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 30, 2022, 6:12 pm
#1711
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Canada
Programs: AC SE100k, Marriott Titanium Elite, Accor Platinum, National Executive Elite
Posts: 349
Any chance the Dash 8 fleet will get wifi? There is a company with a specific Dash 8 wifi service out there now - AC has a lot of 100min or longer Dash flights.
Nov 30, 2022, 6:17 pm
#1712
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: 16,796
Dec 1, 2022, 12:52 am
#1713
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: 44,385
It'll probably happen around the time they add a J cabin 😜
Dec 1, 2022, 9:50 pm
#1714
Join Date: Nov 2022
Location: YYC/YYZ
Programs: AC SE
Posts: 11
I hit 75k 3 weeks ago and selected wifi, but could not get my work iPhone to connect. Is this typical of secured devices and does anybody have a workaround?
Last edited by Sophon; Dec 1, 2022 at 9:51 pm Reason: Quote didn't add properly
Dec 5, 2022, 7:51 am
#1715
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: YOW & YUL
Programs: AC 75K
Posts: 41
My work iPhone that is supervised and managed by corporate IT could not connect, but no problem with non-managed iPhone or laptop. Speed and lag were not that great on E175 or A220.
Dec 5, 2022, 2:57 pm
#1716
Join Date: Nov 2022
Location: YEG
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 92
Has anyone done a wifi speedtest for a TATL flight recently?
Debating if I should bring a laptop to play some single-player games that requires constant internet connection.
Debating if I should bring a laptop to play some single-player games that requires constant internet connection.
Dec 5, 2022, 3:03 pm
#1717
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: 44,385
Speed isn't your issue. Latency is.
Dec 5, 2022, 3:09 pm
#1718
Join Date: Mar 2022
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 479
I had an ultimate speed code last TATL because my super elite benefit wouldn’t connect. If I remember correctly it was between 20-30mbps down, around 1 up. But the latency as cow said was substantial. 800-1000ms I believe.
Dec 7, 2022, 9:32 pm
#1719
Join Date: Nov 2021
Programs: Aeroplan Super Elite
Posts: 101
Really wish they would roll out the 737M8 WiFi faster. That's what they use for most of the YOW<->YVR flights and the lack of WiFi is absolutely killing my ability to get any work done.
Dec 9, 2022, 10:19 am
#1720
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,198
WiFi on 789 is very slow this morning. Everyone must be streaming Croatia v Brazil.
Dec 9, 2022, 10:31 am
#1721
Join Date: Nov 2022
Location: Centre of the Universe
Programs: AC SE100K
Posts: 22
Dec 9, 2022, 10:39 am
#1722
Join Date: Oct 2022
Programs: Aeroplan SE; Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador
Posts: 1,554
Flying back from Europe back to Canada tomorrow on a 333. AC offered me a 19 CAD Wi-Fi pass for the flight. Really want to watch some World Cup onboard. Is that 19 dollar Wi-Fi pass good enough? Or I should buy an onboard more expensive option?
Dec 9, 2022, 11:11 am
#1723
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 1,198
I am barely able to load FT today let alone stream anything. I think you would also experience the futility of that exercise.
Dec 9, 2022, 11:14 am
#1724
Join Date: May 2012
Location: YYZ-YYC
Programs: AC50K, OZ*G
Posts: 280
For the WiFi, the Monthly Global Pass, what bucket does that fall into? The Browse, Stream, or Ultimate Pass?
Dec 9, 2022, 11:17 am
#1725
Join Date: Oct 2022
Programs: Aeroplan SE; Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador
Posts: 1,554