Oct 11, 2023, 11:55 am
Last edit by: YVR72
General WiFi Tidbits
Detailed WiFi roll-out info compiled by FTers
Planes with WiFi (confirmed by FTers):
Planes with no plans to install WiFi:
Future Plans
In September 2023, AC announced plans to install the 2Ku WiFi system on the 7M8s, 321s and the 8 newest 320s "starting in" 2023. The E75s and CR9s will also be upgraded to satellite-based systems "starting in" 2024. No timeline has been provided for completion of these projects, and history suggests it could be years before they're finished.
AC has also shown itself willing to take delivery of new aircraft (whether brand new or second-hand) without WiFi and operate them that way for considerable periods of time. WiFi should eventually be installed on all widebody and mainline narrowbody aircraft, but who knows when this will happen.
Air Canada SE/75K WiFi Benefit
- WiFi is managed by "WiFi Onboard" (owned by Intelsat), formerly known as "Gogo"
- If you have a pass from WiFi OnBoard for their entire fleet that will generally work
- Multiple passes are typically offered ranging from one hour to the entire flight and, on aircraft with the 2Ku system, at different speeds
- You can pay with a credit card or with Aeroplan points
- 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
- All rouge aircraft
- Mainline that have been refurbished
- 333 (except 946 and 948)
- 7M8 (530 thru 540 - about 25% of the 7M8 fleet)
- 788
- 789 (except 860-861)
- 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)
- 8 newest 320s to be upgraded in 2024 and beyond
- 321 (mainline) except refurbs per above (remaining fleet to be upgraded 2024 and beyond) and FIN 483 per below
- 321 (mainline): 483 (ex-EVA, entering service with EVA's config)
- CR9: 722-730 (note: a recent report from a Jazz pilot suggests the system may be disabled on 780-784)
- 7M8: Anything not listed above
- 789: 860, 861
- 333: 946, 948, 950
Planes with no plans to install WiFi:
- DH4s
- CRJs
Future Plans
In September 2023, AC announced plans to install the 2Ku WiFi system on the 7M8s, 321s and the 8 newest 320s "starting in" 2023. The E75s and CR9s will also be upgraded to satellite-based systems "starting in" 2024. No timeline has been provided for completion of these projects, and history suggests it could be years before they're finished.
AC has also shown itself willing to take delivery of new aircraft (whether brand new or second-hand) without WiFi and operate them that way for considerable periods of time. WiFi should eventually be installed on all widebody and mainline narrowbody aircraft, but who knows when this will happen.
Air Canada SE/75K 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
- The benefit gives you streaming-quality WiFi on all AC flights globally
- 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 (2023 onwards)
Feb 28, 2023, 11:51 am
#46
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Ontario, Canada
Programs: AC*SE MM, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 3,440
So it actually worked today. As suggested above, I signed onto my AP account in a private browsing window, then started the GoGo process. I don't know if that made a difference but I'll do it again next time. It stayed working the whole flight too.
Mar 8, 2023, 6:22 pm
#48
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 18
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.... but we have received an internal memo that with immediate effect, the wifi service and project on the 737 fleet is being suspended.
I can only assume that Thales is unable to provide the level of wifi reliability required....
I can only assume that Thales is unable to provide the level of wifi reliability required....
Mar 8, 2023, 9:47 pm
#50
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: YVR - MILLS Waypoint (It's the third house on the left)
Programs: AC*SE100K, wood level status in various other programs
Posts: 6,232
Given the length of time that they tried to 'fix' this, that's gotta have lost Thales a lot of money. How they even sold it in the first place without proper testing is even more mindboggling. IIRC NK bought the same system.
Mar 8, 2023, 10:46 pm
#51
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: *G^2, Bonvoyed, NEXUS
Posts: 3,516
Which would explain the horrible Wi-Fi I have heard about from people that fly NK
Mar 9, 2023, 2:31 am
#52
Join Date: May 2020
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE, AA PlatPro, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Plat & LT Gold, Hilton Gold, National EE
Posts: 878
Whelp. Another reason to not fly the 7M8. This will suck for folks that need Wi-Fi for a Transcon and AC seems to be deploying these planes on most of these routes. Would be nice if they replaced all their 7M8s with the A220s 
Mar 9, 2023, 2:42 am
#53
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: 16,779
Wiki updated to reflect the 7M8 news.
Can't say I'm shocked or disappointed. At least hopefully now they can move on to installing a system that actually works.
Can't say I'm shocked or disappointed. At least hopefully now they can move on to installing a system that actually works.
Mar 27, 2023, 1:01 pm
#55
Join Date: Jan 2023
Programs: Aeroplan SE 2MM
Posts: 51
I was on a mainline A320 yesterday. YHZ-YYZ and the speeds were about the same as dialup. Email trickled through but not really usable in 2023.
I did a chat with customer service and they offered a credit. I don't really want a credit, prefer it works.
In my recent experience the ATG config works and/or delivers acceptable performance less than 50% of the time. There was a time when it was reliable, that seems to be over now.
I did a chat with customer service and they offered a credit. I don't really want a credit, prefer it works.
In my recent experience the ATG config works and/or delivers acceptable performance less than 50% of the time. There was a time when it was reliable, that seems to be over now.
Mar 27, 2023, 1:33 pm
#56
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: 44,354
I was on a mainline A320 yesterday. YHZ-YYZ and the speeds were about the same as dialup. Email trickled through but not really usable in 2023.
I did a chat with customer service and they offered a credit. I don't really want a credit, prefer it works.
In my recent experience the ATG config works and/or delivers acceptable performance less than 50% of the time. There was a time when it was reliable, that seems to be over now.
I did a chat with customer service and they offered a credit. I don't really want a credit, prefer it works.
In my recent experience the ATG config works and/or delivers acceptable performance less than 50% of the time. There was a time when it was reliable, that seems to be over now.
1. How seamless the login was, and how quickly I was connected.
2. How fast everything was. It wasn't streaming quality, but everything reasonable (browsing, email, messaging, etc.) was fast.
Then I was on a 320 yesterday and it was the opposite. It took me half the YYC-YVR flight to even get online, and then it was barely usable for browsing FT.
As far as I can tell it was the exact same system (coded as "ATG4").
Of course the longer flights in both directions were on 7M8s, so I feel a little odd complaining about slow wifi on the 320.
Mar 27, 2023, 2:38 pm
#57
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: YOW
Programs: AC E75 / Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 952
I'm finding it more and more frustrating all the time to get reliable service from AC wifi. The 220 fleet seems to be fantastic and everything else a crapshoot. I've had airbus NB, 321, 777 and 787 troubles recently and my frustration with max 8 fleet still not being a priority to fix/figure out continues. The air to ground system seemed to work fine five years ago, no idea why they're further behind now than then it seems.
Mar 27, 2023, 3:28 pm
#58
Join Date: Jun 2010
Programs: AC SE 1MM
Posts: 344
I pop open normal browser and try signing into AC via WifiOnBoard. If that comes up with the "Try as Guest" I open a private browser (I'm not sure why, I just wanted a clean session) and go to aircanada.com and if I can login there which seems to be way more successful I go in that browser session back to WifiOnBoard and click "Sign in with Aeroplan" and after a bit of spinning get "You are connected to the Internet".
Your 100% right. My initial tries may be the one causing it to go since even the private browser I don't believe changes your session data with WifiOnBoard which would be based on your wifi MAC address. I honestly keep forgetting to try it cold on a flight the first time.
Your 100% right. My initial tries may be the one causing it to go since even the private browser I don't believe changes your session data with WifiOnBoard which would be based on your wifi MAC address. I honestly keep forgetting to try it cold on a flight the first time.
Apr 3, 2023, 1:35 pm
#60
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: 44,354
I hope the maintenance tomorrow (https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/...tenance.html#/) doesn't affect the ability to log in...