No IMessage on UAL in-flight WiFi
Dec 9, 2017, 9:31 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2017
Programs: United
Posts: 3
No IMessage on UAL in-flight WiFi
Just recently iMessage stopped working through the internet on all my United flights after purchasing the internet. Anyone know why? It’s a nice way to keep in touch with the family while flying... Last 2 weeks, I can surf fine but cant send messages, when before it was no problem.
B777 Ewr-Ord-Ewr 4days in a row
B767-300 Iad-gva-iad
B767-400 Ewr-Lhr
B777 Ewr-Ord-Ewr 4days in a row
B767-300 Iad-gva-iad
B767-400 Ewr-Lhr
Dec 9, 2017, 9:35 am
#2
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: UA 1K; *G, AA Plat
Posts: 1,700
Just recently iMessage stopped working through the internet on all my United flights after purchasing the internet. Anyone know why? It’s a nice way to keep in touch with the family while flying... Last 2 weeks, I can surf fine but cant send messages, when before it was no problem.
B777 Ewr-Ord-Ewr 4days in a row
B767-300 Iad-gva-iad
B767-400 Ewr-Lhr
B777 Ewr-Ord-Ewr 4days in a row
B767-300 Iad-gva-iad
B767-400 Ewr-Lhr
Any errors? Did it just look like it was sending and then throw that red circle saying ‘not delivered’? Did it take a couple minutes to say not delivered or was it basically as soon as you clicked ‘send’?
Dec 9, 2017, 10:21 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MRY - CNX - TXL
Programs: UA 1K / *G / Marriott PE / Expedia Gold+ / Hertz PC
Posts: 7,058
Is it not delivering a "blue" message or is it turning green as a normal SMS text?
Sometimes I have the issue when traveling and my phone is on Airplane mood but I'm on Wifi I will try to send an iMessage but don't realize I'm disconnected from the Wifi. It then kind of gets "stuck" on green text with that particular person's text thread. Sometimes I just have to wait a while and it'll work or re-start my phone.
Sometimes I have the issue when traveling and my phone is on Airplane mood but I'm on Wifi I will try to send an iMessage but don't realize I'm disconnected from the Wifi. It then kind of gets "stuck" on green text with that particular person's text thread. Sometimes I just have to wait a while and it'll work or re-start my phone.
Dec 9, 2017, 10:46 am
#6
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 127
Flew the 77W 3 times last week, and all 3 times I could not get iMessage to work. I’ve already received a refund for 2/3 purchases with the 3rd pending.
This is extremely frustrating as messaging is the primary reason I purchase WiFi to begin with. (And the fact that it’s too slow to do just about anything else nowadays)
I did notice UA had successfully blocked WiFi calling a few months back which prevented the sending/receiving of SMS messages. Although it was convenient when it worked, voice calls were possible under certain situations so SMS blocking was an unintended casualty of the deliberate blocking.
With all the recent talks regarding iMessage leakage to those who haven’t purchased access, makes me wonder if they are trying to clamp down on things like that and broke it in the process?
This is extremely frustrating as messaging is the primary reason I purchase WiFi to begin with. (And the fact that it’s too slow to do just about anything else nowadays)
I did notice UA had successfully blocked WiFi calling a few months back which prevented the sending/receiving of SMS messages. Although it was convenient when it worked, voice calls were possible under certain situations so SMS blocking was an unintended casualty of the deliberate blocking.
With all the recent talks regarding iMessage leakage to those who haven’t purchased access, makes me wonder if they are trying to clamp down on things like that and broke it in the process?
Dec 9, 2017, 12:46 pm
#8
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: QSF
Programs: UA GS 1.1MM | Marriott Lifetime Titanium | National EE
Posts: 621
Yeah I find this quite hit or miss. I've had several flights in the last month that had little to no iMessage functionality. Most frustratingly, SFO-SYD stopped mid-flight and SYD-LAX never worked at all.
Dec 9, 2017, 1:36 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: Million Miler, 1K - Basically spend a lot of time on planes
Posts: 2,202
Oddly enough for me, on the 739’s, I get iMessage even if I don’t buy internet. I am connected to the wifi, but not paying and still get to iMessage most of the flight
Dec 9, 2017, 1:38 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,464
Dec 9, 2017, 2:09 pm
#12
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: EWR/LHR/SFO
Programs: UA 1K 1MM
Posts: 574
Unfortunately, it seems that UA's accidental blocking of iMessage has also nuked notifications. My iPhone straight up doesn't work on UA WiFi anymore (this was two TPACs on 77W and 789). Exceptionally annoying. I presumed was a momentary glitch but seems from this thread to be more systemic (perhaps affecting all WBs/non-Gogo/DirecTV craft?)
Predictably, the email I sent to 1KVoice nearly a week ago has had no response.
Predictably, the email I sent to 1KVoice nearly a week ago has had no response.
Dec 9, 2017, 2:35 pm
#15
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: PSM
Posts: 69,232
It is worth noting that UA is upgrading the hardware on the PAC-fitted fleet to support newer satellites and otherwise improve total bandwidth theoretically available on board. That includes new WAPs in some cases and a new modem/antenna controller. Probably only a few dozen updated so far but my understanding is that the long-haul fleet had priority, especially for planes operating TPAC as that's where the newest satellite is in place and where the value proposition for such changes is best.