DirectTV and internet access will be available on current CO planes only
May 2, 2011, 8:13 pm
#1
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DirectTV and internet access will be available on current CO planes only
Today was my first flight this month on United-Continental holdings, as the CO FA's repeatedly referred to their airline (OK, it's only May the second). Reading SMI/J's welcome and the corresponding editorial, I noticed that he is somewhat excited about the new internet service they are expecting to introduce on 200 odd domestic 737's and 757's. Perhaps I misread, but it appears that there is no plan yet to roll out Direct TV to the rest of the mainline fleet - 319's, 320's, etc.
I wonder why?
I wonder why?
May 2, 2011, 8:29 pm
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I'm sure you have an idea why. 
Cause nobody's willing to pay for it, whereas the attraction of Internet (even paid) is much greater.
Cause nobody's willing to pay for it, whereas the attraction of Internet (even paid) is much greater.
May 2, 2011, 8:35 pm
#3
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Great theory, UA-NYC, except that the internet service is also only being installed on the LiveTV planes.
More likely is that they have not yet reached an agreement with LiveTV on getting the other couple hundred aircraft outfitted and who will bear that cost. Once they figure it out - and I believe that eventually it will be the LiveTV product and its corresponding internet across the domestic fleet - they'll make the announcement. Until that contract or at least a MOU is in place there is nothing confirmed that they can announce regarding the PMUA domestic fleet.
More likely is that they have not yet reached an agreement with LiveTV on getting the other couple hundred aircraft outfitted and who will bear that cost. Once they figure it out - and I believe that eventually it will be the LiveTV product and its corresponding internet across the domestic fleet - they'll make the announcement. Until that contract or at least a MOU is in place there is nothing confirmed that they can announce regarding the PMUA domestic fleet.
May 2, 2011, 9:06 pm
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Great theory, UA-NYC, except that the internet service is also only being installed on the LiveTV planes.
More likely is that they have not yet reached an agreement with LiveTV on getting the other couple hundred aircraft outfitted and who will bear that cost. Once they figure it out - and I believe that eventually it will be the LiveTV product and its corresponding internet across the domestic fleet - they'll make the announcement. Until that contract or at least a MOU is in place there is nothing confirmed that they can announce regarding the PMUA domestic fleet.
More likely is that they have not yet reached an agreement with LiveTV on getting the other couple hundred aircraft outfitted and who will bear that cost. Once they figure it out - and I believe that eventually it will be the LiveTV product and its corresponding internet across the domestic fleet - they'll make the announcement. Until that contract or at least a MOU is in place there is nothing confirmed that they can announce regarding the PMUA domestic fleet.
Depends...now that they have good data on a paid LiveTV product on a network carrier, it may or may not be worthwhile doing the TV portion of the product unless the carrier wants to pay for it.
May 2, 2011, 9:20 pm
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What UACO needs to do is drop the price of DTV not increase it.
I would also like to add that Wifi has not been the moneymaker folks thought it would be. WN offers it for $5 and free to AL+ members. Now only if UACO could do something like that?
May 2, 2011, 9:27 pm
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I think it is more than sensible to install LiveTV on ps 757s, if not the rest of the UA fleet. I really liked it on the several occasions that I was lucky enough to be on the 738s that had it. Even on a relatively short IAH-LAX flight, I once paid for it when I sat in Y so that I could watch a baseball game. And on a transcon flight, I think it's worth the slightly higher price.
May 3, 2011, 5:17 am
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Great theory, UA-NYC, except that the internet service is also only being installed on the LiveTV planes.
More likely is that they have not yet reached an agreement with LiveTV on getting the other couple hundred aircraft outfitted and who will bear that cost. Once they figure it out - and I believe that eventually it will be the LiveTV product and its corresponding internet across the domestic fleet - they'll make the announcement. Until that contract or at least a MOU is in place there is nothing confirmed that they can announce regarding the PMUA domestic fleet.
More likely is that they have not yet reached an agreement with LiveTV on getting the other couple hundred aircraft outfitted and who will bear that cost. Once they figure it out - and I believe that eventually it will be the LiveTV product and its corresponding internet across the domestic fleet - they'll make the announcement. Until that contract or at least a MOU is in place there is nothing confirmed that they can announce regarding the PMUA domestic fleet.
You read the quotes from $misek saying they want to please their really favorite customers (e.g., business travelers), right? They aren't watching TV on flights...
May 3, 2011, 5:56 am
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You missed my point - it seems like it would be an easy fix to add internet to existing DTV planes. It's more troublesome trying to justify DTV for planes that don't have it - trying to make the case for adding a paid product few want (DTV) in order to get something highly desired (internet).
May 3, 2011, 7:09 am
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The current gogo implementation is EvDO Rev.A, I believe. Basically a slightly higher powered version of a MiFi hotspot on the VZW network. The LiveTV version is going to be satellite-based and supposedly much faster, though there may be latency issues that come with that.
May 3, 2011, 7:20 am
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IFE isn't mandatory. UA was the only legacy carrier that had IFE and audio in all planes.
US runs their entire domestic fleet with no IFE; DL has the legacy NWA fleet with no IFE (A319/320, some 757s) as well as some of their MDs, AA has some no IFE birds; CO has had their older 737s with no IFE since they came into their fleet some 20-ish years ago.
May 3, 2011, 8:53 am
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You missed my point - it seems like it would be an easy fix to add internet to existing DTV planes. It's more troublesome trying to justify DTV for planes that don't have it - trying to make the case for adding a paid product few want (DTV) in order to get something highly desired (internet).
You read the quotes from $misek saying they want to please their really favorite customers (e.g., business travelers), right? They aren't watching TV on flights...
You read the quotes from $misek saying they want to please their really favorite customers (e.g., business travelers), right? They aren't watching TV on flights...
May 3, 2011, 9:04 am
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May 3, 2011, 12:00 pm
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Here's the actual statement in the May 2011 Hemispheres that was the basis of the initial post.
In SMI/J's welcome page, he states ......"intention to partner with inflight entertainment provider Live-TV to offer inflight Wi-Fi via the more robust Ka-band beginning next year".
He goes on to say "We plan to offer the service on more than 200 domestic Boeing 737 and 757 aircraft equipped with DIRECTV."
So no announced plans re/ expanding the DIRECTV or Live-TV service to other aircraft.
In SMI/J's welcome page, he states ......"intention to partner with inflight entertainment provider Live-TV to offer inflight Wi-Fi via the more robust Ka-band beginning next year".
He goes on to say "We plan to offer the service on more than 200 domestic Boeing 737 and 757 aircraft equipped with DIRECTV."
So no announced plans re/ expanding the DIRECTV or Live-TV service to other aircraft.
May 3, 2011, 1:00 pm
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I love the DTV on flights; I always get the satellite equipped planes on my Thursday flight home (ORD-IAH) and I have yet to miss a playoff basketball game because of travel! And I am a business traveler...