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-   -   Free in-flight wifi? (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-airlines-mileageplus/2046246-free-flight-wifi.html)

FlytheTail Jul 9, 2021 8:25 am
Free in-flight wifi?
 
I'm flying today on a 739 and was pleasantly surprised to find free wifi. Is this a one-off, or did I miss the memo? I recall rumblings about this a year or two ago. No other plans were available. Download speed of 42 Mbps.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...33e18bafa8.jpg

MatthewLAX Jul 9, 2021 8:28 am
What route? I’ve seen it before on overwater routes where wi-fi is not available for most of the flight.

But UA will unveil free messaging next week. It may be related.

fumje Jul 9, 2021 9:12 am
There was discussion a couple years ago that free wifi would be coming "soon" (ish).

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...me-2020-a.html

That included some reports of what seemed to be one-off offerings of free in flight wifi.

FlytheTail Jul 9, 2021 9:20 am
Originally Posted by MatthewLAX (Post 33393704)
What route? I’ve seen it before on overwater routes where wi-fi is not available for most of the flight.

But UA will unveil free messaging next week. It may be related.
ORD-SFO. Good to know about the free messaging coming up.

LarryJ Jul 9, 2021 12:33 pm
I had not heard anything about this but wonder if it's testing to see how much bandwidth is used when internet is free?

phkc070408 Jul 9, 2021 2:36 pm
Originally Posted by fumje (Post 33393831)
There was discussion a couple years ago that free wifi would be coming "soon" (ish).

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...me-2020-a.html

That included some reports of what seemed to be one-off offerings of free in flight wifi.
IIRC that was with a planned overhaul of the wifi systems to one that can handle more bandwidth, the viaSatKA. As far as I know the current KA/KU systems can't handle an entire plane surfing the web.
Then COVID came.

MatthewLAX Jul 9, 2021 3:15 pm
Originally Posted by LarryJ (Post 33394300)
I had not heard anything about this but wonder if it's testing to see how much bandwidth is used when internet is free?
bingo.

aCavalierInCoach Jul 9, 2021 3:54 pm
Originally Posted by MatthewLAX (Post 33394668)
bingo.
Not a great proof point though if it's not advertised... I think OP may have been on my flight (UA2645, FlytheTail ?) If so it was on the Thales platform to the extent that's indicative of anything.

OhDoctor Jul 9, 2021 4:44 pm
Now all United has to do is travel back in time to 2013, and they'll really have B6 looking over their shoulder!

harry5198 Jul 9, 2021 4:46 pm
Had free WiFi on flight 2603 SFO-EWR on Wed July 7

LinBros Jul 9, 2021 5:04 pm
Is UA Headed to Two Tier WiFi?
 
Can't help but notice that screen shot which OP shared showed "Basic" as "Free". While similar previous screens have also labeled UA's WiFi service as "Basic", I'm wondering if the transition to the new faster WiFi which was announced as coming with new aircraft (and eventually retrofiited to existing aircraft) will come in two flavors -- Basic for Free and Enhanced for a Fee (where streaming video and audio require Enhanced WiFi for a Fee).

fumje Jul 9, 2021 6:21 pm
Originally Posted by YRKInsider (Post 33394901)
Can't help but notice that screen shot which OP shared showed "Basic" as "Free". While similar previous screens have also labeled UA's WiFi service as "Basic", I'm wondering if the transition to the new faster WiFi which was announced as coming with new aircraft (and eventually retrofiited to existing aircraft) will come in two flavors -- Basic for Free and Enhanced for a Fee (where streaming video and audio require Enhanced WiFi for a Fee).
That would be fine with me and seems fair, although actually I don't mind no free wifi at all.

ekwang Jul 27, 2021 2:06 pm
Flew PDX -SFO this morning. WiFi by ViaSat. Can confirm 3 WiFi options.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...d9dba85b34.png
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...9d1dbb5015.png
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...86a948d986.png


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