Occasional Inflight iMessages Received (but didn't pay for access)
Feb 7, 2017, 4:44 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MRY - CNX - TXL
Programs: UA 1K / *G / Marriott PE / Expedia Gold+ / Hertz PC
Posts: 7,058
Occasional Inflight iMessages Received (but didn't pay for access)
Happened just now on SJC-IAH and it did it last month on DEN-SFO but I forgot to make a post.
I connect to UA wifi (on DEN was just for flight info/map) and on today's for PDE. I don't log in with my MP #, I don't pay for the browsing service.
But, my phone received 5 texts (iMessage) in flight, my Instagram notifications came up as well as things from the Thumbtack app. If I try to refresh Facebook or IG or respond to a text nothing goes out.
Is this UA trying to tempt us into buying wifi so we can respond to people, see what a IG comment was etc?
I connect to UA wifi (on DEN was just for flight info/map) and on today's for PDE. I don't log in with my MP #, I don't pay for the browsing service.
But, my phone received 5 texts (iMessage) in flight, my Instagram notifications came up as well as things from the Thumbtack app. If I try to refresh Facebook or IG or respond to a text nothing goes out.
Is this UA trying to tempt us into buying wifi so we can respond to people, see what a IG comment was etc?
Feb 7, 2017, 5:25 pm
#4
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: CLE (mostly)
Programs: UA Plat, Hyatt Explorist, Mlife Gold, Starbucks Gold
Posts: 823
I've had it happen intermittently on flights; most recently DEN-IAH on a 789.
I couldn't use web browser, but Gmail and Hangouts app worked perfectly fine.
I couldn't use web browser, but Gmail and Hangouts app worked perfectly fine.
Feb 7, 2017, 5:38 pm
#5
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 15
For those pages to not stop to a crawl, they also whitelist script references on the pages. For instance, for certain scripts and analytics, google is whitelisted.
There are ways to utilize this to tunnel data, but it is generally very slow and not worth it (except on a boat!).
Feb 7, 2017, 5:42 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,882
I've seen this occasionally as well. Haven't noticed it throughout a flight, just at one point. I know for sure the last time was on a 739. I'm pretty sure it happened once on a Gogo equipped UAX flight.
I always figured it was during a transition phase for the wifi, where it lets you get access beyond the paywall for a limited time so you can complete the authentication or sign up so you can pay, and shutsboff after. Im pretty sure I've seen this on other systems - for example, systems that want you to download an app first.
I always figured it was during a transition phase for the wifi, where it lets you get access beyond the paywall for a limited time so you can complete the authentication or sign up so you can pay, and shutsboff after. Im pretty sure I've seen this on other systems - for example, systems that want you to download an app first.
Feb 7, 2017, 5:52 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MRY - CNX - TXL
Programs: UA 1K / *G / Marriott PE / Expedia Gold+ / Hertz PC
Posts: 7,058
I've seen this occasionally as well. Haven't noticed it throughout a flight, just at one point. I know for sure the last time was on a 739. I'm pretty sure it happened once on a Gogo equipped UAX flight.
I always figured it was during a transition phase for the wifi, where it lets you get access beyond the paywall for a limited time so you can complete the authentication or sign up so you can pay, and shutsboff after. Im pretty sure I've seen this on other systems - for example, systems that want you to download an app first.
I always figured it was during a transition phase for the wifi, where it lets you get access beyond the paywall for a limited time so you can complete the authentication or sign up so you can pay, and shutsboff after. Im pretty sure I've seen this on other systems - for example, systems that want you to download an app first.
Feb 7, 2017, 5:52 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,686
I noticed this as well. I suspect it's to allow push notifications for the UA app to work (since the rest of the app works) and since all push notifications come from the same pool of Apple servers they couldn't whitelist only their app's notifications.
Feb 7, 2017, 6:53 pm
#9
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: BDL/NYC/BOS
Programs: UA/*A Gold, Global Entry, Marriott Plat, Hilton+IHG Gold, Hertz PC, DL
Posts: 1,752
i'm consistently able to use google services (hangouts, maps, gmail and google now) with limited functionality. images generally won't load, but i have full functionality within google maps.
i run lineageOS on a samsung galaxy.
i run lineageOS on a samsung galaxy.
Feb 7, 2017, 7:57 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,686
I forgot to mention I noticed this too on my most recent flight. Even got google.com search results on a laptop.
Feb 7, 2017, 8:46 pm
#15
Used to be MBS PremExec
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Saginaw, MI (MBS)
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Marriott Titanium w/Lifetime Plat, Hilton LIfetime ♢, National Exec, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,722
For months now, have been able to send and receive text messages via my iPhone and iPad, using the iMessage system (Apple-to-Apple texting).