WestJet’s ill-advised move to tablets

[Galaxy]

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/westjet’s-ill- ... blets.html

[Galaxy]

Can't get the link to work properly, so here's the article I cut and pasted from yahoo.ca
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WestJet’s ill-advised move to tablets
The winner of the “Dumbest Move Involving Technology Award” this week goes to WestJet for the airline’s plan to ditch its in-flight entertainment system in favour of renting tablets to passengers.

By Peter Nowak | Maclean's – 3 hours ago


A WestJet plane takes off from the international airport in Calgary. THE CANADIAN …
The winner of the “Dumbest Move Involving Technology Award” this week goes to WestJet for the airline’s plan to ditch its in-flight entertainment system in favour of renting tablets to passengers.
Yup, you read that right–for the low, low price of $10 to $12, WestJet will rent you a tablet pre-loaded with movies, TV shows and possibly games. And if you don’t want to pay? You’ll be stuck looking at the clouds for hours. Unless your flight is at night, in which case you won’t even be that lucky.

The airline is considering deploying the tablets on four planes by the end of the year while it searches for a more permanent solution to a lacklustre entertainment system that includes live TV, which one aviation consultant has called “a complete failure.”
Trying to incorporate tablets is an admirable ploy. Indeed, I used to hate flying because of the inevitable boredom; there’s only so much you can read in one flight, and if there’s nothing good on the entertainment system (and there rarely is), you’re screwed. Now, thanks to my tablet, I look forward to flights as quality me-time where I get to catch up on all the TV shows, movies and games that I’ve loaded onto it and that I normally don’t have time for.
Still, not everyone has a tablet. By way of rough estimate, only a small portion of people on most flights I’ve been on in the past year have had them. The reality is, many passengers depend on the plane’s in-flight entertainment system, as bad as it may be, to get them through their journey. Taking that away and presenting them with only one option–pay up or be bored–is a bad idea that will only anger people.
On the other hand, such a move might also spur tablet sales. If travelers know they have a trip coming up and they’re faced with the prospect of staring at the seat in front of them for hours, they may just pull the trigger and get that iPad they’ve been thinking about.
If so, that might just prompt aviation authorities to fast-track their reviews of the ridiculous rules regarding electronic gadgets, which require them to be shut off during take-off and landing. If it takes the elimination of airline-provided in-flight entertainment and passenger revolt over tablet rental charges to trigger this, then so be it.

[ahramin]

Is it just me, or does this Peter Nowak sound like a complete moron? How does he think people used to survive life before television? Why would Macleans have someone who sounds like a cephaloplegic teenager writing for them?

[Realitychex]

As much as this is quite clearly an interim step, I doubt anyone three years from now will look back fondly on this move as being "ahead of the curve". I'd be surprised if there was 5% takeup on this offer.

As far as LiveTV is concerned, its always dangerous to throw the baby out with the bathwater. The technology today is a quantum leap ahead of where it was 10+ years ago when the product was first contemplated.

There are going to be a lot of Bell ExpressVu subscribers who are in for a shock in the next 18 months.

There are, however, low cost solutions available for folks who think a little outside the box.

[bigsky]

There are going to be a lot of Bell ExpressVu subscribers who are in for a shock in the next 18 months.

Why do you say this? What is going to happen with ExpressVu?

[Realitychex]

There are going to be a lot of Bell ExpressVu subscribers who are in for a shock in the next 18 months.

Why do you say this? What is going to happen with ExpressVu?

Bell is transitioning to a new satellite that will have a far smaller footprint than today.

Folks in Mexico and the southern US States will no longer get a signal. I've seen a footprint map that would make any signal questionable about 300 miles south of the border.

Additionally, I am told they are going to a spot beam system similar to US Direct TV where customers will no longer have access to all the locals across the country.

I haven't done a ton of homework on this, but the bottom line is that I suspect Bell will find a way of extracting more money for customers wanting their existing service down the road.

However, a full Bell package costs less than a full DirectTV package, and DTV will only provide spot beam locals.

LiveTV has apparently got a solution using a combination of Bell and DTV. The technology is far more reliable, offers far more content and takes up a fraction of the space and weight of the current system.

I'm not sure where LiveTV is at when it comes to internet connectivity, which is a big issue moving forward.

I suspect LiveTV remains one of, if not THE lowest cost IFE solution out there and the ability to profitably offer low fares in perpetuity remains one heck of a competitive weapon.....

[bigsky]

Bell is transitioning to a new satellite that will have a far smaller footprint than today.

Folks in Mexico and the southern US States will no longer get a signal. I've seen a footprint map that would make any signal questionable about 300 miles south of the border.

Have you got a link to this new foot print map, or a link to what you are referring to in regards to changes. What is the foot print for northern Canada?

[bcflyer]

As much as this is quite clearly an interim step, I doubt anyone three years from now will look back fondly on this move as being "ahead of the curve". I'd be surprised if there was 5% takeup on this offer.

I wouldn't be so sure. Jetsgo did the exact same thing on some flights and the tablets went like hotcakes. Not saying that is a great system by any means but people will rent them rather than stare at the seat.

[cj555]

The airline is considering deploying the tablets on four planes by the end of the year while it searches for a more permanent solution to a lacklustre entertainment system that includes live TV, which one aviation consultant has called “a complete failure.”

Who decided that the live TV on WestJet flights was "lack luster"? You might aswell say satellite TV in general is "lack luster."

I actually prefer the live TV on WestJet flights over the pre-loaded entertainment system on AC flights. WestJet was ahead of the game by offereing live TV during flights. Passengers can watch live sporting events, not miss their favourite TV shows etc. Its just like when you're at home watching TV.

I find the entertainment system on AC is not better then what you can find just channel surfing/watching PPV movies. Plus, the stuff never changes so after a few flights you've seen everything there is to see on the preloaded system. At least with satelitte TV, its always changing and live.

To say that offering live TV on a flight is a complete failure is such BS. Who's opinion is the article quoting anyways? ..."an aviation consultant"? News outlets like Yahoo love to sensationalize things.

I really hope they keep the satellite TV on WestJet, this tablet idea sounds like another money grab that will only reduce customer satisfaction.

[sarg]

The biggest problem with live TV is Bell's move to a new satellite that will limit coverage to Canada, even transcon flights that fly the southern route YVR-YYZ through the states will lose coverage.

[cj555]

The biggest problem with live TV is Bell's move to a new satellite that will limit coverage to Canada, even transcon flights that fly the southern route YVR-YYZ through the states will lose coverage.

That is a very valid point Sarg. I guess Bell didn't really value their WJ contract

Lets just hope they transition to some other form of in flight entertainment that is based on the seat-back screen....that you don't have to pay for just to use.

[twinpratts]

http://business.financialpost.com/2012/ ... nt-system/

[737jetsetter]

I actually prefer the live TV on WestJet flights over the pre-loaded entertainment system on AC flights. WestJet was ahead of the game by offereing live TV during flights. Passengers can watch live sporting events, not miss their favourite TV shows etc. Its just like when you're at home watching TV.

I find the entertainment system on AC is not better then what you can find just channel surfing/watching PPV movies. Plus, the stuff never changes so after a few flights you've seen everything there is to see on the preloaded system. At least with satelitte TV, its always changing and live.

What kind of live sports and favourite shows are you going to find on tv at 1000 on a Tuesday?? I would much prefer to watch a new movie than price is right or dr Phil on a 10 o'clock YVR-YYZ. AC updates there catalog every month.

[Dwight]

As much as this is quite clearly an interim step, I doubt anyone three years from now will look back fondly on this move as being "ahead of the curve". I'd be surprised if there was 5% takeup on this offer.

I wouldn't be so sure. Jetsgo did the exact same thing on some flights and the tablets went like hotcakes. Not saying that is a great system by any means but people will rent them rather than stare at the seat.

I also prefer the live tv.

[Johnny#5]

By the time this is actually implemented most people will have their own tablet anyway...

[GustavWind]

By the time this is actually implemented most people will have their own tablet for sale anyway...

On the other hand, such a move might also spur tablet sales.

[3 holer]

Most families that have purchased a tablet for their households do not purchase one for every family member unless money is no object for your family. For those families in that financial status flying on a LCC and bargain hunting for cheap flights is not a priority they are seeking higher levels of service. So a common folk family of 4 board their flight to MCO maybe with one tablet between all four of them and find out they have to rent three more tablets each way to be fair and keep everyone entertained and happy on a 3hr flight. I can hear the comments already. Should have booked AC, Transat or Swg. Maybe an ill conceived idea. Tablets are becoming popular but their proliferation of ownership is nowhere near that of cell phones and is years away from achieving that level of status. You might be pissing off the core customer base you built that airline on the frugal traveling family who by three or more seats at a time once or twice per year. Maybe my theory is wrong or maybe wjt is, only time will tell when customers choose other options to travel or accept a lower value added product. For us I would choose seat back PTV's like ac has. Traveling with kids on trips over an hour has made it far more enjoyable and stress free for everyone.

[CanadaEH]

WestJet is using tablets are a bridge between LiveTV and the the next system; it's not permanent. The next system will be wifi capable with an onboard server that will stream to any wifi device. That's about all I know.

[Donald]

And it won't be free.

[CanadaEH]

And rightfully so.

[silverstar]

And rightfully so.

Care to elaborate?