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 - 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:
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:
FAQ : Status of on-board WiFi rollout on BA aircraft
#361
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: London
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Posts: 576
HooToo Wireless Travel Router, USB Port, High Performance- TripMate Nano (Not a Hotspot)
#362
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 30
There's been an update on the EAN. Testing on BA flights is due to begin in December with full roll-out by summer 2019 although flights to Scandanavia won't have wifi until 2020 as there won't be coverage over the North Sea until then.
We'll see how true this timeline is in due course...
EAN ready for IFE launch with British Airways IFE content from ATWOnline
We'll see how true this timeline is in due course...
EAN ready for IFE launch with British Airways IFE content from ATWOnline
#363
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Greater Metropolitan Area
Programs: Yes
Posts: 367
That sounds a bit like the satellite backhaul is not ready at all, doesn't it. I've always wondered how Wifi would be affected if there is no ground coverage available, and the North Sea is probably the key area where that is the case in Europe. Surely performance and latency would suddenly go through the roof if it has to fall back to satellite there? Will also be interesting to see whether that will affect some simple cross-channel crossings...
That's also why comparison to US in-flight Wifi with Gogo isn't very appropriate, because the US doesn't really have these huge open bodies of water that planes have to fly over...
That's also why comparison to US in-flight Wifi with Gogo isn't very appropriate, because the US doesn't really have these huge open bodies of water that planes have to fly over...
#364
Join Date: Jul 2017
Programs: All the usual suspects
Posts: 342
That sounds a bit like the satellite backhaul is not ready at all, doesn't it. I've always wondered how Wifi would be affected if there is no ground coverage available, and the North Sea is probably the key area where that is the case in Europe. Surely performance and latency would suddenly go through the roof if it has to fall back to satellite there? Will also be interesting to see whether that will affect some simple cross-channel crossings...
That's also why comparison to US in-flight Wifi with Gogo isn't very appropriate, because the US doesn't really have these huge open bodies of water that planes have to fly over...
That's also why comparison to US in-flight Wifi with Gogo isn't very appropriate, because the US doesn't really have these huge open bodies of water that planes have to fly over...
#365
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Greater Metropolitan Area
Programs: Yes
Posts: 367
That's why the EAN should only be using satellites when there's no ground coverage, because there's just not enough satellite capacity for all the short haul flights in Europe. I believe it's less of a problem for long haul as there will be far fewer planes in a particular spot beam at any particular time. But it does make me wonder about the "North Sea" - there will be quite a bit of traffic, and it will have to be largely satellite backed? I wonder how different the experience will be - provided it will be working at all at some point...
I have to say though that my experience with Viasat based inflight Wi-fi on SAS was really good - so perhaps Satellite Wi-fi in Europe isn't that impossible either. But I don't think a fleet as big as BA's has deployed Wi-fi yet...
I have to say though that my experience with Viasat based inflight Wi-fi on SAS was really good - so perhaps Satellite Wi-fi in Europe isn't that impossible either. But I don't think a fleet as big as BA's has deployed Wi-fi yet...
#366
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TPA/ABZ
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
Posts: 13,210
Something like this should, in theory, work
HooToo Wireless Travel Router, USB Port, High Performance- TripMate Nano (Not a Hotspot)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00I00J8DW/
HooToo Wireless Travel Router, USB Port, High Performance- TripMate Nano (Not a Hotspot)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00I00J8DW/
https://www.gl-inet.com/products/gl-ar300m/
#369
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Silver, IHG Gold
Posts: 448
I had wifi as an option on my last flight back from Bangkok (maybe 2 weeks ago), but nobody announced it, no mention of it and when I connected no portal would load up.
Are the planes being fitted with unusable wifi at first? Are crew announcing wifi where it's available?
Are the planes being fitted with unusable wifi at first? Are crew announcing wifi where it's available?
#370
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 585
I had wifi as an option on my last flight back from Bangkok (maybe 2 weeks ago), but nobody announced it, no mention of it and when I connected no portal would load up.
Are the planes being fitted with unusable wifi at first? Are crew announcing wifi where it's available?
Are the planes being fitted with unusable wifi at first? Are crew announcing wifi where it's available?
#372
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: 63,476
Generally it isn't announced, in my experience. On one LGW service a crew member walked past my PC and seemed surprised to see I was obviously online, they're not always aware it's on their aircraft either. There are some aircraft with wifi leaflets in with Highlife magazine, and Highlife also mentions it too - there's a full page advert on page 155 on the Blue editions.
A lot of people struggle with the initial stages of login, so it is useful in the day or two before departure, to use the instructions upthread to set up an account whilst on terra firma. Once that's done normally login is fairly easy.
A lot of people struggle with the initial stages of login, so it is useful in the day or two before departure, to use the instructions upthread to set up an account whilst on terra firma. Once that's done normally login is fairly easy.
#373
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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#374
Join Date: Dec 2009
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Posts: 6,095
Yes, you can work around it with a wifi repeater. I have used a USB-powered one that is also a wired to wireless router for hotels or other situations with cables, so it just runs off the USB power in the aircraft (or a powerbank if you have to). Although there are ways to spot this sort of thing by analysing the traffic flows and I'm sure the operators will get upset if you share out your connection to many people to deny them per-user revenues so don't do that. I've only done this to connect, say, my laptop and phone at the same time for different purposes.
#375
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: AA, BA, Accor, Honors Diamond, IHG Diamond Elite and lots more....
Posts: 2,954
On AA, both Pacwisp and GoGo, you are limited to one device at a time.
Yes, you can work around it with a wifi repeater. I have used a USB-powered one that is also a wired to wireless router for hotels or other situations with cables, so it just runs off the USB power in the aircraft (or a powerbank if you have to). Although there are ways to spot this sort of thing by analysing the traffic flows and I'm sure the operators will get upset if you share out your connection to many people to deny them per-user revenues so don't do that. I've only done this to connect, say, my laptop and phone at the same time for different purposes.
Yes, you can work around it with a wifi repeater. I have used a USB-powered one that is also a wired to wireless router for hotels or other situations with cables, so it just runs off the USB power in the aircraft (or a powerbank if you have to). Although there are ways to spot this sort of thing by analysing the traffic flows and I'm sure the operators will get upset if you share out your connection to many people to deny them per-user revenues so don't do that. I've only done this to connect, say, my laptop and phone at the same time for different purposes.
I am sure on my most recent AA flight we were able to switch devices - maybe that was their Panasonic offering. Also able to switch on Emirates.