Mar 14, 2020, 10:54 am
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
This is an archive thread, the active thread is Pricing & Speed Performance of UA in-flight Wifi
Pricing appears to be based upon the sector length, with a new purchase required for each sector.
Due to the nature of the satellite system, high latency is to be expected when using the system.
Here's the list of specific UA planes that have wifi.
And here's the overview from united.com.
Subscriptions are now offered which allow for unlimited wifi on flights
Pricing appears to be based upon the sector length, with a new purchase required for each sector.
Due to the nature of the satellite system, high latency is to be expected when using the system.
Here's the list of specific UA planes that have wifi.
And here's the overview from united.com.
Subscriptions are now offered which allow for unlimited wifi on flights
Pricing & Speed Performance of UA in-flight Wifi {Archive}
Jun 11, 2017, 2:18 am
#346
Moderator: Mileage Run, United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: The City/Honolulu
Programs: UA 3MM; Hyatt Glob*****; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,473
It seems they've started doing partial refunds. I sometimes request refunds when the WiFi doesn't work for, say, 2/3 of the flight and in the spiel I say I'm happy with a partial refund. UA has always ignored it and given me a full refund, until yesterday when they refunded half the cost.
Jun 11, 2017, 2:24 am
#347
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
Anyone ever had the wrong flight information displayed on the unitedwifi.com portal? I'm currently on a flight LAX-MCO and the portal says the flight is SFO-LAX with a flight number that is not flying SFO-LAX today. Remaining flight time is close to accurate.
Only charged $4.99 for full flight wifi. Is that normal for a transcon flight to a leisure destination like Orlando or a glitch because the portal thinks this flight is SFO-LAX?
Only charged $4.99 for full flight wifi. Is that normal for a transcon flight to a leisure destination like Orlando or a glitch because the portal thinks this flight is SFO-LAX?
Jun 11, 2017, 6:29 am
#348
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: DL Platinum, AA Lifetime Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Radisson Premium
Posts: 6,638
It was priced at $18.99 yesterday TPA-SFO. Same on the outbound.
though the 737 wifi seems to be the best one with decent speed and works from takeoff all the way to landing
though the 737 wifi seems to be the best one with decent speed and works from takeoff all the way to landing
Jun 11, 2017, 9:00 am
#349
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: LAX, EWR, LHR
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 227
I didn't purchase until we were above 10,000. It worked the whole flight with no issues. Seeing as how the poster above this paid $18.99 for SFO-TPA I lucked out at only $4.99.
Jun 11, 2017, 10:22 am
#350
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,693
The 737 wifi has very limited GOM coverage, you can be within sight of land and not have any coverage. Impacts IAH-MIA/FLL and even IAH-MCO routes heavily.
Jun 11, 2017, 10:12 pm
#351
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: EWR/LHR/SFO
Programs: UA 1K 1MM
Posts: 574
In that respect, the implementation of partial refunds seems perhaps a move to understand this issue on UA's part (ie a recognition that if you pay this much for WiFi, and it doesn't work for 2/3 of the time, you deserve 2/3 of the money back).
Jun 12, 2017, 1:49 am
#352
Moderator: Mileage Run, United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: The City/Honolulu
Programs: UA 3MM; Hyatt Glob*****; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,473
Oh, agreed -- it's unrealistic to expect prime performance on a TATL for 100% of the flight. But if it's non-functional or intolerably slow for significant proportions of the flight, I think it's pretty unreasonable to be asked to shell out $30+ (especially compared to ~$17 a year ago).
In that respect, the implementation of partial refunds seems perhaps a move to understand this issue on UA's part (ie a recognition that if you pay this much for WiFi, and it doesn't work for 2/3 of the time, you deserve 2/3 of the money back).
In that respect, the implementation of partial refunds seems perhaps a move to understand this issue on UA's part (ie a recognition that if you pay this much for WiFi, and it doesn't work for 2/3 of the time, you deserve 2/3 of the money back).
Since January of this year UA has charged me for wifi:
$14.99 SFO/LAX-HNL and vv
$23.99 FRA-IAD
$19.99 IAD-SFO
$9.99 ATL-SFO and vv
$9.99 SFO-BNA
$11.99 BNA-SFO
$29.99 SFO-TPE
$21.99 TPE-SFO
$16.99 HKG-SFO
$16.99 SFO-CDG
$26.99 CDG-SFO
$16.99 EWR-MXP
$29.99 FRA-SFO
$16.99 HNL-EWR
$19.99 LHR-LAX
$8.99 SFO-MIA and vv
$16.99 SFO-HKG
Pricing is often not the same for the outbound and return. See CDG, TPE, and BNA flights.
Jun 12, 2017, 3:28 am
#353
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,597
It seems they've started doing partial refunds. I sometimes request refunds when the WiFi doesn't work for, say, 2/3 of the flight and in the spiel I say I'm happy with a partial refund. UA has always ignored it and given me a full refund, until yesterday when they refunded half the cost.
Jun 12, 2017, 7:59 am
#354
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,459
Not sure it's appropriate to draw broad conclusions based on a single partial refund, particularly since that's what you asked for.
More generally, I'm simply not paying $35 for UA wifi. That's just greedy considering how unreliable the service is. Moreover, I don't like being put in the situation where I constantly have to complain and request a refund.
More generally, I'm simply not paying $35 for UA wifi. That's just greedy considering how unreliable the service is. Moreover, I don't like being put in the situation where I constantly have to complain and request a refund.
Jun 21, 2017, 2:55 pm
#355
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: LAS ORD
Programs: AA Pro (mostly B6) OZ♦ (flying BR/UA), BA Silver Hyatt LT, Wynn Black, Cosmo Plat, Mlife Noir
Posts: 5,992
$11.99 LAS-EWR
$23.99 EWR-LAS
It's annoying to have a 2x difference even if just because of the unpredictability. That said, the ticket price on UA was 1/2 that of AA LAS-JFK (both in F), so I suppose the wifi fees were nominal in the end.
$23.99 EWR-LAS
It's annoying to have a 2x difference even if just because of the unpredictability. That said, the ticket price on UA was 1/2 that of AA LAS-JFK (both in F), so I suppose the wifi fees were nominal in the end.
Jun 21, 2017, 4:25 pm
#356
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Florida
Programs: United 1K, Marriott Ambassador, Hilton Gold
Posts: 673
I have seen fluctuation on my 737 TPA-IAD-TPA flights be anywhere from 5.99 to 8.99.. so they definitely are continuing to test different price points. I have also found the Airbus and 757 flights to consistently be more expensive.
Also, for ERJ170/75 I have seen some flights where the price is a whole dollar amount versus a XX.99. Just to add some data points.
I do have to give credit where credit is due, I have seen a big uptick in wifi reliability in the past 6 months. Last year, I think I was 40% or less for working wifi and was not happy. I am someone who purchases wifi 100% of the time on any flight over 1.25-1.5 hours (minus short red eyes) so it's important to me.
Jun 21, 2017, 5:35 pm
#357
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: LAS ORD
Programs: AA Pro (mostly B6) OZ♦ (flying BR/UA), BA Silver Hyatt LT, Wynn Black, Cosmo Plat, Mlife Noir
Posts: 5,992
Jun 21, 2017, 5:49 pm
#358
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Florida
Programs: United 1K, Marriott Ambassador, Hilton Gold
Posts: 673
Jul 2, 2017, 12:38 pm
#359
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,459
SAN-SFO yesterday on a 319 the only option was $5.99 for the full flight. Much better deal than what I've been seeing lately.
Jul 2, 2017, 3:12 pm
#360
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,138
My most recent ones included a $19.99 for DEN-IAD (739) and $12.99 for IAD-DEN (738 IIRC).
Yes, better than what I've been seeing even for short-haul flights like that.
Yes, better than what I've been seeing even for short-haul flights like that.