Jetstar Airways first to rent out iPads, only $8.40 a flight

The world's first iPad inflight entertainment system definitely came sooner than we thought; though Bluebox just announced the idea two weeks ago, it's slated to hit Australia at the end of the month. Qantas budget carrier Jetstar Airways will hold a trial of the service in the last two weeks of June, doling out iPads to passengers on flights 90 minutes or greater for AUD $10 (approximately $8.40) a pop, and will extend the service to their entire network if the business... well, you know. Since Jetstar CIO Stephen Tame famously predicted the iPad would kill the inflight movie business earlier this year, it seems we're looking at a classic case of if-you-can't-beat-em syndrome. Call us biased, but that sounds a good sight better than what Microsoft's up to.

[mjones41 Posted Jun 4th 2010 7:20AM]

They also sell meat pies on board, mmmmmm, now I can drip pie gravy and tomato sauce all over the shiny Ipad.

[amitreddy Posted Jun 4th 2010 8:00AM]

I wonder if the airlines realize how annoying it might get.. I would be totally pissed if the passenger next to me is constantly moving while playing an accelerometer game. Most people watch multiple movies.. Would ipads be in a dock or they expect the passenger to hold it? All that on top of crammed up seats.. Any comments?

[GmanC Posted Jun 4th 2010 8:06AM]

@amitreddy
Yeah, did you get out of the wrong side of bed this morning or are you always this grumpy?

[amitreddy Posted Jun 4th 2010 11:57AM]

@GmanC You are another classic example of a$$

[StanT Posted Jun 4th 2010 8:32AM]

It was almost a 15 hour flight from HK and they had so much music, movies and games in their system. I don't think a 32gb iPad can even fit 1/4 of what Cathay Pacific usually offers.
The iPad is just a lame excuse they're using to charge passengers for something that should have been there in the first place.

[tallfella Posted Jun 4th 2010 8:43AM]

@StanT You must be from Perth or something, Syd to HK is only 9 Hrs, well you'll need all the entertainment you need if you are from the ass-end of the country ;op

[StanT Posted Jun 4th 2010 8:57AM]

@tallfella
a bit farther - Canada

[Ed T Posted Jun 4th 2010 9:11AM]

Keep hating and asking what it's good for. Meanwhile Apple will be selling another eight million of them this year.

[SirNoDroin Posted Jun 4th 2010 11:59AM]

@Ed T so by your logic, Time Warner is a good cable provider

[Mrwirez Posted Jun 4th 2010 9:30AM]

No excuse for this crap..

[alexiaco Posted Jun 4th 2010 10:25AM]

As predicted 3 month ago in my blog. but i dont know if the Tos of iTunes allows this kind of stuff
http://iacosystem.com/blogen/2010/3/17/rent-an-ipad-at-the-airport.html

[eisenawesome Posted Jun 4th 2010 11:02AM]

How long till the things all get stolen? For ten bucks, I might even consider buying one...

[SirNoDroin Posted Jun 4th 2010 11:55AM]

Also you can bring your full feature laptop (for free)

[tosvus Posted Jun 4th 2010 12:12PM]

Just make sure you don't use it for porn, as we know how the Aussie authorities feel about that...

[SeeKo Posted Jun 4th 2010 12:36PM]

I wonder how many of those they will have on board.

[shishi Posted Jun 4th 2010 12:42PM]

No thanks. But I'll have the $25 turkey sandwich.

[AvengerLE Posted Jun 4th 2010 1:22PM]

"Call us biased [...]"

No really??!?! You mean, twisting a story about Jetstar and at best Jetstar vs. United into Apple vs MS while comparing two entirely different services AND products is usually considered objective journalism?

[Colours Posted Jun 4th 2010 2:49PM]

@AvengerLE: Engadget being biased? QUELLE SURPRISE.