AC, where's your TPAC wifi service?
May 27, 2013, 12:41 pm
#16
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 6,385
I don't think they ever gave it a chance.
Had I been them, I would have tried it out on several routes to try and appeal to different demographics.
i.e. YYZ - PHX (the Snowbird / golf crowd and many business junkets)
YYZ - LAS (business types on the way to conventions)
YYZ - MCO (keep the kiddies entertained on the way to see Mickey and business types like those going to LAS)
Loved the comment about a UA 744 being ahead of anything.
Had I been them, I would have tried it out on several routes to try and appeal to different demographics.
i.e. YYZ - PHX (the Snowbird / golf crowd and many business junkets)
YYZ - LAS (business types on the way to conventions)
YYZ - MCO (keep the kiddies entertained on the way to see Mickey and business types like those going to LAS)
Loved the comment about a UA 744 being ahead of anything.
May 27, 2013, 1:24 pm
#17
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,161
The reason why the 747s are the first UA widebodies to get wifi is because they don't have AVOD in economy, just communal screens with a single movie playing. (Business and First have AVOD).
May 27, 2013, 3:57 pm
#18
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Toronto - YYZ
Programs: Aeroplan/Hilton Gold/Marriott Bonvoy Titanium/Accor/Hyatt Gold Passport
Posts: 5,899
Originally I think they tried to assign the aircraft to LAX/SFO flying as they had on-board support from the provider company on board. I've seen these aircraft everywhere and anywhere.
May 28, 2013, 12:09 pm
#19
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: Aeroplan, Flying Blue Gold, Accor Silver, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 662
Initially, the wifi wasn't authorized over Canadian airspace, so it was used only on the LAX routes. The CRTC eventually approved it for Canada, but AC hasn't expanded their service.
I was on a LAS > YYZ flight once and it had wifi, I didn't purchase it though. I had no need for it for the 4.5 hr flight. I generally have enough shows on my iPad to keep me entertained for hours.
I was on a LAS > YYZ flight once and it had wifi, I didn't purchase it though. I had no need for it for the 4.5 hr flight. I generally have enough shows on my iPad to keep me entertained for hours.
May 28, 2013, 4:19 pm
#20
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 270
Actually, Industry Canada is the regulatory authority with respect to frequency spectrum use in Canada rather than the CRTC. The air-ground frequency spectrum in Canada was subject to a public auction in 2009 and the successful company was SkySurf Canada.
SkySurf wins licence, wants inflight Internet to take off in Canadian skies - 15 June 2009
In 2010, they issued a press release indicating that they had partnered with Aircell to provide inflight WiFi in Canada by the end of 2011:
SKYSURF AND AIRCELL TO COLLABORATE IN LAUNCHING FIRST-EVER INFLIGHT INTERNET SERVICES IN CANADA - 4 November 2010
Obviously, this has yet to happen and then in August of 2012, there was another "new" announcement saying basically the same thing - that GoGo (formerly Aircell) had partnered with SkySurf and will begin offering inflight WiFi in Canada by the end of 2013:
Canada clears Wi-Fi in the skies with Gogo plan approval - 28 August 2012
Then, in March of this year, it was announced that GoGo Biz will be available to business aircraft over Canada in the first quarter of 2014:
Aircell Announces Expected Coverage Areas for Gogo Biz In-Flight Internet in Canada - 26 March 2013
All that to say that inflight WiFi is coming to Canada ... someday ... probably ...
SkySurf wins licence, wants inflight Internet to take off in Canadian skies - 15 June 2009
In 2010, they issued a press release indicating that they had partnered with Aircell to provide inflight WiFi in Canada by the end of 2011:
SKYSURF AND AIRCELL TO COLLABORATE IN LAUNCHING FIRST-EVER INFLIGHT INTERNET SERVICES IN CANADA - 4 November 2010
Obviously, this has yet to happen and then in August of 2012, there was another "new" announcement saying basically the same thing - that GoGo (formerly Aircell) had partnered with SkySurf and will begin offering inflight WiFi in Canada by the end of 2013:
Canada clears Wi-Fi in the skies with Gogo plan approval - 28 August 2012
Then, in March of this year, it was announced that GoGo Biz will be available to business aircraft over Canada in the first quarter of 2014:
Aircell Announces Expected Coverage Areas for Gogo Biz In-Flight Internet in Canada - 26 March 2013
All that to say that inflight WiFi is coming to Canada ... someday ... probably ...
May 28, 2013, 4:27 pm
#21
Join Date: May 2012
Location: BKK/SIN/YYZ/YUL
Programs: DL, AC, Bonvoy, Accor, Hilton
Posts: 2,924