American adding faster ViaSat WiFi to 500+ Aircraft
#46
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Well I assume DL and UA use gogo otherwise it would be an AA specific benefit that wouldn't be too usable to all T Mobile users.
#48
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You'll also notice that Gogo doesn't sell a United pass, because it would relatively useless for most flyers.
Last edited by flightrisk; Feb 27, 2018 at 8:43 am
#53
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Once we see more jets in the air, it makes sense to charge. Much like how AA rolled out Premium Economy.
#55
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Agree, there's no way that GoGo would do a deal with T-Mobile without demanding exclusivity. GoGo is probably offering significant concessions on pricing, and in exchange they can use T-Mobile's millions of subscribers as marketing to airlines. Even though GoGo's leverage with the airlines is limited, it would be even worse if they allowed T-Mobile to add additional in-flight wifi partners.
#56
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Agree, there's no way that GoGo would do a deal with T-Mobile without demanding exclusivity. GoGo is probably offering significant concessions on pricing, and in exchange they can use T-Mobile's millions of subscribers as marketing to airlines. Even though GoGo's leverage with the airlines is limited, it would be even worse if they allowed T-Mobile to add additional in-flight wifi partners.
I'll just tweet Mr Tmobile back and tell him I'm headed to US Airways LOL
#57
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,107
I think it is until there is a critical mass of operating aircraft with it. I have flown on 1 viasat equipped 737 so far, so I wouldn't pay for a subscription. Also connecting to a gogo equipped jet, one would have to pay twice.
Once we see more jets in the air, it makes sense to charge. Much like how AA rolled out Premium Economy.
Thankfully, I'm not losing my mind.
Granted, this talks about the 7M8 specifically.
TPG: Free ViaSat Ending
Bullet points from the article linked above:
- It's been free to appease Gogo monthly subscribers. AA is working on getting Gogo subscribers free access to ViaSat.
- It's been free due to the IFE being streaming to your own device.
- Subset of the previous point, you need the AA app to stream, which some people may not be aware of. Free internet lets them download the app.
- Internal memos at AA plans to start charging in March, as the air to ground Gogo subscriptions will become valid on both Gogo and ViaSat.
The article doen't say how/if this impacts frames other than the 7M8.
#59
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Flew the 7M8 between LGA and MIA last week and the Wifi didn't work at all. The FA's commented saying that the wifi was very unreliable on the 7M8. Sucks that they took away the TV screens too!
#60
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I was on N951NN DFW-SNA last week and it had ViaSat on it - FREE for flight duration with no GoGo login option (hence no TMO login option either)
Was 7-25Mb/sec - gate to gate - on approach to SNA though it way well below 1Mb/sec. IFE was *STILL* on this aircraft - didn't see a streaming option on this - just IFE or Internet Access
Was 7-25Mb/sec - gate to gate - on approach to SNA though it way well below 1Mb/sec. IFE was *STILL* on this aircraft - didn't see a streaming option on this - just IFE or Internet Access