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
Oct 10, 2019, 2:18 am
#631
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 275
Was on LHR-GLA shuttle on 29 Sep (BA1486). Searched and found WiFi available once airborne. It was never announced by the cabin crew. The Stream package cost £4.99 which I think is acceptable. Speed is fast and smooth, watched several YouTube videos and streamed live BBC Radio as well (with minor lagging though).
Interestingly, the internet functionality stopped once below 10,000ft so the last 20-30 mins can’t access the internet. Is it normal for ground based system as well?
Interestingly, the internet functionality stopped once below 10,000ft so the last 20-30 mins can’t access the internet. Is it normal for ground based system as well?
Oct 13, 2019, 2:08 am
#633
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: London, United Kingdom
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold;BA GGL; hhonors lifetime diamond; Marriott lt Gold; IH Plat Amb; Amex Centurion
Posts: 4,739
One small point: I was returning from MAD to LHR last Saturday on a 777. The wifi prices were long haul ones even though it's a 2h 30m journey. That could I am sure be fixed.
Oct 13, 2019, 4:46 am
#634
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 726
I don't know if it could as the shorthaul and longhaul aircraft are fitted with completely different systems. I don't know how easy it is to change the price on one aircraft for the one day it's doing the MAD run. There's also the fact that, at least at the moment, the longhaul aircraft wifi is a lot better than the wifi on shorthaul aircraft and has fewer restrictions so it's probably worth the couple of quid difference.
Oct 13, 2019, 5:04 am
#635
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 726
Some airlines are upgrading to gate-to-gate wifi now, I don't know if BA are lagging behind through choice or regulatory reasons in some of the countries they fly to.
Oct 14, 2019, 3:01 am
#637
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: London
Programs: BA Silver Seigneur des Horaires des Mucci.
Posts: 2,047
Both my recent flights to JFK and from EWR had non functioning wifi. The outward flight on a 747 even announced Wifi as available but an announcement about an hour into the flight said they were unable to connect. The rerurn on a 787 also was unable to connect though no announcement made.
Oct 14, 2019, 4:28 am
#638
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TPA/ABZ
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
Posts: 13,252
Oct 14, 2019, 4:40 am
#639
Join Date: May 2016
Location: EDI
Programs: Was BA GGL but no longer travelling
Posts: 583
Speed test from somewhere over Bucharest: https://www.speedtest.net/result/8672727265
Oct 14, 2019, 1:42 pm
#640
Join Date: Sep 2000
Posts: 5,398
The 10,000ft limit was originally set by the the various regulators for safety reasons but they've now learnt that having wifi in use at other times isn't a safety issue so are gradually allowing 'gate-to-gate' wifi. The EASA have allowed it since 2014 but not every country within the EASA area has allowed it yet, let alone worldwide.
Some airlines are upgrading to gate-to-gate wifi now, I don't know if BA are lagging behind through choice or regulatory reasons in some of the countries they fly to.
Some airlines are upgrading to gate-to-gate wifi now, I don't know if BA are lagging behind through choice or regulatory reasons in some of the countries they fly to.
Oct 18, 2019, 9:29 am
#641
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 726
There was a tweet on BA's account yesterday that said:
"we did trial free WiFi in our First cabin but this has since been suspended. We do plan to reintroduce this at some stage. However, it hasn't been confirmed when as of yet."
I know BA's Twitter team don't always have access to the most up-to-date info so I'm not sure if this is correct as of today or whether the reintroduction was at the end of September. Anyone know?
Oct 22, 2019, 10:47 pm
#643
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Executive Club Blue
Posts: 969
There was a tweet on BA's account yesterday that said:
"we did trial free WiFi in our First cabin but this has since been suspended. We do plan to reintroduce this at some stage. However, it hasn't been confirmed when as of yet."
I know BA's Twitter team don't always have access to the most up-to-date info so I'm not sure if this is correct as of today or whether the reintroduction was at the end of September. Anyone know?
"we did trial free WiFi in our First cabin but this has since been suspended. We do plan to reintroduce this at some stage. However, it hasn't been confirmed when as of yet."
I know BA's Twitter team don't always have access to the most up-to-date info so I'm not sure if this is correct as of today or whether the reintroduction was at the end of September. Anyone know?
Oct 23, 2019, 1:36 am
#644
Join Date: Aug 2015
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 236
Made use of On-Board Wifi for the first time on an A380 to BOS and I bought the more expensive option that supposedly supports streaming. What a waste of money! I'll recommend anyone to not bother.
Wifi connection often dropping and stream quality really low with a lot of stop/start to the stream.
I took screen grabs and intend to complain, not too worried about teh money but someone else might be and that's just really poor service.
Wifi connection often dropping and stream quality really low with a lot of stop/start to the stream.
I took screen grabs and intend to complain, not too worried about teh money but someone else might be and that's just really poor service.
Oct 23, 2019, 5:44 am
#645
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 116
I used the wifi service for the first time on flight to Washington last week. Probably referenced in this thread somewhere but BAs guide states
"VoIP calls through services such as Skype, FaceTime and WhatsApp will also be unavailable"
I was slightly surprised to be called at 38,000ft over the Atlantic by my daughter on Whats-app - and it worked very well.
"VoIP calls through services such as Skype, FaceTime and WhatsApp will also be unavailable"
I was slightly surprised to be called at 38,000ft over the Atlantic by my daughter on Whats-app - and it worked very well.