Jetstar has already tried it, so it’s not a total surprise: Qantas is trialling a service called ‘Q Streaming’ where passengers will be provided with an iPad for accessing entertainment content wirelessly. Further ahead? Watching the same programs over Wi-Fi on your own device.
Here’s how Qantas explains the program on its Facebook page:
Everyone onboard our dedicated Boeing B767-300 aircraft (registration VH-OGH) will be provided with an Apple iPad in their seat pocket to access over 200 hours of programming. Later on in the pilot you’ll be able to access the content from your own Wi-Fi enabled device. So if you’re flying on this aircraft give it a try and tell us what you think.
The entertainment systems on Qantas’ newer aircraft are already fairly decent, but not having a seat-based system could cut the airline’s maintenance costs. That said, making tablets available in a secure environment for passengers isn’t a trivial task, as Qantas’ budget subsidiary Jetstar discovered when it launched a similar service last year (and one that didn’t need Wi-Fi to work). As well, we’ve been promised some form of Wi-Fi on Qantas plans for a very long time now, so I’ll believe it when I see it. But I will probably try and get on that plane.
Mark H
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 5:39 PMHow do QANTAS and Jetstar stop dishonest people from putting the iPads in their bags and taking them off the plane?
Matttm7
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 6:08 PM“an RFID tag to prevent passengers from stealing the device” from the Jetstar article. On Jetstar, its an extra service and the stewards come back to collect them so I wouldn’t be too worried about theft there.
I assume the RFID tags will set something if it leaves the plane
monkeymind
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 7:53 PMSo no one at Qantas has heard of a Faraday cage/bag?
Michael
Friday, January 27, 2012 at 9:10 PMThey take your boaring pass and if electronic checkin your seat number… They know who you are.
Will
Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 4:56 AMYeah thats a shit idea. I don’t want to hold an iPad on a long haul flight. I want to sit back and watch the screen in the headrest…
Exaemo
Thursday, January 26, 2012 at 10:51 PMHow about trialling bigger seats in economy class?
What’s the point of the iPad when you barely have room to breathe.