10,000 foot WiFI Policy

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Apr 24, 2014, 11:23 am

#16

Critic

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Quote:

Originally Posted by malgudi

What does this mean?

Off topic, but if I had to hazard a guess...the FA was trying to discourage self-service galleys for fear someone at Willis Tower might get a bright idea.

Apr 24, 2014, 3:20 pm

#17

LaserSailor

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Quote:

Originally Posted by jpsj

Why is the 10,000 wi-fi policy still in place at United? Today from Chicago, it took about 20 minutes before wi-fi was available and then it get's cut off 15 minutes before landing. I would have thought this changed when the use of devices changed? Thoughts?

The length of the CAT5 cable from the satellite can't quite reach the ground without excessive latency.

Apr 24, 2014, 4:04 pm

#18

uthornsgo

Join Date: Feb 2002

Location: Austin, TX

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Southwest' work gate to gate. Has for a while. I use it each week and am really pleased. Also free for their higher tear elites. Annoys me to have to pay as a 1K on UA when I get it free at WN.

Apr 24, 2014, 4:15 pm

#19

gobluetwo

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Quote:

Originally Posted by uthornsgo

Southwest' work gate to gate. Has for a while. I use it each week and am really pleased. Also free for their higher tear elites. Annoys me to have to pay as a 1K on UA when I get it free at WN.

So what exactly is a "higher tear" elite on Southwest? And could they possibly be shedding more tears than United elites??

On topic, per this article from Nov 2013:
http://www.zdnet.com/southwest-airli...y-7000023488//

Quote:

The FAA recently relaxed its rules affecting electronic devices on flights and airlines have rushed to get them in place. Southwest Airlines is getting ready for holiday flight loads and has announced that flyers on most flights (not all have wi-fi) can optionally choose to have wi-fi available from gate-to-gate.

Also this:
http://www.cnet.com/news/putting-the...i-to-the-test/

Apr 24, 2014, 4:50 pm

#20

boat9781

Join Date: Oct 2008

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Southwest allows gate to gate wifi. Used it last week.

Apr 24, 2014, 5:15 pm

#21

LaserSailor

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Quote:

Originally Posted by gobluetwo

So what exactly is a "higher tear" elite on Southwest? And could they possibly be shedding more tears than United elites??[/url]

Lime juice in the eyes...

Apr 24, 2014, 6:35 pm

#22

jpsj

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Yes, I think it would be a great perk for 1ks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by uthornsgo

Southwest' work gate to gate. Has for a while. I use it each week and am really pleased. Also free for their higher tear elites. Annoys me to have to pay as a 1K on UA when I get it free at WN.

Apr 24, 2014, 6:40 pm

#23

jpsj

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Thanks for the info. CLear that gate to gate wifi is possible! SWA is leading the way. 10,000--ual, stuck with their head in the clouds

Quote:

Originally Posted by gobluetwo

Apr 24, 2014, 6:58 pm

#24

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747

I was on a 747 last week PVG-ORD. Wi-fi could be had but no internet for the most duration. FA did say that over the pacific mostly no signal (?? I thought it is through satellite). Above the land (over Canada) log-in page appears to allow me to pay. Once payment was made, and not too long, the internet signal was gone. Over the 4 hours or so over land, the signals were intermittent to say the best. BTW, I was on BF and a 1K. Everyone has to pay.

Apr 24, 2014, 8:21 pm

#25

uthornsgo

Join Date: Feb 2002

Location: Austin, TX

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Quote:

Originally Posted by gobluetwo

So what exactly is a "higher tear" elite on Southwest? And could they possibly be shedding more tears than United elites??

didn't mean to make that typo but sure glad I did! Hilarious!

Apr 25, 2014, 9:24 am

#26

gobluetwo

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Quote:

Originally Posted by jpsj

Thanks for the info. CLear that gate to gate wifi is possible! SWA is leading the way. 10,000--ual, stuck with their head in the clouds

Actually, it's not UA so much as it is GoGo. Per the article below, GoGo's ground-to-air wifi service requires airliners to be above 10k feet in order to work.

http://skift.com/2013/10/31/in-fligh...ow-10000-feet/

The DirecTV/wifi equipped planes and int'l flights with wifi are satellite-based, so those should theoretically work gate-to-gate, but are stated as working from takeoff to landing on united.com:

http://www.united.com/web/en-US/cont...wifi/faqs.aspx

Quote:

On aircraft equipped with DIRECTV®, United Wi-Fi service is available from takeoff to landing, as long as the flight crew has not announced that personal electronic devices must be temporarily stowed.

Apr 25, 2014, 9:35 am

#27

star_world

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Quote:

Originally Posted by gobluetwo

You are partially correct, although the vast majority of UA's WiFi-equipped aircraft do not have GoGo or DirecTV - they have UA's in-house system that is based on Panasonic technology (this is the system on the A319/320s, 777 and 747).

I have not seen anything that confirms whether the Panasonic system is certified for use <10k ft.

Only the small number of p.s. 752s have GoGo.

Apr 25, 2014, 10:43 am

#28

bmwe92fan

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Quote:

Originally Posted by malgudi

What does this mean?

It means that if Jeff thought he could elimiate flight crews and go to self serve for passengers on the flight he would...

Apr 25, 2014, 10:45 am

#29

bob_the_d

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by the way, there's some more in-depth articles posted below, but i like this one (http://www.engadget.com/2014/04/25/g...&utm_medium=fb) as a quick 101 on airlines and wifi if anyone's bored.