After years of anticipation, Lufthansa is quickly rolling out onboard wi-fi onboard its short and medium-haul flight.
Unlike the “one-size-fits all” approach its longhaul system, the new system for shorter flights include three speed options.
During a recent flight from Amsterdam to Frankfurt, I had a chance to test out the new system. Unfortunately, the results were not pretty.
I was all caught up on work and therefore did not need the fastest speed. Instead I wanted to see if the slowest speed was sufficient to check email and use iMessage during the 40-minute flight to Frankfurt.
A card in the seatback pocket detailed three speed options–
FlyNet® Message: EUR 3 or 1,000 miles
Speed up to 150 kBit/s
For those who want to write emails or chat online
on their smartphone or tablet
FlyNet® Surf: EUR 7 or 2,300 miles
Speed up to 600 kBit/s
As above, plus surfing the Internet or connecting to a company’s VPN
FlyNet® Stream: EUR 12 or 4,000 miles
Speed up to 15 MBit/s
As above, plus streaming TV series, playlists and more
One problem: the system did not work. Period. The network did not even how up on my phone or laptop. That’s a bad first impression, but I still like the potential…
Can You Book in Conjunction with Longhaul Flights?
Lufthansa offers attractive daily rates (17EUR) on intercontinental flights. If you’re flying, say from New York to Frankfurt to Dubai you can use the same pass on both flights as long your connection is within 24 hours. But at least for now, you cannot combine a shorthaul pass (sold on a per-flight basis) with a longahul pass.
Currently you cannot book the FlyNet® Internet service on your long-haul flight in conjunction with FlyNet® for a short- or medium-haul flight. However, an overarching tariff structure is planned for the future, so that you can soon enjoy a seamless Internet connection on the entire Lufthansa fleet.
CONCLUSION
I’m so happy to see winless internet popping up on more Lufthansa flights. Now Lufthansa just has to ensure it actually works…
top image: Lufthansa
I had a Lufthansa flight on a A320neo last month with both the radome and the seatback card describing the offerings. Like you, it apparently was not turned on…I have some more LH flights in Europe this week and hopefully I’ll get to test it out at some point.