While we’ll have to mark this as ”developing” for now, here’s some news that most people will probably consider to be positive…
Continue reading: United Airlines Quietly Rolls Out Free Wi-Fi, Even On Non-Starlink Planes
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
I was on two non-Starlink United Airlines flights yesterday. On the early morning flight, Wi-Fi required payment. On the late afternoon flight, it was free and the speed was adequate.
Viasat is high speed.
There, I stole his line, he doesn't need to post anymore.
On an A321neo this morning with Viastat ORD-MCO that still has the old landing page and still only free for T-Mobile members.
and yet you can't grasp that the equipment and feed on DL's Viasat equipped airplanes is the same as on UA's - which is why UA is not and will not promote this as high speed WiFi while DL does.
Is Starlink faster and will Amazon Leo be faster? of course, but 10% Starlink installation on UA mainline is nowhere near being close to a competitive advantage.
Thank you for noting that I occupy every nook and cranny of your mind.
and someone please explain to us why T Mobile didn't pull its sponsorship benefit from AS which is also upgrading from slow FI to Starlink. AS clearly is better navigating the transition than UA - at least for now.
Wow these blogs really just parrot one another. The title from Gary's blog: "United Quietly Expanded Free Inflight Wi-Fi Beyond Starlink Aircraft". It's that meme about copying homework.
what is sad is that there are a handful of anoying UA fans that can't admit that other airlines put together AND EXECUTED on a high speed WiFi plan far before UA did.
UA is copying other carrier's strategies; I would have a whole lot less to write on aviation social media if some people could simply accept reality instead of trying to see "their" airline for far better than it actually is.
Right, 10% of mainline has Starlink and it's steadily increasing. You are right about that. But one thing you should acknowledge is that nearly almost all of United's Express fleet has Starlink. 99% of the E175's and CRJ550's have Starlink, today. The -200's and 145s don't. They fly routes too short and have never had WiFi.
This is an advantage for UA today when flying Express. Yes it sucks to connect to mainline and most likely be on ViaSat, I acknowledge that. It's an inconsistentcy for now. But pretty much claming you never get to see Starlink on UA because it's only on 10% of the mainline fleet is just not right when nearly all of the Express fleet has Starlink. Especially considering UA Express' 175s fly routes up to 3 hrs routinely, it's significant enough to mention.
Family member on a flight IAH - BOS this morning said WiFi was still paid. Curious about the return leg.
no, there is no advantage for UA.
AA and DL have the vast majority of their mainline domestic fleets with high speed WiFi.
AA and DL ALSO have the majority of their large RJs ALSO with high speed WiFi.
DL has high speed free WiFi on nearly all of its widebodies and offers free high speed WiFi across the Atlantic and to nearly all of Latin America.
AA and DL have more airplanes wiht high speed WiFi than UA. B6 has more SEATS with access to high speed WiFi than UA.
UA's own statements are that they expect to reach 500 mainline aircraft by the end of 2026 and their complete fleet by 2027.
Even if UA had the same equipment on its Viasat equpped aircraft, they have not bought the bandwidth to be able to offer ffree high speed WiFi to all which is why it is sporadic in offering at best and won't support the connectivity that AA and DL or B6 have.
The sooner you and the rest of the UA fan nut jobs accept that UA is 4th of 4 airlines with high speed WiFi and they are at a significant DISADVANTAGE to AA, B6 and DL and quit trying to tout what for now is just the hope of Starlink on UA's entire fleet
UPDATE: United tells Live And Let’s Fly, “We haven’t made any changes to our current Wi-Fi policy.” Prices remain $8 for MileagePlus members and $10 for non-members on U.S. domestic and short- haul international flights.
Live And Let’s Fly has learned there was a minor technical issue yesterday that briefly provided free access on some flights, but that has since been resolved.
thank god Delta is still in the solid #2 position behind AA on wifi, huh? You seemed scared on your usual nervous rants about UA and wifi that Delta might be #3 already instead of by the end of 2026, as planned.
what's sad is that your life revolves around this issue and you have no other life.
Delta is copying other strategies on wifi -- they were never the first for free wifi. Delta still doesn't have domestic free high speed wifi while AA does and Delta will be the last to have free domestic free high speed wifi.
International...? Well, you already know how far behind delta is there 😉
AA doesn't offer free high speed WiFi on any longhaul international routes; they do have more RJs but in terms of number of seats in the fleet ON TOP OF GLOBAL COVERAGE, DL still handedly leads.
But thank you for confirming that UA is nowhere near the top of the industry in high speed WiFi rollout despite the incessant blabbering from UA's fan nuts
yes. AA offers free high speed wifi on longhaul international routes. Go back and update your notes.
AA has offered high speed wifi internationally for years across the globe. Delta never has. EVER. DELTA HAS NEVER OFFERED FREE WIFI DOMESTICALLY ON THEIR OWN MAINLINE FLEET. AA does. United has plans within the near term to do so. Delta can't seem to figure that out.
Delta leads on absolutely nothing. They're behind AA today and behind UA tomorrow. That won't change for years per Delta's own plans.
Your delusion is a fun distraction. Lord knows how you find Delta first place on high speed wifi, free or not. They've never been. They can't even figure out how to get it on their own planes
AA DOES NOT offer free high speed WiFi on any longhaul international routes.
DL offers free high speed WiFi to Europe and Africa and to S. America on their widebodies and on narrowbodies elsewhere to Latin America.
AA's WiFi product is not at all in the same league as DL's and you know it.
AA and UA might have plans but DL is delivering NOW.
Your inability to accept reality while trashing others is pathological.
precisely.
UA has no intention of offering free WiFI until Starlink arrives; the fleet might be completed in 21 months.
ViaSat isn't even close to the "high speed" that Starlink is. Not even close. If it was so high speed then why does everyone talk like Starlink is such a revolution for in-flight WiFi? Because Starlink is leagues faster.
I 100% agree UA is behind on mainline WiFi and has been for years. Still charges $8 and has slow Panasonic WiFi on widebodies and mediocre, sometimes okay ViaSat WiFi on narrow bodies. There is no argument about that. But again, downplaying Starlink's speeds vs ViaSat and the fact UA has it fully equipped **today** on 99% of the Express fleet is really insane to me.
Any regular pax who flies UA Express vs DL Connection would notice significantly faster, more reliable and more responsive WiFi on UA Express, and that's an advantage for UA. ViaSat does not have Starlink speeds. It's really as simple as that.
Flew United from O'hare to IAH round-trip last week. Had to pay for Viasat Wifi both ways. Airbus outbound, Boeing on the return.
Glad to see they're doing SOMETHING. I've had 4 long haul, dual aisle flights in the past 6 months (I'm retired now!)and wifi has been either non existent or useless. Comparing this to a flight from EWR to ORD Sunday on an 8 y/o 739-starlink equipped. It was FREE for MP members and very very fast. And consistent. Best wifi signal I've ever had.
Forgot to add-$8 charge. Haven't seen ANYTHING about US doing free fleet wide EXCEPT for starlink for MP members