StarAlliance2005

Does anyone know if AC is planning to offer internet onboard?

Shareholder

AC was one of the first carriers to offer the TANZING (?) service but it never seemed to catch on and got lost in planning priorities during bankrutcy restructuring. As AC has made a major commitment to new Boeing equipment, I would not be surprised to see that company's new system being installed on AC's new 777s and 787s, and perhaps the refurbished 763s.

oopsz

tenzing

drwoodsy

Snoopyo

I think LH has it but not AC.

prairieschooner

I flew Lufthansa FRA to PDX last week and had internet all the way. It sure was nice as I was able to get alot of work done. Flynet they call it.

Air Canada needs to get internet if they want to lure the overseas passengers for sure, along with several other upgrades which has been discussed to death on this forum.

YEG_Flyer

I remember hearing somewhere (news or newpaper) that internet on airplanes will not be coming to Canada anytime soon as Transport Canada Regulations prohibit the equipment. They still don't allow cell phones after landing until the seatbelt sign is off. On US flights you can use cell phones right after landing.

KVS

The following link lists the carriers/flights, where Boeing's solution ("Connexion") is currently offered: http://www.ConnexionByBoeing.com/ind...le&l=en.US&ec=

Doc Fraud

Does anybody know if Tenzing is the fore-runner to Boeings offering, or did Boeing get to inflight broad band by another channel? I remember playing with Tenzing on YVR-YYZ back in 2001 and was completely wowed by the ability to get e-mail in flight at what appeared to by ISDN like speeds.

Just curious.

DF

internationalgal

Yes they are, and it is being researched.

NordsFan

I recall Montie giving us some info in AUG 2005 onboard the EMB75, but I can't remember the specifics I was looking at the nice view of Niagara Falls

Doc Fraud, acysb87, parnel ? Any thoughts ?

Super Larry

And what was her name?...Oupsss...you're refering to the Falls...not Niagara!

Doc Fraud

He was saying that in flight internet was going to be his answer to providing IFE content in the future. The problem as he saw it was that the Boeing service was too expensive and not controlled by AC, so he was holding out to see what alternatives would show up on the market. He figured that by waiting awhile, he could get better service for less money.

IIRC

DF

Shareholder

SK has been offering it along with the TV service. There are some posts to FT from inflight users on the "Cheap China Fare" thread. It is part of their upgrade of C and for the first month is being offered at half price: about U$15 for the duration of the flight (once outside Chinese airspace).

There could be some regulatory issues regarding accessing a foreign service over Canadian airspace that would not apply once outside the country. This could be one element of AC's delayed decision-making.

I also wonder about the cost-effectiveness and economics of this technology. Did inflight phones ever make money? I seldom saw anyone use them -- I did once on CP to make a res change, but I think it was a toll-free promotion -- and AC has pretty much scrapped them. If 20 people on each flight use the technology at $30 a shot, that's just $1,200 a plane per day (longhaul scenario). What's the installation and equipment cost? Ongoing maintenace and signal distribution, split with the airline?

jral

What's that USB jack under the IFE screen on the new Embraers for? Does it do anything?