United Wifi is Unusable / Problems Connecting to United_Wi-Fi
May 25, 2017, 6:48 pm
#271
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: NYC
Programs: UA GS, SPG Plat, National EC Executive (Replaced Hertz), Hertz PC (Retired)
Posts: 724
Jun 13, 2017, 12:48 pm
#272
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NYC, LON
Programs: *
Posts: 2,773
I recently took two back to back flights on the same 777-300ER between EWR and SFO. On both flights I paid for wifi for the whole flight. Like clock work half way into the flight internet access stopped on both flights having been performing excellently for the first two to three hours or so. I kept trying but never got access.
I was going to complain to get a refund but then I got an email for UA the next day
Dear Ani 90
We have determined that there were Wi-Fi connectivity issues on your recent flight and would like to apologize for any inconvenience that this may have caused. The details of your full purchase are listed for your reference and will be automatically refunded. Please allow up to 7 days for the United MileagePlus® award miles to be credited back to your account.
We look forward to having you back on board soon.
I wondered whether it was a problem unique to the (relatively new) aircraft as it seemed to happen at same point in each flight, but it was reassuring that UA responded without me having complained and refunded payment for both flights.
I was going to complain to get a refund but then I got an email for UA the next day
Dear Ani 90
We have determined that there were Wi-Fi connectivity issues on your recent flight and would like to apologize for any inconvenience that this may have caused. The details of your full purchase are listed for your reference and will be automatically refunded. Please allow up to 7 days for the United MileagePlus® award miles to be credited back to your account.
We look forward to having you back on board soon.
I wondered whether it was a problem unique to the (relatively new) aircraft as it seemed to happen at same point in each flight, but it was reassuring that UA responded without me having complained and refunded payment for both flights.
Jun 13, 2017, 1:54 pm
#273
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K MM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 4,768
United is verging on losing my business due to awful domestic wifi reliability. Roughly half my flights have connectivity issues affecting the entire plane. Sometimes they can reset and fix the system and sometimes they can't, but either way it's absolutely maddening. Others noticing the same thing? Or am I terribly unlucky?
My favorite experience is when it's working fine and someone else complains, they reset, and it never works again.
Jun 13, 2017, 6:16 pm
#274
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: UA GS, KE MM, OZ DP, SQ PPS, Ritz Carlton Gold, IHG Aspire
Posts: 65
I find this service to be a useless turd. I have maybe a 25% success rate on having internet for the entire flight. At least they're quick and relatively painless on issuing refunds.
My favorite experience is when it's working fine and someone else complains, they reset, and it never works again.
My favorite experience is when it's working fine and someone else complains, they reset, and it never works again.
One thing I think that could help is if the flight crew just tells the passengers to try putting in www.unitedwifi.com into a browser.
The worst is when they reset the system for WIFI but it resets the entertainment system as well.
Jun 13, 2017, 11:41 pm
#275
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Houston, TX, USA
Programs: UA 1K, AA Lifetime Platinum, DL Platinum, Honors Diamond, Bonvoy Titanium, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 7,970
I wanted to use email, but since I forgot about the www.unitedwifi.com page, I could not get the guard page to come up as it normally would when I went to any other site. Instead, it would just spin. So, I didn't even have the opportunity to pay.
Jun 15, 2017, 4:32 am
#276
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,098
One thing I think that could help is if the flight crew just tells the passengers to try putting in www.unitedwifi.com into a browser.
Jul 15, 2017, 5:03 am
#277
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,439
UA840 SYD-LAX on 7/12, wifi was down the entire flight. unitedwifi.com would keep refreshing ad infinitum and never load. Pax in front of me complained to the FA about it the entire flight (thus saving me from having to do the same)
UA1158 LAX-HNL on 7/13, wifi was shown as available but could not log in to MP account nor access united.com or the United app.
UA1158 LAX-HNL on 7/13, wifi was shown as available but could not log in to MP account nor access united.com or the United app.
Jul 15, 2017, 10:33 am
#279
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BOS<>NYC<>BKK
Programs: UA 4.3MM LT-GS; AA1MM; Amtrak SE; MAR LT TITAN; PC Plat; HIL DIA; HYA GLOB
Posts: 4,392
UA895 last week, ORD-HKG -- $29.99 -- worked from 10,000' on ascent up to 10,000' feet on decent -- 15 hours! It may be attributable to a more southerly routing westbound, over central Alaska instead of polar. A pleasant surprise.
Jul 15, 2017, 11:02 am
#281
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: NYC
Posts: 302
Has anyone been having trouble pasting things into the UnitedWifi portal in-flight? When I try to transfer access from my laptop to my phone, it seems like they've somehow interfered with or disabled the ability to paste a password. My password is hideously long and I use a password manager to copy/paste it into forms as needed, but am unable to do so on UnitedWifi.
Jul 15, 2017, 2:22 pm
#282
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
Assuming long-haul flights for both UA & LH it is the same kit and vendor. :-:
Jul 15, 2017, 7:04 pm
#283
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: AUS after 40+ SFO/OAK
Programs: UA MM (recovering former 1K), Marriott Titanium Lifetime
Posts: 550
Definitely I have had the same experience and I would surmise that many times when a a passenger can't get WIFI working, it's more to do with issues with their computer/mobile device literacy and nothing to do with the United WIFI system.
One thing I think that could help is if the flight crew just tells the passengers to try putting in www.unitedwifi.com into a browser.
The worst is when they reset the system for WIFI but it resets the entertainment system as well.
One thing I think that could help is if the flight crew just tells the passengers to try putting in www.unitedwifi.com into a browser.
The worst is when they reset the system for WIFI but it resets the entertainment system as well.
And I have known about going to the portal URL for a long time.
Jul 16, 2017, 10:31 am
#284
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,098
Has anyone been having trouble pasting things into the UnitedWifi portal in-flight? When I try to transfer access from my laptop to my phone, it seems like they've somehow interfered with or disabled the ability to paste a password. My password is hideously long and I use a password manager to copy/paste it into forms as needed, but am unable to do so on UnitedWifi.
Jul 16, 2017, 3:13 pm
#285
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SFO (formerly IAH)
Programs: UAL Plat, 2+MM, AA Plat, SPG Lifetime Plat
Posts: 119
I really want to defend United sometimes...but they make it just so damn hard.