Satellite WiFi mainland to Hawaii?
Jan 25, 2018, 6:37 am
#2
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Texas
Programs: AA, UA, SWA
Posts: 40
We flew out on AA a few weeks ago. They had it,or said they did, but I didn’t use it. Too many good movies. We were in FC.
Jan 25, 2018, 7:38 am
#4
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 13
I flew LAX to OGG last summer on AA. Our wifi dropped out shortly after we left the mainland and never returned. I can only assume that my flight was using the ground based wifi. If I hadn't been using a free pass, I would have requested a refund.
When I was booking my flight, I did notice that the DFW - OGG route was being served by an international configuration plane with lie flat seats in first, etc. Our LAX - OGG flight was served by a standard domestic configuration B738. That probably makes a difference in whether or not the internet is ground based or satellite based.
When I was booking my flight, I did notice that the DFW - OGG route was being served by an international configuration plane with lie flat seats in first, etc. Our LAX - OGG flight was served by a standard domestic configuration B738. That probably makes a difference in whether or not the internet is ground based or satellite based.
Jan 25, 2018, 8:40 am
#5
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA Platinum, *G, HH Gold, Amtrak Select Plus, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 39
I fly United and the situation is a little confusing. The DirecTV equipped aircraft that fly on that route do not have wifi coverage over the Pacific, whereas their other wifi system does. It works fine over the ocean in my experience. However, the flight crew often still announces that the wifi won't work over the Pacific (I guess out of habit or confusion from being on DirecTV aircraft?) even though this contradicts reality and the material in the united in-flight magazine. The "inflight entertainment" section should tell you what type of wifi you will have, or the safest bet would be to avoid United 737 aircraft on this route if wifi is a priority.
Jan 30, 2018, 9:58 pm
#7
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: DEN or KOA
Programs: UA PLAT. DL PLAT, AOPA, MUG CLUB AT ROCK BOTTOM
Posts: 832
I go back and forth about once a month. While a internet freak (Flyertalk). I really enjoy disconnecting, listening to my music, drinking fine wine (oh yea) and relaxing. Just enjoy, you are supposed to be going on vacation.
Mar 3, 2018, 12:38 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Intermountain West
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 12,079
Jan 5, 2021, 12:54 pm
#10
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: SJC/BUR
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, IHG Platinum, Hilton Gold, Club Carlson Gold, Starwood Gold
Posts: 1,087
Flew United and Alaska from California this past week and was shocked in 2021 to discover there was no functional WiFi on these planes. Does anyone know which carrier I should be booking with going forward? Seems like Southwest?
Jan 5, 2021, 1:12 pm
#11
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: PDX, OGG or between the two
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 2,863
I've flow PDX to OGG (and back) 9X on AS over the last year and one time I had internet rougly halfway then it cut out. All other times there was nothing. If it just wasn't there I guess I'd understand... I'm just confused about why it worked once and only halfway.
Jan 5, 2021, 4:56 pm
#12
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: New York / Hawaii
Programs: UA Global Services, HH Diamond
Posts: 5,178
United has it on their 757/777/787 flights to Hawaii. On routes where 738/739s are used, you're out of luck.
Jan 6, 2021, 7:51 am
#13
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: LAX/SMF/PDX/HNL
Programs: Hilton-lifetime diamond, Southwest A+, companion pass
Posts: 1,748
WiFi was spotty over the Pacific Ocean on our recent Southwest flights to Hawaii.
We made several round trips to Hawaii before COVID and the WiFi was flawless.
We made several round trips to Hawaii before COVID and the WiFi was flawless.