Free in-flight wi-fi internet on mobile phones has arrived at United Airlines for T-Mobile customers on select flights.
Free In-Flight Wi-Fi On United Airlines For T-Mobile (Limited Routes, Planes, Devices)
United Airlines joins American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and Delta Air Lines in providing T-Mobile customers with the ability to text, email, search and stream on select flights on their mobile devices.
During its initial rollout, service will be limited based upon aircraft (internet provider) and route.
Coverage will be limited to the following routes:
- domestic
- short-haul international
United has four wi-fi service providers. Additionally, coverage will be limited to two of the four,Viasat and Thales, on the following aircraft:
- 737 MAX 8
- 737 MAX 9
- select 757-300
- select A319
T-Mobile and United promise more Wi-Fi partners and flights will be added soon.
Grant Milstead, United’s Vice President of Digital Technology, explained:
“Whether it’s for business or leisure, we know staying connected in the air is important, and we’re excited many of T-Mobile’s customers will experience free inflight Wi-Fi on their phones when flying United. With the free in-flight coverage, customers can take advantage of Wi-Fi to text their family and friends or browse their favorite sites and apps.”
While offering free wi-fi on select aircraft on select routes on mobile phones is not a game-changer, it represents an important first step and foreshadows what hopefully will come in the months ahead on more routes and aircraft.
CONCLUSION
Free wi-fi on mobile phones for T-Mobile has now expanded to United Airlines. During the initial rollout, it will be limited to select aircraft on select routes, but hopefully will expand to more routes and planes in the months ahead. Meanwhile, Delta is rumored to be close to making wi-fi free for all customers on all devices, which might force United and American to act even sooner in broadening free wi-fi access. It’s an exciting time for in-flight internet!
I experienced this free Wifi wth Delta from Boston to Chicago this past Sunday. I only have a T-mobile data plan, but I was still able to access this free wifi. Very useful.
I bet that there will be a few customers of T-Mobile Polska or the Dutch equivalent who won’t be too pleased to discover that ‘free wi-fi for T-Mobile customers ‘ doesn’t really mean what it says on the tin.
I’m flying SLC – ORD on UA right now on an A319, and I’m a T-mo customer. The service was available for me and I’m using it right now. Painless login through the app, same speed as normal paid service.
The main reason I stuck with WN for as long as I did was the free wi-fi for A-List Preferred. Now I have the same on UA as well. I’m a happy camper.
How will this work? Will you need to sign in with T.mobile credentials?
There’s a dedicated box at the sign-in page for T-mo customers. It asks you for the phone number on your T-mo phone, verifies that, and you’re on.
Just to clear up some things here for some people, this free Wi-Fi will only be available for T-Mobile customers who are on the T-Mobile Magenta and Magenta MAX plans. With T-Mobile Magenta giving you four flights of full flight Wi-Fi a year, with every flight after those four being only 1 hour of streaming and unlimited texting. And T-Mobile Magenta MAX giving you 100% free full-flight Wi-Fi on every flight no matter how many flights you fly.
I just experienced on 4 domestic United flights yesterday. I have the Simple Choice plan.
There was no cap on amount of time or data.
I really want to get off the internet when flying and I started Reading a Book on my last flight and I actually enjoyed doing so. Most airlines now have a free WiFi system, onboard only, in which the airline has its own free entertainment system and that is enough for me.