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
Dec 19, 2018, 8:28 am
#391
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 30
No - it's not as good as it gets. There are a few reviews online. One reviewer was able to stream Youtube and Netflix on the browse package:-
"I experienced a stable and snappy connection under the Browse plan for the remainder of the flight.
I had no trouble browsing and tweeting, and surprisingly I was still able to stream to a degree. Netflix and YouTube seemed to work without issue on this plan, potentially negating the need to buy up to the Stream plan."
https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2018/1...ns-advantages/
"I experienced a stable and snappy connection under the Browse plan for the remainder of the flight.
I had no trouble browsing and tweeting, and surprisingly I was still able to stream to a degree. Netflix and YouTube seemed to work without issue on this plan, potentially negating the need to buy up to the Stream plan."
https://runwaygirlnetwork.com/2018/1...ns-advantages/
Dec 19, 2018, 8:41 am
#392
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 246
I also discovered that Whatsapp calling works on my tethered phone (amazing really given how poor the wifi is), but I made the mistake of trying this out up in the front galley where the Captain was out for a break, and he told me that BA does not allow phoning on board - although he was unable to identify the source of this rule (CAA, BA, or other). In any event, it was all very amiable and he was as surprised as I was, that I had managed to get it working. Perhaps, on balance, not such a good thing that it does unless the rule (which the cabin crew appeared to know nothing about) is strictly enforced when people are seated ....
I can only hope it is extremely strictly enforced, as aircraft are about the only place left on Earth where I can escape people using their phones.
Otherwise the entire DYKWIA thread will be brimming with "but I'm on an important business call" stories.
Dec 19, 2018, 8:44 am
#393
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: UK (currently)
Programs: BA Gold (and many other greater and lesser distinctions)
Posts: 7,202
Hi, that's my article. It is weird, but that was my experience. I flew again a few weeks later and used only the Browse plan and had no issues at all doing "browsy" things. This stuff is pretty hit or miss, but the throttled speeds of the browse plan are high enough to allow for low resolution streaming.
Also, there was no announcement that the service was operative and I only knew to check thanks to this thread. Presumably once there is a mass take up, the service will really suffer.
Dec 19, 2018, 9:59 am
#394
Join Date: Sep 2007
Programs: AA, BA, Accor, Honors Diamond, IHG Diamond Elite and lots more....
Posts: 2,965
Getting 5.6 down 2.5 up on the streaming service.
Sadly going offline now as my power socket is not working and so I can't power my laptop. So a waste of my payment Oh well.
Sadly going offline now as my power socket is not working and so I can't power my laptop. So a waste of my payment Oh well.
Dec 19, 2018, 11:04 am
#395
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: London, Babylon-on-Thames
Programs: BAEC Blue (back to Earth)
Posts: 1,500
Thundered past me earlier off 27R sporting the Wifi antenna as BA115 to JFK, I make it only G-CIVF/G of the 18 86J aircraft that don't have connectivity.
Dec 20, 2018, 1:32 pm
#397
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 724
CIVG won't be getting it as it's being retired next year (subject to the ever changing whims of whoever decides these things). BA have changed their wi-fi page in the last couple of days - it used to list the aircraft that had been done and there were only 17 747s due to be fitted in total. CIVF is in Cardiff now so, when that comes back, that's yer lot for this type. Now, when are the 787s starting?????
Jan 1, 2019, 6:22 am
#398
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 724
As the spreadsheet linked to in the main post hasn't been updated since October I've done some maths.
This is the state of the LH aircraft as of 1st Jan 2019.
A318 - 0 fitted out of 1 (I know this is a special case)
A380 - 4 out of 12 (33.33%)
B747 - 17 out of 35 (48.57%). I've included CIVF as fitted. It should be returning from CWL any day now. I believe all the 747s that are due to get wifi now have it.
B777-200 - 0 out of 3. Probably won't be getting it due to retirement in 2020.
B777-200ER - 34 out of 43 (79.07%)
B777-300ER - 7 out of 12 (58.30%)
B787-8 - 0 out of 12
B787-9 - 0 out of 18
Total - 62 out of 136 (45.59%)
The remaining 777s that aren't being retired should be done this year, hopefully the 787s will start coming online in 2019 and the A350s due for delivery should(!) be factory fitted.
As for short/medium haul - **shrugs**
This is the state of the LH aircraft as of 1st Jan 2019.
A318 - 0 fitted out of 1 (I know this is a special case)
A380 - 4 out of 12 (33.33%)
B747 - 17 out of 35 (48.57%). I've included CIVF as fitted. It should be returning from CWL any day now. I believe all the 747s that are due to get wifi now have it.
B777-200 - 0 out of 3. Probably won't be getting it due to retirement in 2020.
B777-200ER - 34 out of 43 (79.07%)
B777-300ER - 7 out of 12 (58.30%)
B787-8 - 0 out of 12
B787-9 - 0 out of 18
Total - 62 out of 136 (45.59%)
The remaining 777s that aren't being retired should be done this year, hopefully the 787s will start coming online in 2019 and the A350s due for delivery should(!) be factory fitted.
As for short/medium haul - **shrugs**
Jan 1, 2019, 11:30 am
#399
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 378
Heard last week that there 10 aircraft ( x A319, 1 x A321 and 8 x A320’s) already flying with there WIFI system activated for a few weeks now to allow BA and immersat to carry out final system testing. A official launch date is yet to be announced, however it is rumoured by the end of January.
Jan 8, 2019, 1:25 pm
#400
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 30
It was updated a month or so ago. XLEI came out of maintenance on October 20th so it's definitely been updated since then. It doesn't look like any 787s have been fitted yet.
As an aside - XLEA is in Manila maintenance now. It should be returning very soon so will be the next A380 on the list.
As an aside - XLEA is in Manila maintenance now. It should be returning very soon so will be the next A380 on the list.
Jan 8, 2019, 2:57 pm
#402
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: 63,735
Jan 8, 2019, 2:59 pm
#403
Join Date: May 2016
Location: EDI
Programs: Was BA GGL but no longer travelling
Posts: 583
Nothing was mentioned by the crew and no networks showed up for the whole flight - apart from "Sarah's iPhone" for the first half an hour 
I had to watch films and drink wine instead of working.
I had to watch films and drink wine instead of working.
Jan 8, 2019, 3:03 pm
#404
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: 63,735
Tragic.
But for the Wifi I can't offer an explanation for that, it is supposed to come on at 10,000 feet automatically - the crew don't need to do anything - and even if you were over that bit of Greenland where the connectivity drops, the beacon is still active. Generally the crew don't mention wifi for some reason. I remember giving one CSM the shock of her life when showing her live BBC news of an aviation incident.
But for the Wifi I can't offer an explanation for that, it is supposed to come on at 10,000 feet automatically - the crew don't need to do anything - and even if you were over that bit of Greenland where the connectivity drops, the beacon is still active. Generally the crew don't mention wifi for some reason. I remember giving one CSM the shock of her life when showing her live BBC news of an aviation incident.
Jan 8, 2019, 3:42 pm
#405
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: LHR, LGW
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 3,412
I wondered why WiFi wasn’t mentioned on a recent JFK flight. Had it not been for FT I would have never known. There wasn’t mention anywhere. Is there a reason for the lack of mention? I don’t particularly mind, as a crowded WiFi network is never enjoyable but I thought BA would want to capitalise on the revenue from the WiFi packages by announcing it.
Last edited by rockflyertalk; Jan 10, 2019 at 9:21 am