WiFi announced on IAG airplanes
May 6, 2016, 12:12 am
#46
Join Date: May 2006
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May 6, 2016, 12:48 am
#47
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
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I think you're being far too pessimistic. Has there been any feedback from those who have been negatively affected by others using the service on airlines that already offer the service? I can't say I've seen any.
Overall, for leisure passengers as well as those less subservient to their employers this news is good news.
Overall, for leisure passengers as well as those less subservient to their employers this news is good news.
To put things in perspective, I have no doubt that many people will like the change, and again, in my case, the key point would be disabling VOIP which most airlines do already. There are already plenty of threads about "super important people" making half the lounge feel like killing them because of their bored and boring loud conversation in large confined spaces on the ground (lounges) for it to be very easy to see how it would translate in small confined spaces in the air.
Pessimistic is very much my nature!
So far I have found it a rather good predictor in the airline industry.
May 6, 2016, 12:48 am
#48
Join Date: Jul 2011
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May 6, 2016, 1:04 am
#49
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Rhineland-Palatinate
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This.
My boss and I have an understanding that when I'm on a plane - it's my time. I might work - but it'll be my choice. I travel on my time, not on theirs.
I frequently travel on a sunday afternoon to ensure I'm bright and breezy on a Monday morning, I will travel back on a red eye and work the following day.
Plane time = my time.
Wifi available = people start expecting it to be their time.
If that happens - I *will* modify my travelling habits to make travelling time their time.
My boss and I have an understanding that when I'm on a plane - it's my time. I might work - but it'll be my choice. I travel on my time, not on theirs.
I frequently travel on a sunday afternoon to ensure I'm bright and breezy on a Monday morning, I will travel back on a red eye and work the following day.
Plane time = my time.
Wifi available = people start expecting it to be their time.
If that happens - I *will* modify my travelling habits to make travelling time their time.
Not a welcomed development for me either.
May 6, 2016, 1:07 am
#50
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May 6, 2016, 1:52 am
#51
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May 6, 2016, 1:56 am
#52
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: London, UK
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787-9s delivered this year will be retrofitted - and as that will be at C-check, you can imagine they will be right at the back of the queue for the retrofit.
May 6, 2016, 4:54 am
#54
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: BA Silver; SPG Gold; UA; DL; AA
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^I personally enjoy it when flying domestically (in the US), but the flexibility to choose if I want to connect when flying longhaul is a good thing; if I want to sleep or enjoy the IFE, I do that, and if I'd rather argue with you sorry lot, then I will do that instead (of course, you know they will block FT).
Seriously, this is not something to get one's panties twisted about. Either use it, or don't. They're late to the game in bringing this onboard, and I'm sure have lost out on some business travel because of it.
The whole "oh no, now my company will MAKE me work when flying!" crowd makes a point, but I'm sure it's just as easy to claim that it wasn't working, or the power didn't work, etc... It's actually healthy to NOT work sometimes, and good companies recognize and encourage that!
May 6, 2016, 5:08 am
#55
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I had it last night, only the person concerned was the 20 year old (approx) son to his rather posh mum. "Purser, she's driving later on, replace her vodka with tomato juice". Purser did as he was told, Mum went into a sulk behind her Jilly Cooper, but still drank it.
May 6, 2016, 5:31 am
#56
Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club, easyJet and Ryanair
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May 6, 2016, 5:50 am
#57
Join Date: Oct 2015
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Great news, can't say I accept anyone's negative arguments here ⌗BAGrumpies.
If you are travelling on your companies time and they are paying for it, why shouldn't you have to work, and in which case, that is irrespective of whether you have wifi or not. If your not on company time, then its your choice whether you work or not, should an employer wish to make you work on the plane, they should be paying for your time, if they're not, you are doing yourself a dis-service by agreeing to work for free. You take the rough with the smooth, I'm sure your happy getting free Avios and TPs from the company (and before you say it is a benefit, feel free to tell HMRC that and pay tax on that benefit).
I'm looking forward to having more connectivity onboard BA flights to use if and when I want to.
If you are travelling on your companies time and they are paying for it, why shouldn't you have to work, and in which case, that is irrespective of whether you have wifi or not. If your not on company time, then its your choice whether you work or not, should an employer wish to make you work on the plane, they should be paying for your time, if they're not, you are doing yourself a dis-service by agreeing to work for free. You take the rough with the smooth, I'm sure your happy getting free Avios and TPs from the company (and before you say it is a benefit, feel free to tell HMRC that and pay tax on that benefit).
I'm looking forward to having more connectivity onboard BA flights to use if and when I want to.
May 6, 2016, 6:34 am
#58
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: TLV
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Posts: 3,225
I guess I should be happy they are ditching the 321s in favor of 787/777s on the TLV route since the 321s won't get it. That said, under their current crazy fare structures, I fly mostly Easyjet to London from TLV these days.
May 6, 2016, 6:41 am
#59
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May 6, 2016, 6:58 am
#60
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 126
I wonder if they'll thing about the customer service aspect of this and implement easy ways to contact them (e.g. live chat) through the WiFi system, e.g. customer contacts BA saying: "I'm on delayed flight X, connecting to flight Y and I'm not going to make it."
They could use this to appease those inflight worrying customers and improve their experience.
They could use this to appease those inflight worrying customers and improve their experience.
