PHX-MIA: Does GoGo wifi work over the Gulf?
Dec 10, 2013, 11:26 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 6
PHX-MIA: Does GoGo wifi work over the Gulf?
For PHX-MIA and MIA-PHX, on what percentage of the flight does GoGo wifi operate? Trying to decide if it's worth it to purchase. Thanks for your help.
Dec 10, 2013, 1:22 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: High Point, NC
Programs: None
Posts: 9,171
Probably about 2/3. Possibly a little more depending on the location of ground stations - if the plane is abeam a coastal station GoGo would work 15 or more miles offshore.
Jim
Jim
Dec 10, 2013, 3:02 pm
#3
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: PHL
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Lifetime Plat, SPG Plat, AMEX Plat, Hertz PC, Travels too Much Platinum
Posts: 3,290
On this route this morning, Gogo worked even when we were furthest from the coast: http://flightaware.com/live/flight/A...250Z/KPHL/KMIA
Unless weather or traffic push you further south into the Gulf, I think it likely it works the whole way.
Unless weather or traffic push you further south into the Gulf, I think it likely it works the whole way.
Dec 10, 2013, 4:14 pm
#4
Join Date: Jun 2009
Programs: AA EXP. HH DIAMOND.
Posts: 224
Did PHX / FLL with no more issues than standard.
Dec 10, 2013, 6:06 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
Gogo used to have a coverage map on the web site. I haven't been able to find it for more than a year. At cruise altitude, maybe 100 miles offshore is how I recall it.
Dec 10, 2013, 6:44 pm
#6
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: PHX
Programs: US CP, MR Plat
Posts: 328
When does US start this route?
In any case I think it will depend on which aircraft is used. Some of the east aircraft are EOW certified so they could potentially go straight over the gulf and you might loose connectivity for a period of time. If it's a west crew/aircraft, they don't go far off the coast. Check out any flight between PHX-FLL, they follow the gulf coast, so you would remain connected in that case the entire flight.
I'm sure all of this will change with the merger.
In any case I think it will depend on which aircraft is used. Some of the east aircraft are EOW certified so they could potentially go straight over the gulf and you might loose connectivity for a period of time. If it's a west crew/aircraft, they don't go far off the coast. Check out any flight between PHX-FLL, they follow the gulf coast, so you would remain connected in that case the entire flight.
I'm sure all of this will change with the merger.
Dec 10, 2013, 7:34 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: High Point, NC
Programs: None
Posts: 9,171
I should have said that I used great circle routing, which at the furthest is over 100 mi from shore - probably close to 150. Actual routing could change flight to flight. Then there's aircraft overwater certification - that varies from about 60 miles offshore up to well over 100 offshore maximum unless ETOPS qualified. I don't know if any of the west planes, other than the 757s, are equipped to go over about 60 miles offshore.
Jim
Jim
Dec 10, 2013, 10:15 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 6
This should have been left in the AA forum.
I am the OP, and this question is for the daily AA 62 flight from PHX to MIA, if that makes any difference.
Dec 11, 2013, 12:07 am
#9
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: High Point, NC
Programs: None
Posts: 9,171
It might be a question better asked in the AA forum then. I'm not sure how far along AA is in adding GoGo to their fleet or what type of plane is normally used.
Jim
Jim
Dec 11, 2013, 11:08 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
https://www.aa.com/i18n/urls/enterta...and.jsp#!wi-fi
Dec 11, 2013, 12:05 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: High Point, NC
Programs: None
Posts: 9,171
The other unknown, at least to me, is the location of the ground stations where the flight may be offshor. The further they are inland the less you can go offshore and still get reception.
Jim
Jim
Dec 11, 2013, 2:45 pm
#12
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: West Palm Beach
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 791
Looking at flightaware, it appears that AA flies more or less directly across the gulf between the MSY area and MIA. From experience, US between PHX and FLL hugs the coast - generally coming into Florida around TPA or so. FWIW, UA between IAH and SE FL also seems to hug the coast. AA aircraft must be better rated to fly away from land.
Dec 11, 2013, 2:52 pm
#13
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: AUS / GRK
Programs: AA, HHonors, Hertz
Posts: 13,485
Moving this over to the pmAA forum.
Thanks!
aztimm/moderator
Thanks!
aztimm/moderator
Dec 11, 2013, 3:21 pm
#14
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: los angeles, calif.
Programs: Alaska Airlines Gold MVP
Posts: 7,170
AA is pretty good at identifying wifi equipped aircraft within a day or two of travel even if the type isn't 100% equipped.
https://www.aa.com/i18n/urls/enterta...and.jsp#!wi-fi
https://www.aa.com/i18n/urls/enterta...and.jsp#!wi-fi
Dec 11, 2013, 3:26 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Wanting First. Buying First.
Programs: Lifetime Executive Diamond Platinum VIP with Braniff, Eastern, Midway, National & Pan Am
Posts: 17,482
Yes, you should be fine for the entire flight. I've always had continuous Gogo coverage on the Q routes across the Gulf.
Here are a few examples of tracks taken by AA flights between PHX & MIA:
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/A...525Z/KPHX/KMIA
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/A...045Z/KMIA/KPHX
Here are a few examples of tracks taken by AA flights between PHX & MIA:
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/A...525Z/KPHX/KMIA
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/A...045Z/KMIA/KPHX