JetBlue TrueBlue - LiveTV Satellite Issues

Just an FYI for anybody traveling with us during the next week or so. Apparently the US has launched a new GPS satellite that is affecting all LiveTV customers. I don't know what it's doing but it is disrupting the signal. All the planes will get a software update to correct the problem as they are routed through LiveTV stations (BOS, JFK, MCO, OAK, LGB)

Please be advised that we are having technical difficulties with our LiveTV® system due to the launch of a new GPS Satellite. As a result, we are experiencing some inoperative screens (mostly A320’s). Please note that FOX InFight™ movies, Times On Air™, and XM Satellite Radio® are on a different server, and therefore, not affected.

To correct this issue, we will be installing software on the entire fleet over the next week.

No kidding...a few of my flights in the past week needed both mini and/or major TV resets. Wonder if this was related?

At least there's the XM, but coincidentally 2 of my last 3 flights did not have it yet on the 320! These were the first aircraft in literally months that have not been updated yet.

As a courtesy, jetBlue should consider offering the movies for free on all flights over the next week or so.

As a courtesy, jetBlue should consider offering the movies for free on all flights over the next week or so.

We have a policy that we follow for a major issue like this. If the resets don't work we can set the TVs to free and provide the movies free of charge. That is up to the Lead Flight Attendant and Captain, but I'm sure you'll be hard pressed to find a person who won't be willing to provide the movies free of charge should a major disruption occur.

I'm sure this has been covered somewhere on here, but I'll ask anyway...

On the Caribbean-US flights, are the movies free since there is no LiveTv?

I'm sure this has been covered somewhere on here, but I'll ask anyway...

On the Caribbean-US flights, are the movies free since there is no LiveTv?

Yes it has, and yes they are.

this could be the worst news ive heard all day. Im flying jfk-sxm tomorrow; is liveTV totally inoperable or does it just go in and out? Man this sucks.

I was on a flight from NYC to BOS last night and the TV was down completely. We were stuck on the runway for about an hour and a half with no TV. One flight attendant told me that the satellite receiver was filled with water and that is why it was not working. The plane had just come from FL and the live route map still was showing FL on the map. I told one of the flight attendants that if they reset the system it might fix but she insisted it was the rain.

Would it have fixed the problem or was she right?

FYI - I mentioned the reset to another flight attendant and she said that it was because of the cloud cover. If the receiver were filled with water, wouldn't the water come out when the plane took off? And if it were the cloud cover, wouldn't it not be an issue when the plane was above the clouds?

this could be the worst news ive heard all day. Im flying jfk-sxm tomorrow; is liveTV totally inoperable or does it just go in and out? Man this sucks.

You don't get it on the JFK-SXM route anyways; you just get free movies.

sbm- you dont even have it part of the way through florida?

sbm- you dont even have it part of the way through florida?

You won't be within 700 miles of florida.

sbm- you dont even have it part of the way through florida?

In addition to flying nowhere near Florida (http://gc.kls2.com/cgi-bin/gc?PATH=jfk-aua&RANGE=&PATH-COLOR=&PATH-UNITS=mi), my understanding of the rule is that the service can only be operational on domestic flights. It isn't a limitation of where the sattelite reception works; it is a limitation of the licensing for the service.

can anyone give the details of the licensing rights?

From their FAQ (http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/customer/faqPage.jsp?assetId=1100115#):
Is DIRECTV service available in Canada or Mexico?
We are legally prohibited from transmitting the DIRECTV signal outside the United States. However, DIRECTV Latin America transmits to Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Uruguay and Venezuela.

It would work just fine, but the way the FCC licensed the operation when it started up they cannot legally sell the services outside the USA.

this could be the worst news ive heard all day. Im flying jfk-sxm tomorrow; is liveTV totally inoperable or does it just go in and out? Man this sucks.

Sucks? Yes. But, worst news? Hardly. As mentioned above, over-water flights are offered free movies anyway due to limited coverage. When I flew to AUA in Dec. we had the TV on for the first 45 minutes or so of flight.

my understanding of the rule is that the service can only be operational on domestic flights.

I don't think this is correct - when I flew JFK->CUN in January, not only was the DirectTV on during the flight, but I was surprised to see that the service remained available until less than 30 minutes before we landed. We did travel fairly close to the coast of Florida for most of the flight, but on the last bit over the carribean, we still had the TV for most of the way.

Now when I flew Frontier back to DEN from CUN, we didn't get signal until we were much closer to the states. Furthermore, Frontier always announces that they "loose the satellite signal" outside of the United States, so I don't think its a licensing issue.

My experience is that DirecTV works until the plane is outside of the signal range.

A request to the JetBlue pilots and FA's that read this forum.

When you know before we board the flight that the TV's are not working or may not be working tell us while we are still on the ground so those of us that do not have any reading material with us can go buy some.

Before you say if we know we always inform you. No! I have been on two flights that I heard the crew discussing this before they boarded the plane and no announcement was made until the doors had been shut and the plane was ready for push back. I overheard them so I had time to react. The rest of the passengers were not as fortunate.

I don't think this is correct
I've been wrong before, so this isn't my first time :eek:

I know that DirectTV can't sell it so non-US addresses, and I had thought I saw somewhere previously that they weren't allowed to license it to the airlines on routes that operate outside the US. I guess it is just a reception issue, not a licensing one for the LiveTV service.

A request to the JetBlue pilots and FA's that read this forum.

When you know before we board the flight that the TV's are not working or may not be working tell us while we are still on the ground so those of us that do not have any reading material with us can go buy some.

Before you say if we know we always inform you. No! I have been on two flights that I heard the crew discussing this before they boarded the plane and no announcement was made until the doors had been shut and the plane was ready for push back. I overheard them so I had time to react. The rest of the passengers were not as fortunate.

I try to inform the CSC working the flight of specific seats so they can inform customers if they want to be reseated based on seat availability. If it's the entire aircraft I will use your suggestion for future flights.

I've actually been waiting for a connecting flight in JFK by another gate, and heard the gate agent announce that the DirectTV wouldn't be working for the flight. Of course, he sounded scared s***less about it, and was almost ducking behind the podium due to the complaints he knew he was about to get, but at least he informed everyone about it.

MY LGA-PBI flight on Thurs 3/6 was announced (in the plane during boarding) that the TV was down and we'd get free movies. We got free movies but, the TV was working. Double score!

Sorry I haven't posted, been out of the country on a much needed vacation.

I'm slowly looking through my company emails and haven't seen anything regarding the completion of the software update but i'm assuming most of the planes have recieved the update by now or with in the next few days. I'm flying CUN-BOS on Saturday, as a non-rev so i'll see how the TVs work when we come back state side!

Looks as if the TV's are operating again like normal. I've had a few problems but I don't know if they where plane related or related to the Satellite issues. I wouldn't expect the TV's to be inoperational on any of your future flights!

has anybody received a refund as a result of the inoperable tv's?

has anybody received a refund as a result of the inoperable tv's?

No one will receive a refund. Customers with inoperative televisions will receive vouchers in the amount of $15 for future B6 travel.

is the credit automatic? I was on a flight and the pilot made an announcement that somebody would contact us regarding a refund or credit.

is the credit automatic? I was on a flight and the pilot made an announcement that somebody would contact us regarding a refund or credit.

If, for whatever reason, you are not contacted via email/mail your confirmation number will have it. Call 800jetblue and I believe they can give you the voucher code and number so you can book it online...