United Wifi is Unusable / Problems Connecting to United_Wi-Fi
Feb 17, 2020, 7:24 am
#496
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: CLE, DCA, and 30k feet
Programs: Honors LT Diamond; United 1K; Hertz PC
Posts: 4,153
But regardless fairness/apportionment of a finite (air-to-ground bandwidth) resource should be enforced by the platform (throttling/packet shaping) and not individual users.
Feb 17, 2020, 10:36 am
#497
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: New York, NY, USA
Programs: UA 1K - 2.1MM, HH LT Diamond, IHG Diamond, Bonvoy LT Titanium, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 766
Viasat on the premium EWR/SFO flights blocks the port that Words With Friends uses so that app won’t work 
This was a very old 757 with 7 rows and toilets with the blue liquid. 
This was a very old 757 with 7 rows and toilets with the blue liquid.
Feb 17, 2020, 2:53 pm
#498
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: BNA
Programs: HH Gold. (Former) UA PP, DL PM, PC Plat
Posts: 8,178
Dec 3, 2020, 11:08 pm
#499
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 19,890
Wifi was fine. If issues occurred, they lasted no more than an hour. I was surprised how well it worked. There were times when WiFi was broken, so that was a pain, especially if I flew over and back on the same aircraft. I downloaded a lot of programming on Netflix, which worked well.
.
The only time I tried in-flight Wifi was with DL in a domestic flight. The speed was ok and I didn't think it would be fast enough for streaming. It was more for like browsing.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 10, 2020 at 4:03 pm Reason: splitting post
Dec 4, 2020, 12:12 am
#500
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,771
Internet access on an airplane is still an immature technology, it is getting better, but can drop out for many reasons.
You can download some content pre-flight to your computer and not need to depend on Internet access. Streaming directly from the internet on a plane is likely to have problems
Speed can be very variable depending an system used, system preformance, number on users, quality of the link from the airplane to satellite / ground stations, ...
You can download some content pre-flight to your computer and not need to depend on Internet access. Streaming directly from the internet on a plane is likely to have problems
Speed can be very variable depending an system used, system preformance, number on users, quality of the link from the airplane to satellite / ground stations, ...
Dec 4, 2020, 12:49 am
#501
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Los Angeles, California
Programs: United, American, Delta, Hyatt, Hilton, Hertz, Marriott
Posts: 14,792
I had no idea. Why?
What do you mean by it was broken? For the entire flight? You mean downloading Netflix over UA's wifi?
The only time I tried in-flight Wifi was with DL in a domestic flight. The speed was ok and I didn't think it would be fast enough for streaming. It was more for like browsing.
What do you mean by it was broken? For the entire flight? You mean downloading Netflix over UA's wifi?
The only time I tried in-flight Wifi was with DL in a domestic flight. The speed was ok and I didn't think it would be fast enough for streaming. It was more for like browsing.
it doesn’t work for streaming. I downloaded programs on Netflix and watched them on the flight. I slept a lot!
Dec 4, 2020, 12:55 am
#502
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: DL, OZ, AC, AS, AA, BA, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG
Posts: 19,890
I'm guessing you signed up for the monthly wifi plan? I wonder if UA will reimburse customers for non-functioning wifi? Definitely fast enough for browsing? Do you know who is the wifi provider on that flight?
Dec 4, 2020, 1:23 am
#503
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,771
Internet access on UA long haul aircraft is satellite based, operated by Panasonic (TPAC) and not traditional ISPs. There a couple of versions commonly call Ka, Ku due to the frequency of operation (more detials in the referenced threads
UA Internet access systems
There are multiple exisiting threads on the performance of in flight wifi
Pricing & Speed Performance of UA in-flight Wifi
United Wifi is Unusable / Problems Connecting to United_Wi-Fi
United Wi-Fi Subscription - Q&A, issues, ... and others
UA Internet access systems
There are multiple exisiting threads on the performance of in flight wifi
Pricing & Speed Performance of UA in-flight Wifi
United Wifi is Unusable / Problems Connecting to United_Wi-Fi
United Wi-Fi Subscription - Q&A, issues, ... and others
Dec 4, 2020, 6:45 pm
#504
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Los Angeles, California
Programs: United, American, Delta, Hyatt, Hilton, Hertz, Marriott
Posts: 14,792
I had an annual plan for WiFi.
Dec 4, 2020, 7:06 pm
#505
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, Total Wine & More Reserve
Posts: 4,486
You may want to check here to see if there are any recent reports.
United Consolidated Compensation Thread
United Consolidated Compensation Thread
Oct 29, 2021, 11:02 am
#508
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,771
Oct 29, 2021, 11:08 am
#509
Join Date: May 2012
Location: LAX
Programs: DL, UA
Posts: 421
The first flight was a plane-wide issue announced by the FA multiple times. Everyone seemed to be having issues with the service going in and out (mostly out). Using an iphone and macbook for the most part.
They reset the wifi 3 times on one flight- it'd work briefly then go out.
They reset the wifi 3 times on one flight- it'd work briefly then go out.
Last edited by nw6338; Oct 29, 2021 at 11:25 am
Oct 29, 2021, 1:36 pm
#510
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,771
Go to https://united.com/refund to get a refund of the fee