WiFi on the fly
Stay connected to the World Wide Web on selected Malindo flights.
FIVE minutes to boarding time, and an important email was still in the process of being sent out. Frustrated by the weak mobile data connection, I tried to leech complimentary WiFi off a nearby coffee chain, only to find that I was too far from its reception range.
Then came the announcement for passengers to board Malindo Air flight OD1004 to Kota Kinabalu.
“Shucks! I really need to send this out,” I moaned. The person beside me kindly reminded me there’s WiFi on our plane.
In my panic- stricken state, I’d forgotten the reason I was flying to the capital of Sabah. Malindo Air had launched its new in- flight connectivity service Malindo WiFi, and members of the press were invited to test the wireless connection on board a round- trip test flight from KLIA2 to Kota Kinabalu.
At the launch, Malindo Air chief operating officer Chandran Rama Muthy said that the airline is continuously looking for ways to enhance their products to suit travellers’ needs. In today’s fast- paced world, Internet connectivity even at 30,000 feet ( 9,144m) in the air may be a necessity for some.
Chandran said the service is currently available on their Delhi and Mumbai sectors, adding that the rest of the fleet is expected to be fitted with the technology periodically until the end of the year.
Malindo Air is the country’s first airline to offer full Internet access, enabling passengers to browse websites, check e- mails, update social media and stream videos.
“Of course, the quota would be quickly used up if you stream videos,” said the airline’s public relations manager Suresh Vanan who was with us on the trip. But with prices tagged in US dollars, one would think twice about playing YouTube videos.
Four usage passes can be purchased onboard from the cabin crew or through a portal in the in- flight system. Prices start at US$ 6.95 ( RM26) for 30 minutes’ usage, with a 20MB data cap. Then it’s US$ 11.95 ( RM44.80) for an hour/ 60MB; US$ 16.95 ( RM63.50) for three hours/ 80MB; and US$ 21.95 ( RM82.30) for 12 hours/ 100MB.
Suresh said passengers are essentially paying for quality service. My experience trying out the 256kbps connection on board was positive. Websites displayed seamlessly; email and WhatsApp messages were sent and received without any glitches; posting updates and replying to comments on Facebook were a breeze. As for video playback, I got through an episode of Running Man in minimal loading time.
Also launched was Malindo Mobile, which provides high quality mobile roaming, and the airline’s monthly in- flight magazine MALINDOMAG, which contains insightful travel feature stories. On the travel horoscope page, I read that it’s high time to take a vacation with a romantic interest. Good thing there’s WiFi in the air to check this on the Internet.