United Wifi is Unusable / Problems Connecting to United_Wi-Fi
May 19, 2018, 2:50 pm
#331
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: BNA
Programs: HH Gold. (Former) UA PP, DL PM, PC Plat
Posts: 8,184
No different from wifi anywhere else. 802.11b has a max throughput of 11Mbit/s, 802.11g is 54Mbit/s, per connection.
May 19, 2018, 5:48 pm
#332
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 622
I’d hope they are at least using 802.11n, which is significantly faster. The challenge is that the bandwidth is not per device, it’s per access point. (Or per antenna for some access points) 100 tablets and laptops all sharing even 300Mbps on a single access point is going to be barely serviceable. My guess is they use multiple access points through the plane to distribute the load.
May 21, 2018, 2:41 am
#333
Join Date: Nov 2010
Programs: UA Premier Platinum, DL Platinum
Posts: 597
United’s WiFi underinvestment is a real problem
I just flew UA653 — LAX-IAD, operated by an international 752 — after flying a 738 IAD-LAX last week. Both times, I tried to use my $69 United global WiFi subscription. Both times, the WiFi was spotty when not inoperative.
On the outbound, it actually worked well for the first two hours, only to die over Kansas without warning. And, like Franco, it stayed dead. Even this partial use was impressive, since the FA had gotten on the intercom during boarding to announce that the WiFi, including Private Screening, would be wholly inoperative.
On the return, the WiFi was actually more frustrating, permitting the occasional text message or short email to escape the cabin before crapping out. Yes, I know there are some connectivity dead zones en route, but all the way between Arizona and Ohio?
(The outbound inoperation did provide its own preflight entertainment, as a disgruntled Global Services passenger complained loudly enough that a harried gate supervisor rushed onboard ten minutes before pushback to give him compensation as the rest of the F cabin watched, unrewarded.)
United needs to appreciate this problem for what it is. WiFi is not just an additional, ancillary product, like a buy-on-board snack or an E+ upgrade. It’s a communications option the airline advertises and that business travelers — say, between IAD and LAX — rely on. In my limited experience with AA, DL sand B6, the WiFi works reliably; when will UA make the investments necessary to achieve the same? Especially on the 752, an aircraft they run on their most premium transcons and many business-heavy TATL routes?
On the outbound, it actually worked well for the first two hours, only to die over Kansas without warning. And, like Franco, it stayed dead. Even this partial use was impressive, since the FA had gotten on the intercom during boarding to announce that the WiFi, including Private Screening, would be wholly inoperative.
On the return, the WiFi was actually more frustrating, permitting the occasional text message or short email to escape the cabin before crapping out. Yes, I know there are some connectivity dead zones en route, but all the way between Arizona and Ohio?
(The outbound inoperation did provide its own preflight entertainment, as a disgruntled Global Services passenger complained loudly enough that a harried gate supervisor rushed onboard ten minutes before pushback to give him compensation as the rest of the F cabin watched, unrewarded.)
United needs to appreciate this problem for what it is. WiFi is not just an additional, ancillary product, like a buy-on-board snack or an E+ upgrade. It’s a communications option the airline advertises and that business travelers — say, between IAD and LAX — rely on. In my limited experience with AA, DL sand B6, the WiFi works reliably; when will UA make the investments necessary to achieve the same? Especially on the 752, an aircraft they run on their most premium transcons and many business-heavy TATL routes?
I’m taking as much of a stand as I can by canceling my monthly subscription. If the WiFi is going to be so unreliable that it only works effectively on half of my flights, I estimate that I’d save money buying it on a one-off basis, and I will write United explaining that decision in the hopes that I’m counted as one more customer complaint about their unreliable product.
(Also ask me how it took four hours to get through on sitting of Black Panther. But that’s a gripe about antiquated entertainment systems on 752s.)Last edited by ezefllying; May 21, 2018 at 2:52 am
May 21, 2018, 4:53 am
#334
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,693
They seem to know it's so bad, since they've implemented automatic refunds when it has certain issues.
The reliable stuff on AA/DL is Gogo ATG, which is quite slow. UA has it on their subfleets for business-heavy markets, 757 P.S. and ExPlus. DL's satellite based Gogo 2KU has been a reliability disaster this last winter.
New Mexico is one of the general wifi dead spots due to WSMR.
The reliable stuff on AA/DL is Gogo ATG, which is quite slow. UA has it on their subfleets for business-heavy markets, 757 P.S. and ExPlus. DL's satellite based Gogo 2KU has been a reliability disaster this last winter.
New Mexico is one of the general wifi dead spots due to WSMR.
May 21, 2018, 6:37 am
#335
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Oakland CA
Programs: DL Gold, AS MVPG, Globalist
Posts: 1,008
Totally agree.
I’ve had very bad luck with the UA WiFi, and it’s VERY frustrating to not know if it will be there even if the plane is ‘WiFi equipped’
Prob fully worked on only about 50% of my recent flights.
I’ve had very bad luck with the UA WiFi, and it’s VERY frustrating to not know if it will be there even if the plane is ‘WiFi equipped’
Prob fully worked on only about 50% of my recent flights.
May 21, 2018, 7:01 am
#336
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
I've heard of deicing procedures blowing out wifi on Delta A319s, but not general reliability problems with the satellite 2Ku wifi on 400+ narrowbodies in the DL fleet. The widebodies and lie-flat 757s have the older gen satellite Ku service.
May 21, 2018, 4:32 pm
#337
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,098
They seem to know it's so bad, since they've implemented automatic refunds when it has certain issues.
The reliable stuff on AA/DL is Gogo ATG, which is quite slow. UA has it on their subfleets for business-heavy markets, 757 P.S. and ExPlus. DL's satellite based Gogo 2KU has been a reliability disaster this last winter.
New Mexico is one of the general wifi dead spots due to WSMR.
The reliable stuff on AA/DL is Gogo ATG, which is quite slow. UA has it on their subfleets for business-heavy markets, 757 P.S. and ExPlus. DL's satellite based Gogo 2KU has been a reliability disaster this last winter.
New Mexico is one of the general wifi dead spots due to WSMR.
May 21, 2018, 4:57 pm
#338
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,850
White Sands Missile Range -- it is reportedly a dead zone for satellite wifi coverage, required by USA Gov
Last edited by WineCountryUA; May 21, 2018 at 5:02 pm Reason: link
May 21, 2018, 5:24 pm
#339
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Somewhere in EWR
Programs: UA GS, HH Diamond
Posts: 858
1262 EWR-DEN not working at all today and the FA made an announcement prior to take off that it wouldn't be working. Asked her about compensation and 2 minutes later the pilot comes on saying, 'The wi-fi will not be working, ask the CSR at DEN about compensation, the FA's don't handle this' (somewhat paraphrased).
May 22, 2018, 4:49 pm
#340
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,098
White Sands Missile Range -- it is reportedly a dead zone for satellite wifi coverage, required by USA Gov
May 23, 2018, 1:18 am
#341
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA 1K 1MMer & LT UC (when flying UA); Hyatt Credit Cardist; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold via UA 1K
Posts: 6,956
Wifi was inoperable on my LAX-IAD DTV flight on May 19. My GPU filed on that route (and the transatlantic), and no compensation was offered. (I didn't complain.)
The wifi situation is ridiculous.
The wifi situation is ridiculous.
May 23, 2018, 7:00 am
#342
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,133
Announced this morning it's down on IAD-SFO. FA said it's inop on 75% of the flights in her experience.
It hasn't worked for me yet this year, FWIW. Out on every single longhaul I've been on, and on the few domestic flights, too.
It hasn't worked for me yet this year, FWIW. Out on every single longhaul I've been on, and on the few domestic flights, too.
May 23, 2018, 9:26 am
#344
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,461
Remaining Vestiges of Continental After the Merger With United ?
(Rather, I imagine some passenger is just having a laugh.)
