United Wifi is Unusable / Problems Connecting to United_Wi-Fi
May 25, 2018, 3:23 am
#347
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: 67,138
I should follow up that despite the crew announcing repeatedly that wifi was unavailable, it actually showed up and offered internet for sale. I didn't purchase, but was connected to check the flight progress, and as usual, some internet stuff made it through (got a few notifications while connected). That said, even the flight progress was spotty and unavailable for large parts of the flight...
May 25, 2018, 11:25 pm
#348
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,507
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.
Anyway, Wi-Fi was completely useless on my earlier MEX-IAH flight today but seems to be working pretty well this flight.
May 26, 2018, 7:46 am
#349
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: BNA
Programs: HH Gold. (Former) UA PP, DL PM, PC Plat
Posts: 8,184
May 26, 2018, 9:01 am
#350
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,507
May 26, 2018, 10:44 am
#351
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Hold it down for The Bay, reppin' Oakland
Programs: Lowly UA silver, Marriott Ambassador/Tit4Lyf, IHG Plat
Posts: 1,763
I made the stupid error of paying for a subscription...
...because I had a bunch of United flights coming up. So far the wi-fi has been unavailable on 3 of 4 flights taken.
May 27, 2018, 10:41 pm
#352
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: UA gold; WN A; PC plat; Marriott Gold
Posts: 425
I suggest use the united refund page to request a refund for this subscription purchase. I was granted a refund recently for my purchase of an one month north america subscription. In the refund request, I listed the date, flight#, origin/destination of my flights that had in-op wifi. In my case, the majority of the mainline flights I took in that month span had in-op wifi.
May 28, 2018, 1:28 am
#353
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: IAH
Programs: Marriott Plat, Hyatt Globalist, DL Plat, UA Silver
Posts: 4,043
UA Onboard Wifi Streaming
Has anyone had any luck streaming up in the air? The speeds are not bad but it seems UA has blocked all streams. I'm trying to stream the Rockets vs Warriors game tomorrow as I'll be up in the air for quite sometime.
May 28, 2018, 4:34 am
#354
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: CO
Posts: 608
We streamed the NCAA tourney on the CBS sports app from the air but I think they block most. It wasn't the best stream but definitely watchable with some cuts in and out. I wouldn't count on it working tho that's for sure!
May 28, 2018, 5:39 am
#355
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
Blocking is the plan.
Internet video streaming is not supported. Video clips and streaming services provided by Netflix, Hulu, HBO GO, YouTube, Vevo, etc., are not supported.
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and video or audio conferencing are expressly prohibited on board. This includes, but is not limited to, applications such as Skype™ and FaceTime®.
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...ight/wifi.html
Internet video streaming is not supported. Video clips and streaming services provided by Netflix, Hulu, HBO GO, YouTube, Vevo, etc., are not supported.
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and video or audio conferencing are expressly prohibited on board. This includes, but is not limited to, applications such as Skype™ and FaceTime®.
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...ight/wifi.html
May 28, 2018, 12:37 pm
#357
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 10,970
I was a a trans-con that had spotty Wifi service - could not even connect and then was able to connect but no Internet. The FA tried resetting. He made an announcement and said to go to united.com/unitedcares to claim compensation. Upon landing, an e-mail was already in my inbox - it was sent about 40 minutes before landing.
What I am wondering are:
1 - how did he get the request to the system to send the e-mail if the Internet was down?
2 - it seems this is the way to handle it but rare. Then you have to write to UA and get inconsistent compensation and sometimes snotty attitude. Are the Pursers supposed to do this every time? What would be the trick to get the Purser to do this so we can get compensation much easily and without feeling we are trying to squeeze something out of UA?
Thanks.
What I am wondering are:
1 - how did he get the request to the system to send the e-mail if the Internet was down?
2 - it seems this is the way to handle it but rare. Then you have to write to UA and get inconsistent compensation and sometimes snotty attitude. Are the Pursers supposed to do this every time? What would be the trick to get the Purser to do this so we can get compensation much easily and without feeling we are trying to squeeze something out of UA?
Thanks.
May 28, 2018, 3:41 pm
#359
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Platinum/LT Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 5,594
Oh good, then everyone else will have painfully slow wifi...that will teach them to pay for wifi!
May 28, 2018, 3:55 pm
#360
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: IAH
Programs: Marriott Plat, Hyatt Globalist, DL Plat, UA Silver
Posts: 4,043