Slashdot Mirror
Qantas To Offer In-Flight Internet, Laptop Amenities
SlinkySausage writes "Australian international airline Qantas has just announced in-flight broadband will be available across all classes in its new fleet of A380s. Also on offer will be laptop power in economy and internet access in the seat-back entertainment system. They are retrofitting existing 747s with elements of the technology, and providing several ports for passengers with more expensive tickets: 'The USB ports will be used for "viewing of content" on the in-flight entertainment system, though Qantas wouldn't be drawn on whether that would include Divx video capability, or the ability to connect an iPod. It would also allow recharging of USB-powered devices. The Ethernet port is for laptops that don't have wireless, or for people who simply prefer an Ethernet connection over WiFi, which could potentially become congested in an aircraft if in-flight internet usage becomes popular.'"
This is about time. If you are trying to accomplish work on long International flights, simple laptop accommodations are a necessity, even in coach. And given that more and more work is absolutely dependent upon Internet access, this is welcome indeed.
I've found Qantas to be one of the most accommodating airlines as well as one of the most progressive. While my last flight on Quantas was not all it could be (not the fault of Qantas), I would fly them in preference to just about any other carrier and most other carriers could learn from them. Even their international coach is most comfortable with more entertainment options than I've seen on other carriers and given their Internet access, upcoming trips to Japan and China will likely be on Qantas unless the other carriers can step up and offer Internet access.
Visit Jonesblog and say hello.
I don't know this is a good idea. Right now flights between places like LA and OZ & NZ, there is not much to do except to sleep especially since it is an overnight flight. Bring in laptops and cell phones into the equation, no one will get much sleep due to someone talking or the glow from the laptop LCD. If it was a day flight, a different story.
A good compromise would be to have a work area someplace in the plane where you can get thing accomplished without bothering anyone else. But space is money. The more people you pack in, the more money the airline makes.
Here is my personal experience back this past winter, I did a trip between LAX and AKL (LA, CA & Auckland NZ). It was an overnite flight which takes ~12 hours. Qantas exceeds what we have got used to on domestic flights. Even though it is airline food, you get fed dinner and breakfast. As an added bonus, you get free alcohol. After the meal, the lights are totally turned off. On my flight down no one turned on their reading light, it made for good sleeping even in coach. On the flight back, I had one a-hole nearby who thought it was good to read in the middle of the night. It would been better to go up into the galley area to read. During the flight, I would get up every once in a while and go to the galley to look maybe read and be considerate of my neighbors.
VOIP on your laptop or perhaps iPhone, etc.? mmm... no more at&t/sprint airphone taunting me from the seatback in front of me.
"If still these truths be held to be
Self evident."
-Edna St. Vincent Millay
The US Airline industry is very protectionist; even the recent open skies agreement with EU airlines doesn't go as far as most Europian carriers wanted and was seen to be bias toward the US airlines. (Both EU and US air lines can now land in more destinations, but EU airlines can't fly from one destination in the US to another; however US carriers can fly from one EU destination to another, a side effect of the EU being made up of many countries)
If I have nothing to hide, you have no reason to search me
I travel alot, and a lack of internet access for 12 hours or so is one of the things I really don't miss. I do a hell a lot of work on flights and a major reason for that is that I have to plan in advance, make sure I've got all the info I need and then I'm away. If I was on the internet I'd be expected to connect back to base, read and respond to emails and basically get less actual work done as people sent emails like "have you landed yet".
I like the fact that for 12 hours I'm out of communications and I can settle down and do what I want to do. I land, sync with the airport's WiFi and by the time I'm in the cab I'm responding to all those emails anyway, 30 minutes later I'm in the hotel and connected and the emails are all sent.
Lufthansa tried this a few years ago and then cancelled it because simply put the folks in business class (who would pay for this stuff) preferred to drink the nice wine, have a nice meal and have a sleep rather than browse the internet and get their emails.
An Eye for an Eye will make the whole world blind - Gandhi
Imagine the RIAA trying to figure out how to stop it.
Not to mention chat with the lovely female in the next row up.
"It's the height of ridiculousness to say for those 9 lines you get hundreds of millions."
When the plane gets over international waters they should allow the passengers to have a p2p love-in, sharing all their media with each other while thumbing their noses at copyright law.
I am becoming gerund, destroyer of verbs.
Noone batted an eye, except for the security explosives screener who laughed, "Seven kilograms?!?" Normally I hate this and people who do it. But I tried to justify it as a one time one way trip (I was immigrating).
Why not have a total weight per person, including the person's weight? That seems more fair overall, and it would encourage overweight people to be more healthy.
The government can't save you.