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FAQ : Status of on-board WiFi rollout on BA aircraft

Old Oct 1, 2017, 1:57 am
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Last edit by: sigma421
Onboard WiFi has been introduced to BA's fleet and is being marketed as Highlife Connect. This thread is to track the rollout. See https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb.../wifi-on-board for BA's FAQ on the system.



Long-haul aircraft with WiFi fitted

A350-1000 - All fitted (12 aircraft).

A380 - All fitted (12 aircraft)

777-200ER - All fitted (43 aircraft)

777-300ER - All fitted (16 aircraft)

787-8 - 0/12 aircraft

787-9 - 14/18 aircraft

G-ZBKA, G-ZBKB, G-ZBKC, G-ZBKD, G-ZBKG, G-ZBKH, G-ZBKI, G-ZBKJ, G-ZBKK, G-ZBKL, G-ZBKM, G-ZBKN, G-ZBKO, G-ZBKP

787-10 - All fitted (2 aircraft).


BA are currently trialling free WiFi in first class cabins. For those in other cabins the current cost on all long-haul aircraft is:
  • 1 hour: Ł7.99
  • 4 hours: Ł17.99
  • Full flight: up to Ł23.99 depending on route

Note that prices and services offered are subject to change.
Long-haul aircraft still to be fitted with WiFi

787-8 - G-ZBJA/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/I/J/K/M

787-9 - G-ZBKE/F/R/S
Short-haul and mid-haul aircraft known to have WiFi fitted and enabled

The majority of aircraft have wi-fi equipment fitted with the exception of those expected to retire within the next few years. Wi-fi equipment is installed after delivery and the rate at which this happens appears to have slowed down post-COVID.
A319 - 12/29 Aircraft

G-EUOA
G-EUPL/M/N/O/P/R/S/T/U/Y/Z

A320 - 61/67 Aircraft

G-EUUA/B/C/E/F/G/H/I/J/K/L/M/N/O/P/R/T/U/V/W/X/Y/Z
G-EUYA/B/D/E/G/H/I/J/K/L/M/N/O/P/R/S/T/U/V/W/X
G-GATH/J/K/M/N/P/R/S/U
G-MEDK
G-MIDO/S/T/X/Y
G-TTOB/E

A320neo - 17/20 Aircraft

G-TTNA/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/I/J/K/L/M/N/O/P/Q/R

Wi-fi installation has not yet occurred for aircraft delivered from October 2022 onwards.

A321 - 15/18 Aircraft

G-EUXC/D/E/F/G/H/I/J/K/L/M
G-MEDL/M/N

A321neo - All fitted (10 aircraft)

The price of WiFi on short-haul flights varies according to the length of the route. The following prices are known:

Messaging - Ł1.99 or Ł2.99 depending on flight distance.

Browse & Stream (one hour) - Ł4.99

Browse & Stream (whole flight)
Ł4.99 (MAN / NCL)
Ł6.99 (ARN / HAM)
Ł7.99 (KRK / LIS / MAS / PMI)
Ł8.99 (AGP)
Ł9.99 (LED / SOF)
Ł11.99 (LCA)



Short-haul aircraft not planned to receive WiFi due to retirement

A319 - 18 Aircraft

G-EUOE/F/G
G-EUPD/G/J/K/W
G-DBCA/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/J/K

Background information:
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FAQ : Status of on-board WiFi rollout on BA aircraft

Old Oct 29, 2019, 8:56 am
  #661  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,464
Used the free wifi for F passengers last night for the last 30mins of the flight after wakening - very good indeed. I have submitted some positive comments to BA to help save the service from future enhancements.
rossmacd is offline  
Old Oct 29, 2019, 9:06 am
  #662  
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 706
Also announced today - Gogo have leased some bandwidth on a new satellite which is due to be launched in 2022 which will increase the capacity of their 2Ku service in Europe and the Middle East.

https://news.eutelsat.com/pressrelea...telsat-2936963
revorgap likes this.
Schind is offline  
Old Oct 29, 2019, 10:31 am
  #663  
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: EDI
Programs: Was BA GGL but no longer travelling
Posts: 583
I'm currently on the BA229 LHR to BWI. Wifi-is up and running but there's no "streaming" package, just the one package with the price breaks from the lower of the two previous options. I've opted for the full flight at Ł17.99. I wonder if they are harmonising the packages? Wording shows as "full flight stream".

Also available was the "free if you are in First" wording, which doesn't really work on a three-cabin 777. I'm in 1A and there's definitely no F on this flight
HighwayToHEL is offline  
Old Oct 31, 2019, 1:57 pm
  #664  
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 1,020
New BA 777 to Madrid Pricing

A couple of things new from my personal experience of many LHR-MAD returns.

- The 777 flight now shows normal short haul pricing. None of the old 1 hour, 4 hours, Full Flight like before that was quite expensive for the route.

- Only one package now available. No Browse and Stream options.

- Free Wifi for First was indeed an option, although of course didn’t work on the two hour flight to Madrid.

This was today on MAD-LHR BA461 (G-STBD) in case that matters.

george77300 is offline  
Old Oct 31, 2019, 4:14 pm
  #665  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: BA Gold, VS Gold, IHG Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hertz Presidents Circle.
Posts: 1,443
I flew the new A350 earlier in the week, Heathrow to Toronto. The wifi was OK for general browsing, email etc, dropped out a few times this is the new/alternate system on the A350.

Pricing is by amount of data. During the flight my personal phone used 2 x the small (25Mb for Ł4.99 I think) package with the second expiring about an hour before landing. Use was browsing, WhatsApp and about 15 emails downloaded, no large attachments.

As they (annoyingly) dont do a multiple device option I also connected my work phone, this into the biggest package (150Mb for Ł17.99 if memory serves), again this ran out about an hour before landing.....probably sent/recieved 60 to 70 emails, some with PDF/Excel attachments.

All in it seems overly pricey and I think the 'whole flight' packages offered are a better offer. Whilst in the US this week I've done two internal US flights with AA and will fly back to UK with them tonight, their packages seem better value and more stable.
tuonopepper is offline  
Old Oct 31, 2019, 4:20 pm
  #666  
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: EDI
Programs: Was BA GGL but no longer travelling
Posts: 583
I always purchase it on my laptop then enable the Windows 10 hotspot feature. I can then tether my phone to the laptop via WiFi and use WhatsApp and MFA etc without having to buy two packages.
HighwayToHEL is offline  
Old Oct 31, 2019, 4:47 pm
  #667  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: BA Gold, VS Gold, IHG Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hertz Presidents Circle.
Posts: 1,443
Originally Posted by HighwayToHEL
I always purchase it on my laptop then enable the Windows 10 hotspot feature. I can then tether my phone to the laptop via WiFi and use WhatsApp and MFA etc without having to buy two packages.
Good idea. Never even thought of it, I could have just tethered one phone to the other. Probably would have just burnt through the package quicker as it was data driven...def will do that on the AA flight tonight, lol, thanks!
tuonopepper is offline  
Old Nov 1, 2019, 4:08 am
  #668  
 
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: South East England
Programs: BAEC: Bronze, HHonors: Silver, Virgin Flying Club: Red, Miles & More
Posts: 331
Is there a wikipost similar to this, but convering in-seat power e.g. which aircraft have it installed, and type of ports available, and in which class etc? I did search but couldn't find anything.
travelsbyplane is online now  
Old Nov 1, 2019, 4:14 am
  #669  
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TPA/ABZ
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
Posts: 13,209
Originally Posted by travelsbyplane
Is there a wikipost similar to this, but convering in-seat power e.g. which aircraft have it installed, and type of ports available, and in which class etc? I did search but couldn't find anything.
There’s information on the BA site here if that’s useful for you:

https://www.britishairways.com/cms/g...seat-power.pdf
golfmad is offline  
Old Nov 1, 2019, 5:00 am
  #670  
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,465
Also, in the BA Forum Dashboard, you will find a thread on Inflight Entertainment, and post 6 gives guidance.

[Mulling whether this out to be a standalone Dashboard thread or not....]
corporate-wage-slave is online now  
Old Nov 23, 2019, 3:37 am
  #671  
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: BER
Posts: 512
It looks like G-XLEK will return into service today, the aircraft is currently positioning from MNL to SIN. Hopefully they've installed WiFi
ZKOKA is offline  
Old Nov 30, 2019, 12:01 am
  #672  
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 299
Can I use a VPN with this in order to give myself a U.K. IP address?

If so - is the streaming package actually useable so I can stream a live broadcast through sky sports?
AyeCaramba is offline  
Old Nov 30, 2019, 12:08 am
  #673  
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: EDI
Programs: Was BA GGL but no longer travelling
Posts: 583
Technically yes, since nothing is blocked, Hiowever reality says no. I could maintain an RDP session, but the VPN kept dropping.
HighwayToHEL is offline  
Old Dec 3, 2019, 6:46 am
  #674  
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: London
Programs: BAEC Bronze
Posts: 573
Was looking forward to trying the WiFi for free on our flight. ZBKK had it fitted. But wasn’t working on the whole plane. Apparently they knew before take off but decided to not delay the flight by fixing it. We’re not flying first on the way back. So will have to try next year
jday is offline  
Old Dec 15, 2019, 2:26 pm
  #675  
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: London, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold
Posts: 1,020
More Shorthaul aircraft with WiFi Timeline?

Just out of curiosity does anyone know when the other half of the A320/A320neo will get fitted. Also when the A321neos will start having Wifi? The first (G-NEOR) has been in the fleet over 1 year. I thought the shorthaul fitting was possible overnight?
george77300 is offline  

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