V-Flyer

Like it until...

"The eXPhone deal with Panasonics Avionics Corporation and their in-flight GSM smart phone partner AeroMobile, will enable passengers to make phone calls"

n( n( n( Noooooooooo!

pjh wrote:Like it until...

"The eXPhone deal with Panasonics Avionics Corporation and their in-flight GSM smart phone partner AeroMobile, will enable passengers to make phone calls"

n( n( n( Noooooooooo!

I agree phone calls are bad enough for a 1 hour train journey and are not a good idea on a 6+ hour flight.
i think this is a bad move from VS. n( n(

My sentiments too but unfortunately it is inevitable! I think it is incorrectly called progress.

Won't this be the same as the phones that are currently onboard that no one uses?

That's a good point, Tink. We can hope that the beancounters set the call tariffs at a prohibitively high rate.

Nick

I was sat next to someone who tried to make a call on those in flight phones - however it didn't accept his credit card

Crispin

One has to love the VS PR machine! This is spin at its greatest.

So basically what they are offering is what most of the more forward thinking carriers, SQ, EY, EK, VX and heck even Oman Air, have been offering for well over two years (Oman Air excluded).

Personally if VS had announced anything less than what they have then I would have been more shocked. Nothing particularly exciting about whats on offer IMHO.

Bazz wrote:My sentiments too but unfortunately it is inevitable! I think it is incorrectly called progress.

just because you CAN do something dosen't mean you HAVE to do something

Cold not agree more with the general sentiment here y)

The ability to make phone calls will attract those who feel their own self importance is greater than the inconvenience to fellow travellers v(

buns

willd wrote:One has to love the VS PR machine! This is spin at its greatest.

So basically what they are offering is what most of the more forward thinking carriers, SQ, EY, EK, VX and heck even Oman Air, have been offering for well over two years (Oman Air excluded).

Personally if VS had announced anything less than what they have then I would have been more shocked. Nothing particularly exciting about whats on offer IMHO.

In a way I agree with what you are saying, but it is a BIG step up from what VS are currently offering, and a HUGE step up for the LGW/MAN pax, and will really put VS well ahead of what their rivals on the B&S routes.

The thing that is going to be annoying, is the length of time it will take to get the whole fleet up to this standard. It will mean that VS will still be offering a two tier IFE product, with some pax missing out, but I guess this is just me being picky.

What I don't understand is why not just stick an iPad on the back of each seat - now that would be radical.

I think the point about enabling mobile phones to be used is that the cost will be less prohibitive, the ease of use greater, and if the connectivity is good then reliability will be higher. All will make it more inevitable that people will use it. Secondly, once people have connected their work paid for iPhone, Blackberry or other smart phone, it's just a simple next step to make a call - and have someone else pay for it.

This is a tragedy for Virgin - I have heard their marketing people refer to their own research that an overwhelming majority of people don't want it, popular research even on flying addict forums like A.Net and FT show that people don't want it either.

Write now and let VS know!

Well inevitable that the phone thing would happen but good that there will be a decent ife. Out with the quiet comforts......

Likely to be flying the MAN/MCO route in Aug '11, probably with Virgin so am glad that there will be a good IFE. (Travelling with my two gorgeous but challenging adhd boys ...) Phone I could do without - used the onboard phone twice - bit gimmicky and very expensive!

Just wondering though - there's no mention of onboard power being available throught the aircraft or does that come with the seat as opposed to the IFE? I know there has been some talk of power points being available throughout the plane... (although there wouldn't be a lot of room in an economy seat for a laptop...)

A bit of a no brainer really, EX2 the only real choice. Been working with aircraft fitted with Panasonic 2000/3000/EX2 IFE systems & it is far more reliable.

As for the Aeromobile, you would be surprised how often the crew DON'T report it not working, or if they do, you find it turned off!!!! If passengers find it a pest how do you think the crew feel??

Not sure of lay out for power outlets on the A330, only seen EX2 fitted on B777 with 10 across Y class layout & there are 2 outlets (UK 3 pin) per seat block.

slinky09 wrote:This is a tragedy for Virgin - I have heard their marketing people refer to their own research that an overwhelming majority of people don't want it, popular research even on flying addict forums like A.Net and FT show that people don't want it either.

Write now and let VS know!

I wonder what these will do to flight systems ):

Bill S wrote:[
I wonder what these will do to flight systems ):

never mind the electrics you could inflict real pain with that on any miscreants! B) B) B)

Hi all, does this mean my flight from Manchester to Orlando (next May) should have this new system?

Spendleb wrote:Hi all, does this mean my flight from Manchester to Orlando (next May) should have this new system?

If you are flying on the VS75 to MCO and VS76 back then at the moment, yes, you are planned to be on one of the A330's with the new IFE.

This is all debatable but observing how people use cell phones/smart phones nowadays makes me think that more people are now texting and answering/writing e-mails than making phone calls. Also, Jetstar is offering as a demonstration, renting ipads aboard some of their flights, similar to how digi-players are rented on some carriers. I would think many in the industry would watch how passengers use these ipad rentals and then think of some innovations from there for their own airline. Also, carriers like VS could look into the not so distant past and innovate something like a phone lounge or a phone bar, so that phone calls can be made only in designated zones of the cabin away from seated passengers.

When VS eventually fit out the fleet with all this technology I think they should leave space (about 18 inches square should do it ) for a sound proof box so all those who find the need to shout down their phones can do so without affecting anyone else. Or better still....place it outside!

"This is your captain speaking - for those of you having difficulty getting a signal on your cell phones, we have found the best reception to be on the wing!" adding "Calls are made at your own risk."

Neil wrote:

Spendleb wrote:Hi all, does this mean my flight from Manchester to Orlando (next May) should have this new system?

If you are flying on the VS75 to MCO and VS76 back then at the moment, yes, you are planned to be on one of the A330's with the new IFE.

Yes, that's the flight I have booked, cheers y)

Love the phone booth idea.
But right now on many US flights you can use Gogo Inflight Internet at $12.95 for the flight, and be fully connected, in which case you could use Skype and carry on a conversation at no cost.