UA needs to copy DL immediately on WiFi
Jan 7, 2020, 12:55 pm
#16
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 9,454
DL spin machine in full effect! They've gotten a lot of mileage out of their free wifi pledge... it's still years away, at best, due to hardware and bandwidth limitations.
Jan 7, 2020, 1:02 pm
#17
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,694
Given the fixed costs of carrying the service, I expect free slow internet and paid fast internet on all the domestic carriers. Some like Jetblue will differentiate with free fast internet. Some like Southwest will differentiate with nearly useless internet overly crippled for business purposes.
Jan 7, 2020, 1:23 pm
#18
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Cleveland, OH
Programs: UA-GS 1MM), Hertz Pres Circle, Starriott Titanium)
Posts: 1,966
Or you can fly United and get BOTH: Expensive Wifi & Bad Wifi.
United Wifi is Unusable / Problems Connecting to United_Wi-Fi
United Wifi is Unusable / Problems Connecting to United_Wi-Fi
Jan 7, 2020, 1:31 pm
#19
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: American Express Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve
Posts: 619
Given the fixed costs of carrying the service, I expect free slow internet and paid fast internet on all the domestic carriers. Some like Jetblue will differentiate with free fast internet. Some like Southwest will differentiate with nearly useless internet overly crippled for business purposes.
Jan 7, 2020, 1:37 pm
#20
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 4,130
JetBlue has free internet, and it's fast, but it's totally unreliable. It basically works in brief spurts interspersed with periods when it is totally nonfunctional. It makes working a nightmare. Yes, I was able to stream hours of video over it on one of my last flights, except I had to keep stopping while the satellite connection dropped. Honestly, I'd rather have slower wifi that is actually somewhat reliable - Delta's paid wifi meets that, it's pretty solid even if not streaming speeds.
Jan 7, 2020, 1:40 pm
#21
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Jan 7, 2020, 2:06 pm
#23
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2019
Programs: Delta Platinum Medallion, Hilton HHonors, AAdvantage, Tier 8 Status - Hotel Tonight
Posts: 103
Delta's WI-Fi is generally garbage so it might as well be free. I do think UA should've announced free WI-Fi a few years ago to have an advantage, but made DTV free instead.
Jan 7, 2020, 3:05 pm
#25
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: 6 year GS, now 2MM Jeff-ugee, *wood LTPlt, SkyPeso PLT
Posts: 6,526
JetBlue already has free wifi on all their flights. Free snacks too. And more legroom.
Of course the points and status are basically worthless.... and they don't have the network of a big 3 carrier. But if free WiFi is your differentiating issue, there you are.
Personally I don't think that offering something for free if really that big of a deal. Airlines have been unbundling everything for years, and they do it because it's successful. Yes, JetBlue has free WiFi. Southwest has free bags. Will DL free WiFi be that big of a differentiator if their tickets are more expensive? Are you going to start flying DL instead of UA if the wifi is free?
Of course the points and status are basically worthless.... and they don't have the network of a big 3 carrier. But if free WiFi is your differentiating issue, there you are.
Personally I don't think that offering something for free if really that big of a deal. Airlines have been unbundling everything for years, and they do it because it's successful. Yes, JetBlue has free WiFi. Southwest has free bags. Will DL free WiFi be that big of a differentiator if their tickets are more expensive? Are you going to start flying DL instead of UA if the wifi is free?
meanwhile, check out the Polaris and United F food, and the new elite program at United.... Yummy....
Yup. Delta promises, and eventually delivers. I remember when they were promising IFE on all planes, and new aircraft. Love the A220 and A321s with IFE at my seat... United, not so much...
Jan 7, 2020, 3:33 pm
#26
Join Date: May 2010
Location: TPA
Programs: All The Programs
Posts: 2,207
Credit where it's due, but you're setting the bar rather low if you're saying Delta delivered on its fleet replenishment promise. Every airline has done this. Meanwhile, Delta will fly their MD90s through 2022!
Jan 7, 2020, 3:34 pm
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
What exactly is UA's differentiation? What do they offer that is better than the competition? For someone who can fly multiple airlines what is UA's value proposition? What does someone associate with their brand? This is just a string of very dare I say "savvy" branding moves by Delta.
For me it's mostly network. Admittedly if I was based somewhere else (DL is kind of useless in SFO) I'd probably fly DL.
Still, I don't have to fly UA. I only status matched and started flying with them regularly about a year ago -- before it was just the occasional flight. I think I made the right decision. When it comes down to it, network is the most important thing. For places I go often, UA has several direct flights per day at different times. That convenience is worth a lot more to me than free wifi.
Jan 7, 2020, 3:55 pm
#28
Moderator: United Airlines
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Before we drift too much, let's remember to stay focused on the wi-fi topic and not wander too far afield,
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
Jan 7, 2020, 4:01 pm
#29
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,362
Nothing is free! 
United achieving reliable and fast WiFi on most/all of its planes will cost HEAPS and HEAPS.
"Free" only means it's built into the airfare. As someone who rarely has the need for it inflight, I am not keen in subsidizing everyone's "free" WiFi.
No thank you!
United achieving reliable and fast WiFi on most/all of its planes will cost HEAPS and HEAPS.
"Free" only means it's built into the airfare. As someone who rarely has the need for it inflight, I am not keen in subsidizing everyone's "free" WiFi.
No thank you!
Jan 7, 2020, 4:04 pm
#30
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 9,454
(1) UA is brain dead competitively. (2) they are probably spending their time trying to figure out how to squeeze another 4"" out of the 24" wide bathrooms they are putting on the 737s...
There is a perception that Delta is trying to improve the customer experience. United is trying to cut costs and service and benefits. As I wait for my flight on Delta's A220, with a much better seat and IFE at my seat, and restrooms I can turn around in, I am happy that I am getting that perception, rather than the reality of my flight last night on a UA 737...
What exactly is UA's differentiation? What do they offer that is better than the competition? For someone who can fly multiple airlines what is UA's value proposition? What does someone associate with their brand? This is just a string of very dare I say "savvy" branding moves by Delta.
meanwhile, check out the Polaris and United F food, and the new elite program at United.... Yummy....
Yup. Delta promises, and eventually delivers. I remember when they were promising IFE on all planes, and new aircraft. Love the A220 and A321s with IFE at my seat... United, not so much...
There is a perception that Delta is trying to improve the customer experience. United is trying to cut costs and service and benefits. As I wait for my flight on Delta's A220, with a much better seat and IFE at my seat, and restrooms I can turn around in, I am happy that I am getting that perception, rather than the reality of my flight last night on a UA 737...
What exactly is UA's differentiation? What do they offer that is better than the competition? For someone who can fly multiple airlines what is UA's value proposition? What does someone associate with their brand? This is just a string of very dare I say "savvy" branding moves by Delta.
meanwhile, check out the Polaris and United F food, and the new elite program at United.... Yummy....
Yup. Delta promises, and eventually delivers. I remember when they were promising IFE on all planes, and new aircraft. Love the A220 and A321s with IFE at my seat... United, not so much...