Oct 1, 2017, 1:57 am
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:
Note that prices and services offered are subject to change.
787-8 - G-ZBJA/B/C/D/E/F/G/H/I/J/K/M
787-9 - G-ZBKE/F/R/S
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 - £1.99 or £2.99 depending on flight distance.
Browse & Stream (one hour) - £4.99
Browse & Stream (whole flight)
£4.99 (MAN / NCL)
£6.99 (ARN / HAM)
£7.99 (KRK / LIS / MAS / PMI)
£8.99 (AGP)
£9.99 (LED / SOF)
£11.99 (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:
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: £7.99
- 4 hours: £17.99
- Full flight: up to £23.99 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 - £1.99 or £2.99 depending on flight distance.
Browse & Stream (one hour) - £4.99
Browse & Stream (whole flight)
£4.99 (MAN / NCL)
£6.99 (ARN / HAM)
£7.99 (KRK / LIS / MAS / PMI)
£8.99 (AGP)
£9.99 (LED / SOF)
£11.99 (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:
FAQ : Status of on-board WiFi rollout on BA aircraft
Aug 5, 2018, 3:28 pm
#257
Join Date: May 2016
Location: EDI
Programs: Was BA GGL but no longer travelling
Posts: 583
I flew SEA to LHR on Friday (747-400), and WiFi was available. I was surprised at the cost, especially when compared to Emirates at $1 for 600MB. I’ve used the Emirates WiFi before and it was fine; I felt the BA offering was too expensive.
Or am I just tight?
Or am I just tight?
Aug 5, 2018, 3:49 pm
#258
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Edi
Posts: 2,203
For me personally I'd probably use up 500MB in about 10/20 minutes if the speed was fast enough but again it's really down to each person, I guess if you just wanted to quickly check your emails then £4.99 is probably a bit much.
Aug 5, 2018, 11:53 pm
#259
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 726
The free hour is still available on BA. I wonder if they'll offer it when the short haul wifi starts - I suppose it's down to whether Visa or any other advertiser wants to pay for it.
Aug 6, 2018, 10:49 am
#261
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Edi
Posts: 2,203
For reference here is a fitted 77W
Aug 6, 2018, 11:34 am
#262
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Seattle, Wash. USA
Posts: 1,531
It hasn't been launched commercially because BA is the sole airline signed up to use the system and it hasn't launched it yet. I think it's safe to assume that if it isn't even in a beta trial at this point that there's some sort of technical issue slowing things down for now.
Aug 13, 2018, 1:56 pm
#263
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 378
Here are a few updates to be added to the wiki post
Aircraft fitted with WiFi
G-BYGA - Returned from CWL 27JUL
G-BYGE - Returned from CWL 05AUG
G-VIIE - Returned from SNN 13AUG
G-VIIJ - Returned from CWL 03AUG
G-YMMF - Returned from CWL 17JUL
Aircraft confirmed as not fitted with WiFi
G-CIVD
G-VIIN
Aircraft currently undergoing WiFi fitting
G-VIIF - Arrived in SNN 13AUG
G-VIIL - Arrived CWL 03AUG
G-VIIL is expected to return from CWL 16AUG. G-VIIM expected in CWL same afternoon.
Aircraft fitted with WiFi
G-BYGA - Returned from CWL 27JUL
G-BYGE - Returned from CWL 05AUG
G-VIIE - Returned from SNN 13AUG
G-VIIJ - Returned from CWL 03AUG
G-YMMF - Returned from CWL 17JUL
Aircraft confirmed as not fitted with WiFi
G-CIVD
G-VIIN
Aircraft currently undergoing WiFi fitting
G-VIIF - Arrived in SNN 13AUG
G-VIIL - Arrived CWL 03AUG
G-VIIL is expected to return from CWL 16AUG. G-VIIM expected in CWL same afternoon.
Last edited by Scotflyer80; Aug 15, 2018 at 7:26 am
Aug 15, 2018, 10:58 am
#264
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Greater Metropolitan Area
Programs: Yes
Posts: 367
It could be capacity. The Telstar 19 Vantage that was launched a couple of weeks ago is supposed to be on-line around the end of August, and is supposed to provide "airborne Internet services for aircraft traveling on trans-Atlantic routes between North America and Europe."
BA have launched transatlantic Wifi - they are using Gogo's 2Ku which AFAIK is fairly new, fast and doesn't really have large-scale capacity problems (yet)? Gogo 2Ku uses a variety of satellites, including at least 11 SES satellites, not just one that looks more like it is intended to deliver fixed broadband.
What hasn't launched is European Wifi on short-haul flights - that is not a capacity issue either because it actually uses ground-based infrastructure provided by Deutsche Telekom, in addition to satellite backhaul by Inmarsat. That very feature is in fact the major bone of contention in the legal battle with competitor Viasat, who had proposed an exclusively satellite-based solution.
Aug 15, 2018, 1:59 pm
#265
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 726
https://www.inmarsat.com/press-relea...ation-network/
Aug 15, 2018, 2:09 pm
#266
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 726
And I've just read the Belgian regulator has given permission for the EAN ground stations after Viasat appealed the original decision in 2016.
https://www.telecompaper.com/news/in...LgSaKI.twitter
https://www.telecompaper.com/news/in...LgSaKI.twitter
Aug 15, 2018, 2:17 pm
#267
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Greater Metropolitan Area
Programs: Yes
Posts: 367
Interesting! Perhaps that is the development they've been waiting for? It is never explained very well, but I got the impression that the satellite communications were just a fallback for when no ground connectivity was available, and as such a single satellite with 300 spot beams is probably enough capacity for now.
But it's also interesting that this article is written as if there aren't any ground stations yet, certainly in Belgium - I was surprised by the speeds at which Deutsche Telekom supposedly rolled out 300 sites all over Europe, and I have a sneaking suspicion that the system wasn't that "ready" when it was declared "ready", and specifically that they might have largely relied on the satellite backhaul while they were/are still building ground sites.
That might be a reason for BA holding off a while longer, there might have been technical issues with the system or some sites, or BA want a "big bang" approach. We can but wait...
But it's also interesting that this article is written as if there aren't any ground stations yet, certainly in Belgium - I was surprised by the speeds at which Deutsche Telekom supposedly rolled out 300 sites all over Europe, and I have a sneaking suspicion that the system wasn't that "ready" when it was declared "ready", and specifically that they might have largely relied on the satellite backhaul while they were/are still building ground sites.
That might be a reason for BA holding off a while longer, there might have been technical issues with the system or some sites, or BA want a "big bang" approach. We can but wait...
Aug 15, 2018, 2:58 pm
#268
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: UK/France
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold, EY Plat, etc
Posts: 351
Using iPass account ...
Flew back from LAX last week on a 747 with Wi-fi (no announcement from the crew) and used the free hour before landing.
i have a global iPass Wi-fi account bundled with my HSBC Mastercard and it supposedly works (I.e gives unpaid access) on GoGo and FlyNet plus the system used by United and JetBlue so I tried it on BA’s system but couldn’t see how to put in the details for roaming wi-fi accounts.
Has anyone had any success with iPass or is BA intending to lock the system down to credit card payers only ?
i have a global iPass Wi-fi account bundled with my HSBC Mastercard and it supposedly works (I.e gives unpaid access) on GoGo and FlyNet plus the system used by United and JetBlue so I tried it on BA’s system but couldn’t see how to put in the details for roaming wi-fi accounts.
Has anyone had any success with iPass or is BA intending to lock the system down to credit card payers only ?
Aug 16, 2018, 9:41 am
#270
Join Date: Aug 2018
Programs: BAEC Gold, Radisson Gold
Posts: 67
I have used EK's Wifi a few times flying from LHR to DXB and back and it can be painfully slow or not in service for long periods of time (depending on the geographical position of the plane). I have yet to try BA's but it can't be that bad.