The tablet wars are being fought between Google and Apple on the ground — and in the air. We already knew that Boeing’s committing to using Android in its next-gen 787 Dreamliner planes. Now Qantas is trialling iPads for inflight distraction purposes.
Though Qantas has toyed with in-flight Wi-Fi in the past, both it and top domestic competitor, Virgin, have been coy on future plans…until now. Qantas has told Australian Business Traveller that it’s on the cards, and the same site reports that Virgin is “evaluating a number of entertainment options, including Wi-Fi.”
This sucks. Microsoft’s Imagine Cup is an annual student challenge to tackle major issues with technology, but this year’s Australian team have been knocked-out of the finals in the US. Qantas lost their headset that turns thoughts into words — and the wheelchair it controls — and couldn’t deliver them until after the presentation to judges.
Earning frequent flyer points is more addictive than crack. Once you start really trying to collect them, you can’t stop, searching out all possible ways to maximise your points status. Which means Qantas Frequent Flyers will probably start shifting to Optus soon, with the Telco today announcing a partnership with the airline’s rewards program.
The Qantas app announced at MIX 11 overnight sounds pretty sweet – as well as letting you remotely check in and receive a digital boarding pass, it uses the phone’s location software to estimate travel times.
To celebrate Qantas’ 90th anniversary last year, boutique film production company The Film Bakery created a documentary tracking six of the most pivotal aircraft in the airline’s history called “From the Outback to the World”. Some of the footage they found is unbelievable!
In hindsight, tweeter @theashes probably wishes she’d chosen a different username. Completely ignorant to all things cricket, she’s been bombarded with tweets from cricket fans, to the extent where Qantas has offered to fly her to a match for free.
