Virgin Australia to match Qantas with free WiFi on Aussie flights
By David Flynn, August 10 2017
Virgin Australia will match Qantas in offering free Internet on all Australian flights from later this year.
Virgin today fired the starter's gun on its own WiFi rollout, announcing plans to outfit most of its 77-strong Boeing 737 fleet with the satellite technology by the end of 2018.
Inflight Internet will also be available - at a price that's yet to be revealed - on Virgin's Boeing 777 flights to the USA and Airbus A330 services to Hong Kong and China.
Read: Virgin Australia ramps up WiFi to USA, then Asia
Speaking to Australian Business Traveller this morning, airline CEO John Borghetti said all passengers on those domestic legs flown by the Boeing 737s will enjoy "a basic free offering" of Internet access.
Free access will not apply to the handful of Boeing 737 international routes such as New Zealand and Fiji "at this stage, but you know that we are competitive and will always meet the competitive position in the market," Borghetti said.
Two-tier system: free, and a fee
Borghetti also confirmed to Australian Business Traveller that the airline would implement a two-tiered system, with passengers able to pay "to upgrade that to further access, depending on what the guest wants."
This paid premium package is tipped to offer more security and could also offer a consistently faster connection compared to the entry-level free service, depending on how service provider Gogo configures the system.
Borghetti tells Australian Business Traveller that "we’re going to release the pricing structure shortly."
Virgin's move towards a two-tier system – first reported by Australian Business Traveller earlier this year – could put it at odds against Qantas, which promises a single-tier system that's fast and free for all travellers.
Instead, Virgin plans for what it has termed Basic and High Speed options – the latter of which was pitched at between $15 to $21 per flight in a survey sent to selected Virgin Australia passengers in March 2017.
Read the AusBT review of Virgin Australia's inflight Internet service
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
08 May 2017
Total posts 14
Makes sense have two tier process. With totally free the system will be overwhelmed by PAX trying to stream content. Free access allows basic web browsing and email checking, you pay if you want more.
13 Sep 2016
Total posts 56
Totally fine with a two-tier system, as long as the lower free tier is usable for basics such as web, email, social media. If you want streaming you should be prepared to pay for the higher bandwidth needed, and get a guarantee of the speed you need.
09 Aug 2017
Total posts 8
John, with all due respect, I absolutely do not buy your argument that you ought to pay for it. When you visit a hotel or airport lounge, it is nowadays reasonable to expect that you will be furnished with a complimentary and suitable internet connection. This is not always met, but it's a reasonable customer expectation to hold.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
16 Dec 2015
Total posts 41
I disagree. How many airlines offer in-flight internet connectivity for free (even for premium cabin passengers)?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer Platinum
07 Feb 2013
Total posts 558
Sounds like you are alone in your expectations
13 Sep 2016
Total posts 12
Great news, and what some people forget is that wifi isn't actually "free" because somebody has to pay for it, in this case it's Virgin. So a basic speed connection for free and a faster one paid makes perfect sense. You can't complain about Virgin doing poorly financially and not serving 'proper' snacks on flights and in the lounges while also expecting them to pay for expensive satellite bandwidth just so you can stream Game of Thrones en route to Perth for free.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 May 2011
Total posts 365
Typical Virgin and their inconsistency. Free on all flights except...
13 Sep 2016
Total posts 12
"Free on all flights except" what? Flights to NZ and Fiji which could be out range of the Optus satellite and so come under a different contract with Gogo for overseas satellites? International flights where Qantas doesn't even have WiFi yet? Some of the Virgin knockers need to stop and think before typing.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 May 2011
Total posts 365
Maybe they could focus on making their schedules and inflight service consistent before thinking about adding yet another inconsistent service.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
16 Dec 2015
Total posts 41
The premium package is tipped to offer more security? That makes precisely zero sense.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jul 2011
Total posts 1393
Maybe blocking VPNs - pity that would also knock out some corporate email access.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
16 Dec 2015
Total posts 41
Blocking VPN connectivity isn't going to have any impact on the security of the service provided in any way, shape or form.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
20 Jul 2012
Total posts 12
I agree with the idea of a two tiered approach.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
02 Feb 2015
Total posts 34
awesome ! but do I really want work to know they can reach me on in the sky ? I love the fact that at the moment by fellow passengers ( next to me ) cannot make calls and youtube . Am I alone in this serenity ........
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
27 Jan 2016
Total posts 18
VA have no choice - it's Ku band technology - the airtime economics don't add up to offer it free across the board, hence the spin of 'two-tiers'. QF on the other hand are using Ka band technology - it's generally superior, especially in the airtime economics, so it can be free to all passengers, all the time.
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