know which carrier to avoid in the future. I don't feel there is a lot of love for satellite-based WiFi on this forum.

 

[serfty]

The quoted costs are a lot less than what QF were charging, but it remains to be seen if it's any faster than the glacial speeds I experienced.

 

[simongr]

If another carrier could provide the service across the vast empty pacific ocean they would already. Also if you have an endless stream of email, I fail to see how you're going to be able to enjoy you time over there since you'll still have to deal with the endless stream.

I am not sure I would use it when on personal trips but for work trips I certainly would. I average about 20 - 30 emails each night from teams in the rest of the world, being out of my office means I am generally in meetings/conference sessions so any opportunity to avoid the build up of email is appreciated...