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The Decline of JB IFE

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Old Dec 24, 2025 | 8:17 am
  #16  
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I just got back from a trip on a 32M, 32S, and 3NS.

On the 32S I enjoyed listening to XM radio while watching the map, until my school's football game started. I didn't watch the entire thing as we were destroyed but I could at least revert back to the XM radio and the map.

On the 3NS I just watched the map with no sound and did some work on my phone. I also took a nap. The screen on the NEO is nice and big, but music would have been nice.

-J.
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Old Dec 24, 2025 | 8:57 am
  #17  
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I recently flew on an aircraft LAX-JFK where the wifi didn't seem to work for anyone's phone, but a few passengers were able to use it for their tablets or laptops. The FAs admitted the same problem had happened the day before, and all they could do was reboot the router several times. The network showed good signal, and the phone acted like it was trying to connect. Yet my email and web browsers wouldn't refresh or load. I tried to disconnect and reconnect, but Flyfi.com kept hanging. Is this a common issue these days?

In contrast, the old aircraft that swapped in for my flight the week before, JFK-LAX, had excellent, surprisingly fast wifi. I was emailing, FB Messaging, and WhatsApping the whole time.
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Old Dec 24, 2025 | 9:01 am
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Speaking of which, I noticed on the screen something that implied an audio channel was also available to listen to air traffic control, similar to what United used to have ~15 years ago. I didn't have earplugs, but is JetBlue indeed offering this now?
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Old Dec 24, 2025 | 2:48 pm
  #19  
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Originally Posted by Auto Enthusiast
I recently flew on an aircraft LAX-JFK where the wifi didn't seem to work for anyone's phone, but a few passengers were able to use it for their tablets or laptops. The FAs admitted the same problem had happened the day before, and all they could do was reboot the router several times. The network showed good signal, and the phone acted like it was trying to connect. Yet my email and web browsers wouldn't refresh or load. I tried to disconnect and reconnect, but Flyfi.com kept hanging. Is this a common issue these days?

In contrast, the old aircraft that swapped in for my flight the week before, JFK-LAX, had excellent, surprisingly fast wifi. I was emailing, FB Messaging, and WhatsApping the whole time.
There has been a Mint aircraft flying around for a week or so now with intermittent wifi issues. A friend of mine flew it LAX-JFK last week and they had zero connection on that flight. I have been led to believe that there is a hardware issue.

Originally Posted by Auto Enthusiast
Speaking of which, I noticed on the screen something that implied an audio channel was also available to listen to air traffic control, similar to what United used to have ~15 years ago. I didn't have earplugs, but is JetBlue indeed offering this now?
This has been shown since LTV4 was introduced with the A321 over a decade ago. it has never been active and JetBlue aircraft have never actually been equipped for it

-J.
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Old Dec 31, 2025 | 9:11 am
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Originally Posted by GW McLintock
I'm on another A220 now and I turned off my screen in advance of the ads. Joke's on me this time, the screen won't turn back on. It is on (I can see that it is backlit) and if there's an announcement that message pops up (among others), but otherwise nothing. Luckily I have an open middle seat so I have the map up on that PTV.

I know it can be individually reset by the FA up front, but this is a 40 minute flight and it just isn't worth the effort.

-J.
You can individually reset the new IFE screens by pressing on the power icon (on the left) for about 30 seconds. It can take a few minutes to reboot, but all should be OK after that. I've gotten on a few planes with the new IFE with what appeared to be inoperable screens this year - the reset procedure fixed them.
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Old Dec 31, 2025 | 9:20 am
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Originally Posted by kevb2000
You can individually reset the new IFE screens by pressing on the power icon (on the left) for about 30 seconds. It can take a few minutes to reboot, but all should be OK after that. I've gotten on a few planes with the new IFE with what appeared to be inoperable screens this year - the reset procedure fixed them.
Wow - that is good to know! I will have to try that next time.

-J.
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Old Dec 31, 2025 | 9:22 am
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Not the biggest deal in the world, but my browser for the past couple of weeks has given a big warning page that the security certificate on the site that connects your phone to the IFE expired. Not sure if it's my phone acting silly, or someone at B6 just forgot.
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Old Mar 6, 2026 | 12:48 pm
  #23  
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On N821JB this morning, a Thales-equipped 32M, the screen turned back off after PAs! That was really nice.

Now I am paying the price. Doing a transcon on a dark cabin (IFE inop) Mint A321 At least the Fly-Fi marginally works.

-J.
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Old Mar 6, 2026 | 3:47 pm
  #24  
 
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The Fly-Fi experience for Android is pretty bad. Nothing in the instructions ever tells you that you might need to click on that three button menu in the corner to accept the Wi-Fi connection as is. Otherwise, it'll just disconnect you. I'm not sure if the flight attendants know how to walk people through this. Your average person would simply think the Wi-Fi is broken the whole flight even after resets.
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Old Mar 8, 2026 | 10:20 am
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Originally Posted by LLStarks
The Fly-Fi experience for Android is pretty bad. Nothing in the instructions ever tells you that you might need to click on that three button menu in the corner to accept the Wi-Fi connection as is. Otherwise, it'll just disconnect you. I'm not sure if the flight attendants know how to walk people through this. Your average person would simply think the Wi-Fi is broken the whole flight even after resets.
There may be an error in your settings I've been using Fly-Fi on Samsung Galaxy S devices since its introduction (including a redeye landing this morning) and have never had to do that.

-J.
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Old Mar 8, 2026 | 4:35 pm
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Originally Posted by GW McLintock
There may be an error in your settings I've been using Fly-Fi on Samsung Galaxy S devices since its introduction (including a redeye landing this morning) and have never had to do that.

-J.
I've seen this behavior across multiple Pixel generations. I'll try with my spare S22 next time.

It's similar to this older example.

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Old Mar 8, 2026 | 5:38 pm
  #27  
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Originally Posted by LLStarks
I've seen this behavior across multiple Pixel generations. I'll try with my spare S22 next time.

It's similar to this older example.
Oh, once in a blue moon I get that kind of error. On Samsung phones however you get a pop-up that prompts you to make a selection, rather than having to search for it. I actually got that error on BOS-SAN on Friday, likely because I tried to connect while the Fly-Fi was off during deicing. Once we took off I tried again and it was relatively seamless.

I get this prompt more often when connecting to hotel wifi, and again it pops up automatically each time.

-J.
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Old Mar 29, 2026 | 6:34 pm
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Currently on a flight from FLL to HPN watching Game 7 of the 2025 World Series on MLB Networknot offered on another airline on the planet.
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Old Mar 30, 2026 | 4:13 pm
  #29  
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Originally Posted by Ken C
Currently on a flight from FLL to HPN watching Game 7 of the 2025 World Series on MLB Networknot offered on another airline on the planet.
Why would you want to watch an old baseball game?

Also, if you fly Alaska Airlines or any other airline where you get free wifi with a T-Mobile account, then you have a complimentary MLB.tv membership (from T-Mobile) and most onboard wifi connections support streaming.

-J.
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Old Mar 31, 2026 | 10:25 am
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The best possible scenario, at least for domestic flights, is to use YouTube TV on a personal device and get all of your live channels and VODs that way.
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