Return of Wifi on Virgin Australia

[kerfuffle]

No such flight number?

Gonna assume they meant VA970

 

[Harrison_133]

Has there been any more aircraft upgraded in the last month?

From my recent flights, YID, YIV & YQH have the wifi switched back on. It seems a lot faster than before. I was able to stream Netflix uninterrupted, and messaging apps worked seamlessly.

 

[ChrisBNE]

No such flight number?

Ah yep, typo! 970 is the magic number.

 

[Ade]

Wifi available and working well on VA268 CBR-MEL, VA237 MEL-ADL and VA582 ADL-CBR

 

[trisreed]

Flew on VH-VUS on 22JAN VA979 BNESYD. It was flagged on departures screen as having in flight wifi, alas the wifi wouldn’t connect at all, so no in flight entertainment, let alone internet.

I am on VUS now and can confirm the WiFi works - if you receive this!

Am spoiled as I flew over on YIV (two sectors) and it also had WiFi. Really feels like the pre COVID days!

Not sure whose idea it was but, there are no power points in J on VUS unlike YIV!

I certainly didn’t rate the “old” WiFi and this is not much better - on either plane - very slow most of the time with the occasional burst of speed.

 

[Matty F]

From my recent flights, YID, YIV & YQH have the wifi switched back on. It seems a lot faster than before. I was able to stream Netflix uninterrupted, and messaging apps worked seamlessly.

Streaming netflix while up in the air seems insane, how awesome if that's the case. Did you get a chance to run a speedtest?

 

[Bagpuss]

I was on VH-YIA yesterday and can confirm this aircraft also has wifi.
There was no announcement about it being available and I only noticed as I connected to the WiFi purely for the moving map and noticed the internet section gave the cost for the packs.
I only sent a few messenger messages and thought it seemed super slow. Didn't think to browse the internet or do a speedtest, though with the sending of messages it seemed somewhat poor.

 

[Bagpuss]

Not sure whose idea it was but, there are no power points in J on VUS unlike YIV!

VUS is not a BSI (Boeing Sky Interior) aircraft so these doesn't have power in J (as they are older).

YIV is part of the international fleet (all of which are VI*) I believe these all have power in economy too, whilst all other BSI's just have power in J.

There's a belief the VU* fleet will exit when the MAX's arrive as their replacement unless they need the extra airframes.

 

[trisreed]

VUS is not a BSI (Boeing Sky Interior) aircraft so these doesn't have power in J (as they are older).

I didn't even notice until half way through the flight - I was surprised in fact they have reactivated WiFi on this one for the above 'belief' of its mid-term retirement.

 

[Luke B]

On board VH-VUR on VA750 at the moment. Bit of a rocky start with the Wifi and entertainment failing to connect on a Macbook, Android and iPhone. After the CSM reset the wifi the connection seemed to work well.

The internet speeds seem to fluctuate and the browser and android kept having the no internet connection indications and speedtests failed but seemed to be ok for social media.

Very happy with the free option for Platinums.

 

[AIRwin]

Very happy with the free option for Platinums.
View attachment 316235

Oh this reminds me I'll have to test it out now that I've booked some Business class flights with the recent DSC offer - if WiFi is installed on the aircraft!

 

[simmomelb]

I took 4 flights with VA last week and not one of them had it, but that was to be expected given the rollout probably has a max of 10 to 15 aircraft with it activated at this stage (purely an estimate based on the completion date stated and number of aircraft they have).

 

[kyle]

My MEL/SYD return trips yesterday have no wifi.

 

[twiningb]

My MEL-ADL last week didn't have it, but the return ADL-MEL did.

I didn't give it a proper workout but it seemed fine for the light browsing I had in mind.

 

[simmomelb]

Yeah, the 2 times I've had it on my Surface Laptop and it was working perfectly, including streaming Netflix (both were good flying conditions). The phone worked fine also for WhatsApp, I didn't use my phone for anything else other than that.

 

[henrus]

Maybe I’m just unlucky but the new wifi is terrible. I was on VA726 this morning operated by VH-YFH and the drop outs were off the chart.

The speeds were also terrible to the point that 144p YouTube and my work Remote Desktop couldn’t load both via the MS web client or app vpn or not (noting that I’ve done the same Remote Desktop on scoot/Singapore/qantas domestic/VAs old free plan and even emirates wifi before).

I tired a few Speedtests and whilst most failed it did once peak at 18mbps but most were under 1.5mbps (hardly the high speed video stream capable they advertise). I don’t think I’ve seen it mentioned before but this new service runs on Intelsat (instead of the old one running on Optus satellites), ping is less at around 700ms but the quality made that irrelevant. The IP address was actually an old Optus block that appears to have been recently? purchased by Intelsat with the ground station entering the inter webs somewhere around Sydney.

As a lowly gold on VA I paid the $20 thinking I could get stuff done but it was quiet the opposite, it took me about 5 goes to get to the wifi onboard live chat but when I did they were happy to issue a refund.

 

[trisreed]

Maybe I’m just unlucky but the new wifi is terrible. I was on VA726 this morning operated by VH-YFH and the drop outs were off the chart.

Glad I am not the only one thinking the performance is poor! I chalked it up to the bight (not that it should be) but clearly it isn’t just that. I wonder if a chat with the service provider (“Wifi Onboard” if I recall correctly) will help with refunding your fee.

 

[simmomelb]

Maybe I’m just unlucky but the new wifi is terrible. I was on VA726 this morning operated by VH-YFH and the drop outs were off the chart.

The speeds were also terrible to the point that 144p YouTube and my work Remote Desktop couldn’t load both via the MS web client or app vpn or not (noting that I’ve done the same Remote Desktop on scoot/Singapore/qantas domestic/VAs old free plan and even emirates wifi before).

I tired a few Speedtests and whilst most failed it did once peak at 18mbps but most were under 1.5mbps (hardly the high speed video stream capable they advertise). I don’t think I’ve seen it mentioned before but this new service runs on Intelsat (instead of the old one running on Optus satellites), ping is less at around 700ms but the quality made that irrelevant. The IP address was actually an old Optus block that appears to have been recently? purchased by Intelsat with the ground station entering the inter webs somewhere around Sydney.

As a lowly gold on VA I paid the $20 thinking I could get stuff done but it was quiet the opposite, it took me about 5 goes to get to the wifi onboard live chat but when I did they were happy to issue a refund.

I genuinely think you've had bad luck. As you'd know, with any satellite internet, atmospheric conditions (that you may not even experience in the plane) can impact reliability, with all airlines, even more so than a fixed ground satellite service with obvious reasons.
I've had WiFi several times with VA and it has been rock solid, but I have no doubt I'll have some bad experiences with it in the future, as I've had on all airlines, including Qantas..

 

[HirafuHeartAttack]

VA808 yesterday had wifi. Was impressed by speeds and connection remained stable for the whole flight.

 

[AIRwin]

VA808 yesterday had wifi. Was impressed by speeds and connection remained stable for the whole flight.

That would have been VH-VUR