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)
Nov 10, 2022, 12:40 pm
#1666
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: I'm From Here
Programs: AC*SE & MM/*Wood Gold/HHonors Diamond/Marriott Silver/AirMiles Gold
Posts: 4,567
Nov 10, 2022, 2:05 pm
#1667
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,804
Really? Why, was it suspicious that I was trying to log in ON THE AIR CANADA WIFI NETWORK WHILE SITTING ON AN AIR CANADA AIRCRAFT?!?
So I bought a flight pass and got Gogo to refund it. They tried to fob me off with a 100% promo code, but after I pointed out that I don't need that since I have the SE pass, they gave me a proper refund.
Unfortunately, account was still locked on my next, overseas leg, because of the previous attempts. Did no longer attempt after sleeping overnight.
Seems there is a system issue. Whereby detecting if you are logging on from the air, or not, gets confused if you did not log on from gog in the first place and you ten attempt from what they now perceive as the regular aeroplan logon.
As usual, system too smart for their own good. Sequences of events that can and will happen not anticipated by whoever programmed the junk.
Nov 10, 2022, 2:46 pm
#1668
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: YWG/LHR
Programs: Aeroplan-SE-2018-23
Posts: 211
same issue for me last night -Nov 9 - YUL-LHR. The Wifi worked for 1st couple hours, then I woke up before landing, got the stupid message as displayed,
Nov 11, 2022, 4:24 pm
#1669
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Ontario, Canada
Programs: AC*SE MM, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 3,439
Just had the same thing MAD-YYZ today. Something’s broken.
Nov 14, 2022, 10:55 pm
#1670
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Vancouver, BC
Programs: Aeroplan 75K | Latitude Flight Pass junkie
Posts: 1,548
The wifi would be one of the most useful benefits for me - yet, it has been universally unusable for me. I bought a monthly pass for $65/mo, and discovered the hard way that it isn't offered on the 737 (an airplane I now avoid), and it hasn't allowed me to watch company training, webinar replays, or even listen to streaming music on Apple Music.
What has been the experience of others? For me, I find airborne wifi to be an overall scam - regardless of airline. Such a shame Air Canada and others have gone to so much expense for the installation of tech that just isn't ready.
I wonder if Starlink would be a better investment.
What has been the experience of others? For me, I find airborne wifi to be an overall scam - regardless of airline. Such a shame Air Canada and others have gone to so much expense for the installation of tech that just isn't ready.
I wonder if Starlink would be a better investment.
Nov 14, 2022, 11:07 pm
#1671
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: 44,329
The wifi would be one of the most useful benefits for me - yet, it has been universally unusable for me. I bought a monthly pass for $65/mo, and discovered the hard way that it isn't offered on the 737 (an airplane I now avoid), and it hasn't allowed me to watch company training, webinar replays, or even listen to streaming music on Apple Music.
What has been the experience of others? For me, I find airborne wifi to be an overall scam - regardless of airline. Such a shame Air Canada and others have gone to so much expense for the installation of tech that just isn't ready.
I wonder if Starlink would be a better investment.
What has been the experience of others? For me, I find airborne wifi to be an overall scam - regardless of airline. Such a shame Air Canada and others have gone to so much expense for the installation of tech that just isn't ready.
I wonder if Starlink would be a better investment.
The ground based system (320, Express) is fine for browsing and not much else.
I have not been impressed with the Thales system on the 7M8 even ignoring the fact that my wifi benefit does not cover it. When it works, it's better than a 320. But it has not worked well for me.
Nov 17, 2022, 5:24 pm
#1672
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Vancouver, BC
Programs: Aeroplan 75K | Latitude Flight Pass junkie
Posts: 1,548
First of all, basically every airline says your not allowed to use software like Zoom on wifi. If you're not speaking, I find AC's satellite system (wide-bodies and 223s) works great for it. I regularly stream Netflix etc.
The ground based system (320, Express) is fine for browsing and not much else.
I have not been impressed with the Thales system on the 7M8 even ignoring the fact that my wifi benefit does not cover it. When it works, it's better than a 320. But it has not worked well for me.
The ground based system (320, Express) is fine for browsing and not much else.
I have not been impressed with the Thales system on the 7M8 even ignoring the fact that my wifi benefit does not cover it. When it works, it's better than a 320. But it has not worked well for me.
Last edited by YVR72; Nov 17, 2022 at 5:57 pm
Nov 17, 2022, 5:58 pm
#1673
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: 44,329
I don't know why you suspect any throttling.
Nov 17, 2022, 6:52 pm
#1674
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2022
Posts: 77
Agreed. I basically streamed a college football game in 1080p last Saturday on board a 789. About 7 or 8 pauses for about a sec throughout the whole game but pretty much about it.
Nov 17, 2022, 6:57 pm
#1675
Join Date: Jun 2010
Programs: AC SE, Bonvoy LTT, ALL Diamond, HH Diamond
Posts: 173
Pass Activation
Has anyone found a way to activate the pass w/o being onboard? I have 6 flights before 12-31 but all are on the MAX. I will be pretty annoyed if it expires with no way to activate.
Nov 18, 2022, 11:46 am
#1676
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: I'm From Here
Programs: AC*SE & MM/*Wood Gold/HHonors Diamond/Marriott Silver/AirMiles Gold
Posts: 4,567
First of all, basically every airline says your not allowed to use software like Zoom on wifi. If you're not speaking, I find AC's satellite system (wide-bodies and 223s) works great for it. I regularly stream Netflix etc.
The ground based system (320, Express) is fine for browsing and not much else.
I have not been impressed with the Thales system on the 7M8 even ignoring the fact that my wifi benefit does not cover it. When it works, it's better than a 320. But it has not worked well for me.
The ground based system (320, Express) is fine for browsing and not much else.
I have not been impressed with the Thales system on the 7M8 even ignoring the fact that my wifi benefit does not cover it. When it works, it's better than a 320. But it has not worked well for me.
Nov 18, 2022, 5:50 pm
#1677
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Toronto, ON
Programs: AC SE100K, Star Alliance - Gold, Bonvoy-Titanium, Hilton-Gold, Avis-President's Club
Posts: 158
How do we fix this guys? Who should we escalate? I saw the thread it started to appear these days with you guys as well. I have a long flight next week from yyz to icn, it would be bad if i still can’t use it…
Nov 22, 2022, 9:16 am
#1678
Join Date: May 2005
Location: YOW
Programs: AC-SE100K MM, BA-S HH-D, MB-G LT Sil, IHG-Plt, Nexus, Global Entry
Posts: 3,803
Tried to stream something on Disney+ about 10 days ago on a 320. Would not work. I suspect there was something on the Disney end blocking the service. Streaming TSN sports is very, very poor recently. Getting mentally prepared to not have access to FIFA on YVR-SYD in a few days.
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13F
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Nov 22, 2022, 9:20 am
#1679
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: 16,771
Nov 22, 2022, 9:53 am
#1680
Join Date: May 2005
Location: YOW
Programs: AC-SE100K MM, BA-S HH-D, MB-G LT Sil, IHG-Plt, Nexus, Global Entry
Posts: 3,803