Might Leave UA Due To Lack Of WiFi
Nov 12, 2012, 4:31 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 4
Might Leave UA Due To Lack Of WiFi
I'm a 1K who travels domestically almost every week for business. I fly UA because I live in Chicago and often go to SFO or New York and there are lots of flights. But UA's delay in getting WiFi has been so egregious (with many promises not kept) that I'm thinking of asking Delta if they'll match my status. Or maybe even Virgin (flew it the other day and it was great, but they don't go from Chicago to NY yet). I really need to be in touch while in the air, and the gap between UA and other carriers in terms of WiFi is huge and growing, and I have no reason to believe UA's statements that it will have WiFi soon. It just doesn't seem like a priority for UA. Are others considering doing the same thing? Any insights?
Nov 12, 2012, 4:40 pm
#2
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 7,390
The first non p.s. bird got WiFi recently and now three A319s have WiFi... I would wait a little longer to see what the WiFi installation pace will be like once they really get things going before making up my mind.
I can imagine that soon enough they will be installing tens of planes per month.
I can imagine that soon enough they will be installing tens of planes per month.
Nov 12, 2012, 4:42 pm
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Atherton, CA
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Owner, Green Bay Packers
Posts: 21,690
If WiFi s that important to you, you should fly a plane that has it.
Be aware that quite often on board wifi is slower than dial up. Try a flight or two to see if it is worth it.
Be aware that quite often on board wifi is slower than dial up. Try a flight or two to see if it is worth it.
Nov 12, 2012, 4:47 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 4
Nov 12, 2012, 5:02 pm
#5
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: IAH, HOU
Programs: UA Silver, AA Plat, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Plat, HH Gold, Former CO Presidential Plat (for a day!)
Posts: 217
From ORD I'd have thought your AA options would also have been pretty good, and I've been on several of their flights that have Wi-Fi. You might still be able to get their challenge/match.
Nov 12, 2012, 5:05 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: DL Platinum, AA Lifetime Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Radisson Premium
Posts: 6,638
Yeah. It's getting ridiculous. How long could it take? Ridiculous. Everyone else has had wifi on atleast some of their fleet for some time now.
Very seriously considering leaving California come next year, and if SFO is no longer my home airport, will not be flying UA either.
Very seriously considering leaving California come next year, and if SFO is no longer my home airport, will not be flying UA either.
Nov 12, 2012, 5:31 pm
#7
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: MEL
Programs: VAG
Posts: 1,865
Yeah. It's getting ridiculous. How long could it take? Ridiculous. Everyone else has had wifi on atleast some of their fleet for some time now.
Very seriously considering leaving California come next year, and if SFO is no longer my home airport, will not be flying UA either.
Very seriously considering leaving California come next year, and if SFO is no longer my home airport, will not be flying UA either.
So, look for wifi around 2030, maybe 2035.
Nov 12, 2012, 6:06 pm
#8
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: W29
Programs: It's Complicated...
Posts: 6,817
True that speed can vary but I have been lucky I guess and never had anything in the dial up speed category. All my wifi experience is on US and AA though.
Nov 12, 2012, 6:37 pm
#10
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, UA Mileage Plus 1K, AA Executive Plat, Marriott Ambassador Elite
Posts: 2,344
if you need to be online at all times, maybe you shouldnt be flying?
Seriously, I dont care how important anyone thinks they are, a few hours is not going to kill you. Particularly in the example given from ORD to New York.
Seriously, I dont care how important anyone thinks they are, a few hours is not going to kill you. Particularly in the example given from ORD to New York.
Nov 12, 2012, 6:55 pm
#12
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 690
And it's for the same reason that I hope we never get cell phone service in the air. I like flying in great part because it's enforced downtime.
Nov 12, 2012, 6:59 pm
#13
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: CLE
Programs: UA Platinum, Starbucks Gold, PF Chang's Warrior, Wine Century 100
Posts: 1,105
I enjoy being unconnected while flying, but it seems odd that the pmCO fleet has this great DirecTV system in every seat, power in rows 21 forward, but is seriously lacking in WiFi rollout.
No offense, but you don't know my business. In my case, I'm an IT person working for a small concern who needs to travel but also needs to be in touch at all times (server down, power lost, etc. is a critical event that needs to be resolved ASAP)
No offense, but you don't know my business. In my case, I'm an IT person working for a small concern who needs to travel but also needs to be in touch at all times (server down, power lost, etc. is a critical event that needs to be resolved ASAP)
Last edited by iluv2fly; Nov 12, 2012 at 7:24 pm Reason: merge
Nov 12, 2012, 7:05 pm
#14
Join Date: Apr 2010
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 697
Now talking on cell phones impedes on other peoples comfort so that would have me up in arms if that is ever allowed.
Nov 12, 2012, 7:11 pm
#15
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 83
Agree with OP 100%. Flew BOS-LAX on a 737-800 election eve--a 6.5 hour flight--with no Direct TV, no wifi (as per usual) and no channel 9. Of all the nights I wanted to communicate with the outside world, this was it. UA needs to step it up in the wifi department--I am a 20 year 1K and ready to move my business to Delta. If is very frustrating when the rest of the world is working and communicating and I am standing still.