Emirates WI-FI - How free is it
May 21, 2016, 4:36 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: London, UK
Programs: Skywards Blue/Silver
Posts: 79
Emirates WI-FI - How free is it
How fee is their wifi and how slow is it and is it possible to upload youtube videos or is that too much and only used for general browsing purposes
May 21, 2016, 4:44 am
#2
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: DXB
Programs: EK, AA, DL, UA, SPG, HGP, Amex
Posts: 1,208
It's free for 10MB or $1 for 500MB.
The speed is pretty slow compared to what you have on the ground, but adequate for basic browsing, email and social media activities, but don't expect to be uploading much media.
The speed will also depend on how many other passengers are using the wifi.
On two recent flights I experienced:
- 3.85 Mbps down / 2.22 Mbps up
- 1.86 Mbps down / 1.01 Mbs up
I usually find 10-25 people connected simultaneously (Emirates has a little icon that displays it)
The speed is pretty slow compared to what you have on the ground, but adequate for basic browsing, email and social media activities, but don't expect to be uploading much media.
The speed will also depend on how many other passengers are using the wifi.
On two recent flights I experienced:
- 3.85 Mbps down / 2.22 Mbps up
- 1.86 Mbps down / 1.01 Mbs up
I usually find 10-25 people connected simultaneously (Emirates has a little icon that displays it)
May 21, 2016, 6:29 am
#3
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
"How free is it" I always considered "free" to be binary, either something is free or it isn't.
As mentioned by extramileage, 1$ for 500MB (the 10MB free go so quickly I sometimes just directly buy the 500MB package). Once you run out it's quite expensive but clear your cookies and use a different e-mail address and you can buy the 500MB package again.
I've been able to have Skype video calls and have also had several Skype voice calls without problem, depends on how many others use it and location. It drops out at times as well depending on satellite coverage. Nearer the equator is generally better.
As mentioned by extramileage, 1$ for 500MB (the 10MB free go so quickly I sometimes just directly buy the 500MB package). Once you run out it's quite expensive but clear your cookies and use a different e-mail address and you can buy the 500MB package again.
I've been able to have Skype video calls and have also had several Skype voice calls without problem, depends on how many others use it and location. It drops out at times as well depending on satellite coverage. Nearer the equator is generally better.
May 22, 2016, 12:32 pm
#7
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Reston, VA USA
Posts: 38
Higher Price for More Bandwidth Would be Worth it
I would be willing to pay a much higher price for more bandwidth. The free or $1 price is so low that too many use the service making it nearly useless. I've sent in comments to Emirates about this and hope they may consider this option.
May 22, 2016, 12:50 pm
#8
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 5,454
They won't make it charged for, imho - I think the point of it is a marketing tool to seed the idea that wi-fi on a plane is the new standard, so other carriers need to invest to catch up (much the same way that EK was one of the first airlines to have personal in seat IFE and why they spend so much on ICE programming), rather than a serious connectivity tool.
Once Panasonic's satellite providers have launched a load of new satellites (and they are on the case - http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articl...l-connectivity) speeds will increase, leaving carriers who haven't invested at a distinct marketing disadvantage, and then the issue is moot.
That said, not having the best in-flight products is in no way a hindrance to profits and success! It is, though, an important product to have to differentiate - and given EK's Y class pax loads and target markets, just having it in order to be seen as a better carrier is more important than any revenue generated or bandwidth, as long as people can check whatsapp.
Once Panasonic's satellite providers have launched a load of new satellites (and they are on the case - http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articl...l-connectivity) speeds will increase, leaving carriers who haven't invested at a distinct marketing disadvantage, and then the issue is moot.
That said, not having the best in-flight products is in no way a hindrance to profits and success! It is, though, an important product to have to differentiate - and given EK's Y class pax loads and target markets, just having it in order to be seen as a better carrier is more important than any revenue generated or bandwidth, as long as people can check whatsapp.
May 22, 2016, 11:30 pm
#10
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801