Alaska Airlines Launches New $8 Flat Rate for Streaming-Fast Satellite Wi-Fi
Apr 10, 2022, 4:49 pm
#31
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Apr 10, 2022, 6:14 pm
#33
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Also, doesn't JetBlue provide free wifi for everyone? And doesn't Emirates provide free WiFi for everyone with a FF account (even with no status)?
The idea that it would be too slow if everyone had access is not a good argument any more. Satellite has tons of bandwidth, and most people use very very little. The problem is latency.
Apr 10, 2022, 6:23 pm
#34
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: SAN
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I have a ton of technical SATCOM experience... it really depends on what you are using it for. Modern satellite modems spoof the sliding window acknowledgements in the network stream and use forward error control to make things like streaming video and file downloads work great.
But, if you want to open a web page with dozens or hundreds of elements that need downloading, those requests take time, and the small file sizes of each mean that there is really no way to optimize them. Most systems can't use web pre-caching anymore since the vast majority of traffic is TLS.
But, if you want to open a web page with dozens or hundreds of elements that need downloading, those requests take time, and the small file sizes of each mean that there is really no way to optimize them. Most systems can't use web pre-caching anymore since the vast majority of traffic is TLS.
Apr 10, 2022, 7:44 pm
#35
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I have a ton of technical SATCOM experience... it really depends on what you are using it for. Modern satellite modems spoof the sliding window acknowledgements in the network stream and use forward error control to make things like streaming video and file downloads work great.
But, if you want to open a web page with dozens or hundreds of elements that need downloading, those requests take time, and the small file sizes of each mean that there is really no way to optimize them. Most systems can't use web pre-caching anymore since the vast majority of traffic is TLS.
But, if you want to open a web page with dozens or hundreds of elements that need downloading, those requests take time, and the small file sizes of each mean that there is really no way to optimize them. Most systems can't use web pre-caching anymore since the vast majority of traffic is TLS.
I was referring to things that are actually latency sensitive (I do have JuiceSSH on my phone -- not that I ever use it any more). But yeah many web pages are just going to load slowly. Streaming Netflix will be fine. Most people are not going to notice the latency.
My point was more that the bandwidth is fine, and there is plenty even if it's free for everyone. Most people who think that bandwidth is a problem actually just happen to be one of the few who is doing something that requires low latency, and that's why it's slow.
Apr 13, 2022, 11:09 pm
#38
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Everytime I try using just the basic alaskaair.com website that is free, I find it painfully slow....I can't imagine how streaming would be even remotely possible especially if there were very many passengers using it at the same time...you would need at least 30 min just to open a few emails....unless the $8 gets you some "special" faster wifi.
Apr 14, 2022, 5:53 am
#39
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Seattle
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Everytime I try using just the basic alaskaair.com website that is free, I find it painfully slow....I can't imagine how streaming would be even remotely possible especially if there were very many passengers using it at the same time...you would need at least 30 min just to open a few emails....unless the $8 gets you some "special" faster wifi.
Apr 16, 2022, 6:52 pm
#40
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 597
AS5 DCA-LAX April 14 737-800 (with the old plush blue seats up front)
Was hoping to try out the $8 wi-fi.
Equipment offered gogo inflight for $39 for the flight or $11 for 30 minutes.
Ended up getting a $20 discount thru customer chat, but the service ranged from maddeningly slow to inoperable.
Gave up and took a nap for the last third of the flight.
Was hoping to try out the $8 wi-fi.
Equipment offered gogo inflight for $39 for the flight or $11 for 30 minutes.
Ended up getting a $20 discount thru customer chat, but the service ranged from maddeningly slow to inoperable.
Gave up and took a nap for the last third of the flight.
Apr 16, 2022, 7:03 pm
#41
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: SAN
Programs: AS Mileage Plan 100k, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 991
AS5 DCA-LAX April 14 737-800 (with the old plush blue seats up front)
Was hoping to try out the $8 wi-fi.
Equipment offered gogo inflight for $39 for the flight or $11 for 30 minutes.
Ended up getting a $20 discount thru customer chat, but the service ranged from maddeningly slow to inoperable.
Gave up and took a nap for the last third of the flight.
Was hoping to try out the $8 wi-fi.
Equipment offered gogo inflight for $39 for the flight or $11 for 30 minutes.
Ended up getting a $20 discount thru customer chat, but the service ranged from maddeningly slow to inoperable.
Gave up and took a nap for the last third of the flight.
Apr 16, 2022, 10:54 pm
#42
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,723
AS5 DCA-LAX April 14 737-800 (with the old plush blue seats up front)
Was hoping to try out the $8 wi-fi.
Equipment offered gogo inflight for $39 for the flight or $11 for 30 minutes.
Ended up getting a $20 discount thru customer chat, but the service ranged from maddeningly slow to inoperable.
Gave up and took a nap for the last third of the flight.
Was hoping to try out the $8 wi-fi.
Equipment offered gogo inflight for $39 for the flight or $11 for 30 minutes.
Ended up getting a $20 discount thru customer chat, but the service ranged from maddeningly slow to inoperable.
Gave up and took a nap for the last third of the flight.
Apr 17, 2022, 3:20 pm
#43
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Apr 17, 2022, 3:33 pm
#44
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: SFO
Programs: AS MVPG 75k, Hilton Diamond, Bonvoy Plat, Kenya Airways Gold
Posts: 224
I took two E75 (non-satellite gogo wifi) flights this month and both ways the wifi was showing at $8 for the full flight. Either it was a massive coincidence (but it used to be more on that route), or it also applies to the regional jets.
Last edited by ItsAnAdam; Apr 17, 2022 at 3:33 pm Reason: typo
