Its terrible wifi, dont even try to do more than check your Facebook or slowly upload photos. The PING would be very very high due to it being satellite and the download and uploads speeds would be sluggish at best.... But i wouldnt do it more than once, €20 is a nice fork out for WiFi that'll make you cry.
-I have used the A330 wi-fi 4 times and found it quite satisfactory. You won't be watching youtube but for web-browsing and email it was fine. And EI are marketing it mostly as a business perk (judging by their
PR over the new J Class)
I know of an Irish aviation site where a guy was live posting in response to question as he flew to SFO with EI. (boards.ie) By the sounds of it he found it good too. P.S. why would you be uploading photos on non broadband connection.seems silly to me.
How is it that Emirates can do it so much cheaper?
-Could be that EK are absorbing some of the cost themselves in order to offer a "Premium product"..meanwhile EI are obviously letting the service provider decide on the charges.