Virgin Inflight entertainment wifi
 

i noticed something interesting with my iphone on a recent domestic Virgin flight while connected via wifi to the inflight entertainment system, whilst it blocks internet access and voip calls etc as its only for the inflight entertainment , i've found you can track your location on the Maps app and also on the flightradar24 app, you dont see any other planes of course but you see where you are ! Screenshot included at no extra cost !

I think you might find that is your inbuilt GPS in your phone doing that. The in-flight entertainment WIFI has no internet connection.

The two internet WIFI equipped aircraft are a different story.

i did try with the wifi turned off on the phone and got no position marked or map updates eg when you move the map on the screen it didn't fill in, but perhaps it is the gps, at home i dont get those 60 minutes to home things unless the wifi is on, seems to grab location by peoples home wifi's.. I'll try it some more in a couple of weeks on my next trip !

I though board connect had a net connection capability which is used by the staff iPads and credit card machines?

Nope. Credit card details are uploaded at the end of the day. Crew iPads are offline in flight.