Inflight streaming: Qantas hooks up with Netflix, Spotify, Foxtel
By David Flynn, February 14 2017
Qantas will offer free live streams from Netflix, Spotify and Foxtel on its new inflight Internet service which is expected to launch later this month.
Passengers on the single Boeing 737-800 that's been kitted out to trial sky-high WiFi will use their own tablets or smartphones to tap into content from Qantas' three new partners.
Netflix and Spotify will tempt Qantas passengers to sign up with the promise of their usual free 30-day trials, while Foxtel will offer three days of free streaming via its app following each flight.
A live feed of Sky News Australia will also be available.
In addition to streaming content the Qantas inflight feed will also deliver flight path information and hotel, restaurant and transport options at the destination.
"We know that email, online shopping, and general Web browsing will be popular uses when we switch on WiFi" predicts Qantas group executive Olivia Wirth, "but what a lot of people relish about flying is being able to catch up on their favourite TV shows or watch movies they didn’t get to see at the cinema."
Qantas says the satellite-based connection will be fast enough to provide broadband speeds to every device on board the Boeing 737, which will be most often seen on popular routes between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
An Airbus A330 will join the trial mid-year to assess usage and demand on east-west routes, with the rest of the domestic Boeing 737 and Airbus A330 fleet expected to be kitted out by the second half of 2018. International routes will be trialled after the domestic rollout.
Read more: Qantas to offer free (and fast) inflight Internet from February
David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
14 Oct 2016
Total posts 67
Whilst I recognise that having access to internet will be a boon to those who require an Internet to connection to do their work and access/sync files through a vpn etc, I do enjoy being forced offline for a few hours whilst in the sky.
25 Oct 2012
Total posts 11
Three day trail over a weekend with all the sport on I see that as a great deal if your away from home or something, watch your team when your not home.
02 Dec 2015
Total posts 30
I agree QF's ipad entertainment has been eroding of late. They don't seem to update the content monthly like the screened/ beack of seat entertainment. Some ipad entertainment seems to sit there for months. :(
19 Aug 2011
Total posts 22
"Netflix and Spotify will tempt Qantas passengers to sign up with the promise of a free 30-day trial, while Foxtel will offer three days of free streaming."
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
12 Jun 2011
Total posts 148
The Netflix and Spotify trials are the same as those available to anyone, however reading the Qantas press release, the Foxtel streaming won't require any subscription so you'd get the 3 days every time you board a QF flight.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
14 Oct 2016
Total posts 67
Fair enough, happy to stand corrected on the foxtel details and the 3 day free access as detailed in the press release seems to be a better offering than I initially gave it credit. As you can see I'm slightly biased against the foxtel product (The extensive range of 'reality' shows and american sitcoms they offer aren't my cup of tea, and once they lost the english premier league rights well... that was my subscription canceled) I'm assuming that Qantas has done their homework and this suggests that I'm probably the exception regarding what people are after for on-board entertainment.
QF
11 Jul 2014
Total posts 1010
I wonder if they will nominate a quite zone on the plane for those who don't want to hear Skype calls etc?
23 Feb 2015
Total posts 260
Hopefully that quiet zone is being strapped to the wings...
23 Feb 2015
Total posts 260
For the speakers, not those wanting quiet obviously!!!!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
26 May 2014
Total posts 464
Would expect QF to block unwanted sites like Skype, maybe VA as well !
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Oct 2013
Total posts 699
So even if your not on a Wifi 737 you get a 3 day foxtel pass? Is it kind of like the pressreader deal or only if you travel on a wifi enabled flight.
13 Sep 2016
Total posts 27
No, only if you are on the Boeing 737-800 with the 'Qantas WiFi' service.
04 Nov 2012
Total posts 212
Gee it will really be great listening to all those tablet hook ups, what a great idea NOT. Oh' and don't forget the talking heads singing their poetry with volume up, I mean I just can't wait. I guess the attendants wont have time to serve meals and drinks as they'll be to busy answering call buttons.
13 Sep 2016
Total posts 27
Can't wait to try this next month, I regularly fly SYD-MEL for work so I hope I can fluke one of the Qantas WiFi flights just to check it out. Can't see much actual need for it on that short flight but for SYD-PER for example, bring it on!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
21 Mar 2013
Total posts 132
Hopefully vpn access will be allowed.
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1560
VPN is double-edge sword. Yes many (me included) need VPN to be able to work. However if they like to restrict bandwidth by blocking certain services like Skype for example it will have no effect with VPN - I will be able to connect to VPN and use such services. So my best guest that they <eventually> block VPN.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Jul 2011
Total posts 1374
Was some technical info in an ITNews article last week which claimed the trial aircraft would be capped to 20Mbps per aircraft -- which might make streaming tough.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
26 May 2014
Total posts 464
Copied from a post on the QF Facebook page : "Cathy Pacific are killing it with there wifi (although not free). I did a 20 mins uninterrupted FaceTime call from my seat back to my wife and kids a few weeks back." One wonders if the adjacent passengers found it as exciting.
23 Feb 2015
Total posts 260
One guess would be enough Greg!
QFF
12 Apr 2013
Total posts 1560
I am curious about other way around - can I stream my own content from my device to EFI screen? Or I bound to watch it on my own device? Also ability to hook your laptop to EFI screen would be awesome - then get smaller Bluetooth keyboard/mouse combo, toss your laptop somewhere and you can work like a King!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Jan 2013
Total posts 240
So basically Netflix and Spotify will get the credit cards of all Qantas flyers who aren't already subscribers? (As you need to enter that info to get the free 30 day trial).
I'm not saying it's not a cool partnership, it just looks like Netflix and Spotify struck gold as far as acquiring customers goes, cause they know that most people won't remember to take their credit card details off their account.
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on Inflight streaming: Qantas hooks up with Netflix, Spotify, Foxtel