BA – onboard wifi.
Back to Forum- This topic has 32 replies, 19 voices, and was last updated 15 Nov 2014
at 09:06 by Swissdiver.
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rfergusonParticipantHi all,
Just thought I would share with you some developments at BA regarding onboard connectivity.
A sole mid J 747 will be fitted with wifi next month and flown throughout the network as a short trial. This is ahead of communicating wifi to passengers in early 2014.
In addition to being wifi enabled passengers will also be able to use phone data and send and receive texts. Four live TV shows (BBC24, EuroNews, CNN and Sports 24) as well as an entertainment library will be available (at this stage for free) to be streamed to passengers personal devices.
15 Oct 2013
at 00:26
TerryMcManus24ParticipantGood…and recon in about 5 years time you will find it hard to take a flight,train or even a charabang without said enabled comms.
Couple of months ago I took an overnight coach (re Bus) from CM to Bangkok and apart from the meal service/on board attendant the seat also had an inbuilt self control massage system as well as individual back screen TV/Videos…+ earphones supplied…
15 Oct 2013
at 04:33
FormerlyDoSParticipantI first used onboard wifi on Lufthansa, between FRA and RUH in 2005 and it cost $28 for the whole flight.
I last used onboard wifi 3 weeks ago, on a DY (Norwegian) flight from HEL to LGW and it was free for all pax.
15 Oct 2013
at 06:57
SergeantMajorParticipantThe above post implies Lufthansa has had inflight WiFi since 2005.
In fact, it offered Boeing’s now long-discontinued Connexion service, I would imagine at a hugely discounted – if not free – price to Lufthansa.
Connexion was offered between 2004 and 2006. I used it; it was slow, but useful for emails.
As technology improves, and broadband is properly broadband, then it is becoming useful for people to have access to it in flight.
British Airways has offered OnAir on CWLCY flights since its inception in 2009.
Personally, I value the time in the air as an opportunity to be off grid, and I’m not the only one.
15 Oct 2013
at 13:30
FormerlyDoSParticipantSergeant Major
I stated two facts and the only conclusion I was implying is that a premium offer in 2005 is now a bundled part of a loco’s product.
To get to your conclusion requires some tortuous (and peverse) mental gymnastics.
Connexion was so slow (!) that I used to use it for Skype conversations and to upload large files to colleagues, so it was probably your device that was slow, to be honest. Connexion offered up to 20Mbit/s downlink and uplink speeds up to 2 Mbit/s, speeds which some ground consumers would be pleased to have access to.
As to BA introducing OnAir in 2009, I don’t know why you feel that this is relevant to this thread, but BA followed Ryanair into service with this product.
15 Oct 2013
at 14:34
FormerlyDoSParticipantAnother SM/VK drive by shooting/run away!
He makes an unjustifiable statement and then ignores a reasonable response.
Credibility = low.
15 Oct 2013
at 20:03
Tirana1ParticipantOn Air is akin to a dial up connection of 10 years ago – just about ok for emails but forget attachments and requires a mi-fi or dongle to operate with a laptop. Proper wi-fi is vital for many of us if we are to use time on board as productively as possible eg I have just come off a BA flight to Toronto and missed getting some pretty important emails back to London before close of business – annoying. Given the flight was on a 787 it was striking that an opportunity to introduce wifi with that new fleet was missed. (An excellent aircraft and step-change in general cabin experience btw, albeit dodgy in flight entertainment reliability.) BA need to move swiftly with this project or be left behind by eg AA. Hopefully they will and it will not suffer the chronic reliability issues that AVOD has been plagued by.
15 Oct 2013
at 20:21
SimonS1ParticipantIndeed FDoS but does anyone really take VK seriously any more?
Not unlike the other day when he tried to pass off an event in 2000 as a couple of years ago.
Then diverted discussion on to BA38 events but when challenged about Burkill’s treatment by BA went quiet.
Still he was impressed by Plane Food.. unlike the Environmental Heath! And we are still none the wiser about how WW fared at the ‘Taste of London’ grilling (a better grilling than a steak at Baxter Storey I guess).
The OnAir comments are part of the usual defend BA at all costs model. Must be a bit quiet in BASSA these days.
Still enjoy it whilst it lasts lest BT resume its weeding programme.
15 Oct 2013
at 21:39
SwissdiverParticipantNooooooooooooooo I don’t want any wifi, phone, texting or whatever on board! I want peace!
15 Oct 2013
at 21:55
pdtravellerParticipantThe bus from Glasgow airport to the city centre has been offering on board wifi free since 2007. You also get more leg room than that offered on the flight from London.
AA offer super very fast service with a range of pricing options which even I found reasonable,on their fabulous 777-300
15 Oct 2013
at 22:12
rfergusonParticipantAfter a period of ‘soft testing’ BA is to start offering wifi on it’s wifi enabled aircraft. There is only one aircraft currently fitted (CIVG – a mid J 747).
It will offer access to ba.com for free. Passengers will also be able to stream four live television programs for free as well as some media content not played on the seatback IFE. Access to the internet will be charged at £10 per hour or £17.50 per 24hrs. Sites such as Facetime and Skype will be blocked.
14 Mar 2014
at 19:11 -
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