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.'"

Comments

Internet access

[BWJones]

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.

Definitely Qantas

[smitty97]

Charlie: Ray, all airlines have crashed at one time or another, that doesn't mean that they are not safe.
Raymond: QANTAS. QANTAS never crashed.
Charlie: QANTAS?
Raymond: Never crashed.
Charlie: Oh that's gonna do me a lot of good because QANTAS doesn't fly to Los Angeles out of Cincinnati, you have to get to Melbourne! Melbourne, Australia in order to get the plane that flies to Los Angeles!

Makes me wonder

[benhocking]

If I should book my next flight from Charlottesville, Virginia to Atlanta, Georgia through Australia to take advantage of this...

Re:Makes me wonder

[BWJones]

Yeah, no doubt. I wish that Qantas were available for domestic travel here in the US. It might give the US carriers something to think about in terms of customer service and on-time departures.

Okay, before anyone asks:

[Penguinisto]

Since this is /. ...

No, you cannot join the Mile High Club by taking your laptop with you to the bathroom and hitting the pr0n, no matter how much Cat5 you stuff into the carry-on for facilitating this.

/P

Re:Overnight Flights & sleeping

[jrumney]

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.

On my last long distance flight (a proper long distance flight with two legs lasting 15 and 13 hours respectively), they handed out eyeshades so self-righteous pricks could sleep without worrying about what their neighbour whose bodyclock might be on who knows what timezone is doing. As for going to the galley, do you really think getting in the way of the staff is better than quietly enjoying the facilities that were put there for you at your own seat?

Noisy moving chairs & sleeping

[Scrameustache]

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 Or read or draw or play cards or chat or etc.

Some of us can't sleep in planes or trains, you know.

Re:as a frequent traveller

[VJ42]

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)

Re:Of course, it won't be free

[Achromatic1978]

Ryanair are the "biggest international airline" by a highly subjective, probably inaccurate measurement. They fly many domestic routes, which have been somehow counted. Far more likely is that they are number three or four at best, and Lufthansa is number one.

It's also a little tenuous to suggest that an airline founded in 1985 with a fleet of 136 aircraft having no lost aircraft is comparable to an airline founded in 1920 with a fleet of 230 is comparable, especially when, as you note, both Qantas and Ryanair are at zero losses in the jet age.

And on that jet age note, it's also rather important to point out that Qantas have ALSO had zero deaths since moving to into the jet age.

So let's not start holding Ryanair as superior just yet.