Oct 26, 2015, 2:06 am
Last edit by: Adam Smith
General WiFi Tidbits
Detailed WiFi roll-out info compiled by FTers:
Planes with WiFi (confirmed by FTers):
Remaining planes planned for WiFi that are still without WiFI or unknown:
Planes with no plans to install WiFi:
Air Canada Status WiFi Benefit
- WiFi is managed by "WiFi Onboard", formerly known as "Gogo"
- If you have a pass from WiFi OnBoard for their entire fleet that will generally work
- You can redeem Aeroplan points for various packages ranging from one hour to the entire flight and at different speeds
- Only one device at a time can use the plan. Once you log in with another device with your WiFi Onboard or Aeroplan account the other device will drop
- Rouge J customers are now getting a one-time WiFi Onboard code for free WiFi on the flight instead of getting an iPad
Detailed WiFi roll-out info compiled by FTers:
Planes with WiFi (confirmed by FTers):
- GoGo 2Ku satellite-based system (fast, large coverage area, including over water - coverage map):
- 223
- 319 (rouge)
- 320 (rouge)
- 321 (rouge)
- 333 (except 946 and 948)
- 788
- 789 (except 860)
- 77L
- 77W
- Gogo ATG system (old, slow, only works over land in North America, and not very far north - coverage map)
- CR9: 701-721, 780-784 (note: a recent report from a Jazz pilot suggests the system may be disabled on 780-784)
- E75
- 319 (mainline)
- 320 (mainline)
- 321 (mainline)
Remaining planes planned for WiFi that are still without WiFI or unknown:
- CR9: 722-730 (note: a recent report from a Jazz pilot suggests the system may be disabled on 780-784)
- 7M8: all (AC had an embarrassing escapade with a Thales system that was completely inadequate. As of March 2023, they appear to have given up on this system. What they plan to replace it with is uncertain)
- 789: 860
- 333: 946, 948
Planes with no plans to install WiFi:
- DH4s
- CRJs
Air Canada Status WiFi Benefit
- The benefit lasts for 12 months from the date of activation, which is the first date you sign into Gogo on an AC flight using your Aeroplan account. Date of benefit selection is irrelevant. It must be activated by the end of the calendar year.
- Benefit currently works on all aircraft with WiFi, except possibly rouge. Some rouge aircraft have reported having access to the Aeroplan sign in which was required for the Aeroplan benefit to work. It's unknown whether the benefit will be extended to those fleets in the future.
- The benefit says you can have up to 5 users but that is five unique devices in a one month period and not simultaneous usage. You will need to log off one device to use another device on the same flight. GoGo will apparently block if it sees too many devices in a one month period to avoid credential sharing.
- There are huge problems with the Aeroplan login for this benefit. There is a high likelihood that you will need to attempt to log in numerous times for it to work, and it may not work at all. Chatting with WiFi Onboard support should get you a one-time code for free WiFi for the flight.
On-Board WIFI (2013-2022)
Jul 24, 2022, 6:07 pm
#1621
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM, FB Plat, WS Plat, BA Silver, DL GM, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,775
All the in-service B737s have now have the wifi bubble antenna added to the fuselage roof, are we saying it only actually works on a subset of the fleet? They all seem to have the hardware installed, as they're delivered without it and all have been photographed since with it added.
Aug 18, 2022, 1:16 am
#1622
Join Date: Mar 2022
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 479
I’m on 7M8 Fin 509 coming up for a TATL (yuck). On the app it says no wifi but this wiki says yes wifi. Anyone been on this Fin recently and can confirm?
Thanks
Thanks
Aug 18, 2022, 1:40 am
#1623
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM, FB Plat, WS Plat, BA Silver, DL GM, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,775
Also, for those unfamiliar with FT's wiki function, if you go to edit the wiki, then View History, you can see when any particular change was made. In this case, @GoDucks added 509 to the list of aircraft with WiFi on July 10, 2022.
Aug 19, 2022, 10:59 am
#1624
Join Date: Jun 2010
Programs: AC SE 1MM
Posts: 344
Does anyone know if there is a way to check the expiry of your Aeroplan Elite Wifi status benefit? If you didn't write it down by chance do you just wait until it stops working one day?
Aug 19, 2022, 11:05 am
#1625
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,211
What in the world is the issue with getting wifi on these 737s?? It's been how long already?
Aug 19, 2022, 11:24 am
#1626
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,346
Yeah I'm starting to wonder about this too. I know I picked it late last year, but I don't know if "late" is September or December. I guess I can try to chat them and ask next time I'm in-flight.
Aug 19, 2022, 4:36 pm
#1627
Moderator, Air Canada; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: YYC
Programs: AC SE MM, FB Plat, WS Plat, BA Silver, DL GM, Marriott Plat, Hilton Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 16,775
Aug 20, 2022, 11:53 am
#1628
Join Date: Jun 2010
Programs: AC SE 1MM
Posts: 344
I'm not hopeful that Gogo knows much. As I am sure others have found logging into the wifi portal on AirCanada.com to authenticate yourself against your Aeroplan ID is hit and miss and whenever I've dug into it with gogo they seem to suggest they have no visibility into it. I suspect they just get a TRUE or FALSE back from aircanada.com on whether your have the benefit. I should probably trace the network calls next time for fun =)
Aug 29, 2022, 10:38 am
#1629
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE100k, MT Ambassador, HH Diamond, Accor Diamond, Avis President's Club, National Emerald Club
Posts: 229
AC WiFi pass benefit login issues
Have an ac WiFi annual pass selected as part of my choice benefits. Never had an issue using it but this morning I login like usual and it says, “we’ve sent you an email please enter your authorization code”.
How am I supposed to get my authorization code when I don’t have internet until I get signed in?
Anyone else with this issue? Work around?
How am I supposed to get my authorization code when I don’t have internet until I get signed in?
Anyone else with this issue? Work around?
Aug 29, 2022, 12:03 pm
#1630
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 221
Have an ac WiFi annual pass selected as part of my choice benefits. Never had an issue using it but this morning I login like usual and it says, “we’ve sent you an email please enter your authorization code”.
How am I supposed to get my authorization code when I don’t have internet until I get signed in?
Anyone else with this issue? Work around?
How am I supposed to get my authorization code when I don’t have internet until I get signed in?
Anyone else with this issue? Work around?
Aug 29, 2022, 12:29 pm
#1631
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE100k, MT Ambassador, HH Diamond, Accor Diamond, Avis President's Club, National Emerald Club
Posts: 229
Aug 29, 2022, 12:33 pm
#1632
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: PHX
Programs: AAexp, AC75k, HertzPC, NationalEE, Accor/MariottP, Hilton/HyattG
Posts: 3,614
Wifi has been reliable on all my flights and the social media / messaging option(cheapest) is fast enough to stream music to listen to 
the Dreamliner has especially worked well for me.
I’m a big fan of the new seats in the 737m but read here people prefer the old airbus due to wifi and I’m starting to feel them a bit more now as my flights recently have only been on no wifi 737m.
the Dreamliner has especially worked well for me. I’m a big fan of the new seats in the 737m but read here people prefer the old airbus due to wifi and I’m starting to feel them a bit more now as my flights recently have only been on no wifi 737m.
Aug 29, 2022, 12:43 pm
#1633
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: AC SEMM DL DM
Posts: 393
Have an ac WiFi annual pass selected as part of my choice benefits. Never had an issue using it but this morning I login like usual and it says, “we’ve sent you an email please enter your authorization code”.
How am I supposed to get my authorization code when I don’t have internet until I get signed in?
Anyone else with this issue? Work around?
How am I supposed to get my authorization code when I don’t have internet until I get signed in?
Anyone else with this issue? Work around?
On YYZ-SFO, I chatted with Gogo and they got me a code.
On SFO-YYZ, I noticed as I was starting the chat that WiFi was free for anyone with an email address on that flight, so I just did that.
Gogo agent on my YYZ-SFO seemed as if they were familiar with this happening. No questions, no delays, just gave me instructions on how to log in, and a code to log in with.
Still kinda shaking my head at in-flight WiFi asking for an email confirmation to authenticate. I don't think they thought their clever plan all the way through.
Aug 29, 2022, 12:57 pm
#1634
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE100k, MT Ambassador, HH Diamond, Accor Diamond, Avis President's Club, National Emerald Club
Posts: 229
Had this on both my flights last week -- YYZ-SFO and vv, both on 333s.
On YYZ-SFO, I chatted with Gogo and they got me a code.
On SFO-YYZ, I noticed as I was starting the chat that WiFi was free for anyone with an email address on that flight, so I just did that.
Gogo agent on my YYZ-SFO seemed as if they were familiar with this happening. No questions, no delays, just gave me instructions on how to log in, and a code to log in with.
Still kinda shaking my head at in-flight WiFi asking for an email confirmation to authenticate. I don't think they thought their clever plan all the way through.
On YYZ-SFO, I chatted with Gogo and they got me a code.
On SFO-YYZ, I noticed as I was starting the chat that WiFi was free for anyone with an email address on that flight, so I just did that.
Gogo agent on my YYZ-SFO seemed as if they were familiar with this happening. No questions, no delays, just gave me instructions on how to log in, and a code to log in with.
Still kinda shaking my head at in-flight WiFi asking for an email confirmation to authenticate. I don't think they thought their clever plan all the way through.
when I am at my home computer every time I login to my air Canada account it asks me to enter the emailed code. It’s like I’m logging into the CRA.
Aug 29, 2022, 4:03 pm
#1635
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: MEX
Programs: AC E75K
Posts: 4,171
Have an ac WiFi annual pass selected as part of my choice benefits. Never had an issue using it but this morning I login like usual and it says, “we’ve sent you an email please enter your authorization code”.
How am I supposed to get my authorization code when I don’t have internet until I get signed in?
Anyone else with this issue? Work around?
How am I supposed to get my authorization code when I don’t have internet until I get signed in?
Anyone else with this issue? Work around?
Had this on both my flights last week -- YYZ-SFO and vv, both on 333s.
On YYZ-SFO, I chatted with Gogo and they got me a code.
On SFO-YYZ, I noticed as I was starting the chat that WiFi was free for anyone with an email address on that flight, so I just did that.
Gogo agent on my YYZ-SFO seemed as if they were familiar with this happening. No questions, no delays, just gave me instructions on how to log in, and a code to log in with.
Still kinda shaking my head at in-flight WiFi asking for an email confirmation to authenticate. I don't think they thought their clever plan all the way through.
On YYZ-SFO, I chatted with Gogo and they got me a code.
On SFO-YYZ, I noticed as I was starting the chat that WiFi was free for anyone with an email address on that flight, so I just did that.
Gogo agent on my YYZ-SFO seemed as if they were familiar with this happening. No questions, no delays, just gave me instructions on how to log in, and a code to log in with.
Still kinda shaking my head at in-flight WiFi asking for an email confirmation to authenticate. I don't think they thought their clever plan all the way through.