Jetstar Airways first to rent out iPads, only $8.40 a flight
By Sean Hollister 
posted June 4th 2010 6:34AM
posted June 4th 2010 6:34AM
posted June 4th 2010 6:34AM
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When will you bloody yanks learn how to spell Qantas? It's Q-A-N-T-A-S, not q-U-a-n-t-a-s, originally an acronym for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services"
@Slashee the Cow +1
Never thought it was that hard.
@Slashee the Cow
When I read this I thought "that word has to many letters..."
it took me awhile to realise :p
I don't understand why Jetstar would get this before Qantas, I don't mean to generalize but the average Jetstar flier is flying cheap for a reason and are not willing to fork out extra for entertainment.
@onyajaws last yr, on flight to japan, jetstar were renting out VOD devices for $15 or so. i saw only few ppl had them. i guess, they will replace VOD devices with ipad.
@onyajaws
"I don't understand why Jetstar would get this before Qantas"
I think you mean "I don't know why Jetstar would get this before New Zealand", because we're still waiting for someone from Apple to remember us and announce a damn release date.
@Twitchy qantas has inflight entertainment (and had lisa robertson). jetstar, inflight entertainment is almost non-existent.
those who fly with jetstar are aware and quite used to the fact you've to pay extra for almost everything...
@Slashee the Cow Since we're correcting each other, you should know that the 'y' in Yanks should be capitalised. So, the author can't spell Qantas and your grammar is off.
@Slashee the Cow Fixed.
Two of my most hated company's join forces.
@mackenziepricee At least their better that Virgin Air/Pacific Blue. From my experience they make Qantas look decent.
@cookiebits QANTAS is a great airline. I don't care what others rent out.
@mackenziepricee
if only ANTAS had lasted a little longer!
I think "hate" is a little strong, Apple makes amazing products... I'm not saying you can't have an opinion or that you have to like them but if you deny that then there is something wrong :)
@cookiebits true that! Virgin didn't have any goid inflight enternainment and if they give us an ipad with full network and charger that's awsome!!
@onyajaws Had lasted a little longer?
Eh, they are still flying. My mother still works for them.
Re Apple. Amazing products? Lolk. An iPad is doing what computers have been doing for years, let alone what my crappy iPhone already does.
Hate a little strong? You must be new to the whole Microsoft VS Apple thing.
@onyajaws ...if you can't embrace the fact it's overpriced crap for sheeple that want to in a pseudo elite...something is really wrong. But keep the circular reasoning going, you got yourself convinced.
@mackenziepricee
Sorry, I must have been half asleep... I meant ANSETT*
I'm not going to bother replying to the apple haters. my comment was open minded enough to say that it's a matter of opinion, the apple haters comments were all narrowminded.
This is a big win for customers if it comes with wi-fi, if they are trying to nickle-and-dime customers for an extra $10AUD+ then it's not quite as hot.
Please forgive me if they happen to give this away for free already.
@juanvaldez I doubt it would be coming with Wi-Fi. QANTAS does not have it, so I doubt a budge airline would.
@juanvaldez
Well I just got back from a Qantas A380 flight (very nice service) which had no wifi, so I very much doubt Jetstar will for some time.
This also leads to the question, what the hell can you do with an iPad with no internet access???
@juanvaldez
I'm sick and tired of the airlines charging me for pillows and snacks and sneezing. But I think that under $10 is a fair price for this sort of rental.
@Jimbob
"This also leads to the question, what the hell can you do with an iPad with no internet access???"
I recon they'll already have certain movies installed on them. Then everyone could watch a different one + it would serve as marketing for Apple to give passengers a chance to 'experience' an iPad.
@Jimbob play games, watch movies, listen to music
@awfulwaffle
What, just like the existing systems. You can select 1 of 100 movies to watch (more than you can hold on an ipad) play games (they are crap though) listen to radio etc all on the current in-flight systems.
@juanvaldez
Well, they have to have SOME way of getting content to it. It sounds like it might run some proprietary app, but unless they're gonna run cables to every seat, it'll use WiFi to stream content. Doesn't mean it'll have internet access though.
Also, if anyone in the airline industry is listening, here is how to make money: build entire planes with business class seating, charge 20% more (since you claim you lose money on coach seats anyway), profit. Quit trying to sell the same shitty product where I can't even get my own armrest, competing only on price and not service, and losing money. No, I'm not willing to pay 10x as much to fly business class and have only 12% more space.
Whats apps you get
Ryanair will rent Acer netbooks!
@mex
Ryanair is quite possibly the worst airline in the world. I used them once and that was once too often.
How is it going to kill the in-flight entertainment system - that's what there using the dam thing for. It's not like your going to be able to chose your own aps or movies - it's still going to be the same pre-loaded crap.
Love to see an Aus Airline bring WiFi on board their planes - one thing that's nice flying around the States.
@cRAZY Canuck
This is going to benefit Airlines more then consumers. It saves them implementing an expensive inflight system and they can make some extra cash on the rental.
I don't really mind though as the quality of inflight entertainment is so hit and miss. Emirates and Singapore airlines are amazing BA is utter dog crap (when it works that is) can't wait until they go bankrupt and virgin takes over.
@fais ash detector? there's an app for that :D
@fais agree - The cabin crew strikes (idiots) are ust accelerating BA's decline - old planes, old entertainment that frequently doesn't work - I'm not a fan, but I do love Virgin (and Cathay).
@fais
Virgin Blue and Jetstar use a portable entertainment system already. space the name. There just trying to replace it with something shiny.
Ryanair will rent Acer netbook :D
@mex
You want to have another crack at that one so we can't miss it?
@cRAZY Canuck Ryanair is a lowcost fly company really popular in EU, the price are really cheap but the service it's not the best you can have from an airline
@mex
Did you read today that Easy Jet are pioneering a ash detection system so they can safely fly during volcanic eruptions. Easy Jet! I think not..
@mex
I'm aware who Ryanair are
I think you'll find the post was there to point out the fact you decided to voice the same comment twice all be it with different punctuation
Oh look. A big blue block.
@Andie oh look! a small blue screen of death!
@mex the BSOD is rarer than the BBOD my friend - get yer head outta yes arse
@Phenom ...except the beachball cursor means one solitary application has stopped responding, usually temporarily. GSOD (kernel panic "please restart your computer" message) would be closer.
Can you BYO Movies?
@Moistvag
Does "bring your own" eat into your data plan so much that you must use the acronym instead? Not everybody has to know what you're talking about. It's like IANAL, w/ and all those other annoyances.
That aside, I don't think you'll be able to do that. By renting the devices they are probably locking them down so they do exactly what the airline wants them to do, and that would include preloaded content without you being able to add other stuff.
Besides, how would you actually download your own movies to the iPad? Some weird USB host dock connector?
@Greg2k No need to be harsh, Moistvag's probably an Aussie, BYO is perfectly understood by 99% of Aussies, as in - "when I go to the local Thai eatery for some tea (dinner), you reckon they'll let me BYO (bring my own alcohol)?
@Greg2k Poms understand BYO just fine too. It's a pretty common acronym, TBH.
LOL.
That's kindof cool, and a good idea. I wonder if JetStar will provide WiFi with it (highly doubt it). I also wonder if it will be available for New Zealand (as we have JetStar/Qantas here) (also doubt it for a few years).
Personally I'd rather use my own iPod or netbook, but it's good that their providing the service.
Also it's Qantas not QUantas. You call yourselves journalists and you can't even spell the company you're featuring correctly. *facepalm*
At least they're using the real hardware here. Unlike that in-flight music by Zune story yesterday, which involved no actual Zunes at all, and sounded very much like a sponsorship deal.
@Engadget.... FYI there is no 'u' in Qantas...(Queensland And Northern Territory Aerial Services).
Web browsing only? I don't see how else
it could work without specific software designed for the Airline. Apps? No. Music? No. Movies/TV? No. Email? Possibly but then you
would need to clear PW's etc? Interesting nonetheless.
Unfortunately there are only 2 units available for rental since jetstar reached it's lifetime limit of ipad purchases with apple.