While long hinted, United Airlines will debut a new wi-fi trial across many narrobowdy jets that will include both a complimentary messaging option plus paid high-speed premium wi-fi.
United Airlines Will Trial Premium Wi-Fi, Free Messaging
Between July 16th and 29th, United will conduct an onboard Wi-Fi test with multi-tiered options, including free messaging and a new premium option:
- FREE: Ability to send IP-based messaging for free using apps such as iMessage, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp and WeChat.
- BASIC: Email and web browsing, social media and messaging
- PREMIUM: Everything supported in basic, plus video and audio streaming, app downloads and updates and VPN access
This will be available on the following narrowbody jets:
- Airbus
- A319
- Boeing
- 737-900ER
- 737 MAX9
- 757-300
This is exciting news, to be sure. But it is not clear to me how United will actually make this work, as my understanding is that many aircraft without Viasat equipment is not equipped to offer streaming services.
While United has not made this news public, my sales tactic was always to underpromise and overdeliver. But like the rollout of the new Polaris hard product, I fear United may be setting itself up to overpromise and underdeliver.
But let’s see. A United spokesperson told me:
“We’ll let you know more details in the near future.”
Anecdotally, one passenger reported free basic-level internet for the entire plane on a Chicago – San Francisco flight earlier this week while another did so for Newark – San Francisco. In the past, United has said it hopes to one day offer free internet to all passengers. In these trials, United’s primary goal is likely testing consumer demand and seeing how the system handles it.
The free messaging trial is a repeat of a similar trial in April, though this time across more jet types.
CONCLUSION
United Airlines will trial free messaging as well as a new premium wi-fi option aboard four aircraft types from July 16 – 29th. Hopefully this will be a sign of what is to come across the United fleet in the months ahead.
image: United Airlines
What about channel 9? Will that be back with the new AVOD/IFE system?
“Untied,” indeed. When will widebodies get retrofitted? The Panasonic internet system is so bad, though it’s actually seemed to work a bit better for me with lower loads on (international) flights.
Zero expectations from me. We’ve gotten perpetually empty promises from United about “fast” wifi. It’s been the worst in the industry for over a decade. I’ve purchased it a hundred times and have used it satisfactorily about ten times. “Premium wifi” probably means 3mbps instead of 1mbps.
I had free internet on a 737-900 between ORD and IAD about a month and a half ago. Worked pretty well. I hope they keep this up.
Between this and other passenger-friendly improvement like starting free meals in Y on US-Hawaii routes September 15, UA is really starting to impress me.
Is free iMessaging really still in trial mode?
Maybe I’m misremembering, but pre-pandemic I was able to send messages on every flight except for regional jets. Since at least 2018 or even earlier?
As a subscriber to the monthly unlimited internet pass United offers, I wonder if we’ll continue to receive the basic service or the enhanced…or maybe a different tier all together for billing.