Qantas to pilot cutting-edge inflight connectivity

[oz_mark]

Qantas today announced it would commence an inflight connectivity pilot on selected A380 aircraft starting in February next year.


Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said Qantas will deploy internet capability on six of its A380s on designated flights between Sydney and Los Angeles and Melbourne and Los Angeles.


“From February next year our customers travelling between Australia and Los Angeles will have the opportunity to participate in our inflight connectivity trial and communicate online from the 35,000 feet,” said Mr Joyce.


“Our customers will be able to access the Internet via their Wi-Fi enabled personal electronic devices, such as iPhones, iPads and BlackBerrys, on Qantas for the first time.”


This will give customers with the opportunity to access the Internet in exactly the same way as a terrestrial Wi-Fi hotspot in which customers can pay with their credit card and surf the Internet, including the use of email.


The connectivity service, provided by OnAir uses Inmarsat’s SwiftBroadband and global satellite based connections to transfer data between the passengers in the aircraft to the ground.

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[simongr]

Business and First only.

 

[serfty]

Business and First only.

Wonder if I would be able to tap into the J/F WiFi from my 50C seat ...

 

[markis10]

Wonder if I would be able to tap into the J/F WiFi from my 50C seat ...

Not if they use Geo positioning for authentication! I doubt they will go to that level though.

 

[simongr]

Guess it might be as simple as only giving J/F pax the password. Queue all the WP demanding they be given this benefit when traveling whY.

 

[oz_mark]

Business and First only.

Trials have to start somewhere....

 

[harvyk]

Business and First only.

Business and First (and Economy Pax who are good at hacking systems) only.

Don't tell me that there is not one or two computer hackers out there that won't decide spending 14 hours trying to crack into a system isn't a good way to pass the time...

 

[Noob]

Maybe they will eventually do what emirates does and offer it to economy pax for a small fee? I think emirates is charging something like $6 for a long haul flight in economy to access the wifi which is pretty reasonable but I don't know why they can't just build it into the ticket price - I suppose $1994 looks better on web jet than $2000, that's really the only reason I can think of.

 

[elbarto]

Finally switching on the OnAir system is already installed on the A380s. Obviously there's been issues around getting the internet connected to the aircraft.

 

[el_rooto]

Business and First (and Economy Pax who are good at hacking systems) only.

Don't tell me that there is not one or two computer hackers out there that won't decide spending 14 hours trying to crack into a system isn't a good way to pass the time...

I'm usually not capable of doing any type of computer things after an F Lounge trip.

 

[oz_mark]

I'm usually not capable of doing any type of computer things after an F Lounge trip.

I do my best work after a few drinks :shock:

 

[dfcatch]

I'm usually not capable of doing any type of computer things after an F Lounge trip.

No but after a movie and a sleep

 

[Simo]

I can already see this could be the start of another thread.

Why is the internet so slow on QF32 but QF31 was faster...LOL

It will interesting to see the speed that will be achieved and also if there will be a data limit to the amount you can download.

 

[Flashback]

I do my best work after a few drinks :shock:

I resemble that remark! :shock:

I can already see this could be the start of another thread.

Why is the internet so slow on QF32 but QF31 was faster...LOL

It will interesting to see the speed that will be achieved and also if there will be a data limit to the amount you can download.

To keep things true, it would have to be QF008

 

[QF029]

Hopefully the 6 week trial starts later in Feb as my MEL-LAX is in early April.

 

[moa999]

Report on ausbt that the trial has started on US routes.

Review: hands-on with Qantas' A380 in-flight Internet trials - Flights | hotels | frequent flyer | business class - Australian Business Traveller

 

[Deleted member]

I was chatting with a mate while he was flying in the US ( inY) via email about 4 weeks ago.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I was chatting with a mate while he was flying in the US ( inY) via email about 4 weeks ago.

Same. Is this the same cutting edge trial that is already in service with AA and others in the states?

Shame we could be contactable at any time now.....this is the last bastion and one principal reason I enjoy flight!

 

[serfty]

Same. Is this the same cutting edge trial that is already in service with AA and others in the US ...

No, this is about streaming of IFE content directly to your wifi enabled device.

For some years US airlines have had in flight internet available as a paid service on 'selected flights'.

Posted on a wing & a prayer