Free fleet-wide Wi-Fi now available on unified airline … with a grasp.
If you’re a T-Mobile subscriber on an eligible plan, you can now access the internet for free on all United-operated flights — regardless of distance or destination, as announced by the carrier. confirmed by the carrier.
This includes all long hauls and includes all of United’s internet providers, including Panasonic, Thales and Viasat.
At this point, the only planes that don’t (yet) feature free T-Mobile access are two-cabin regional jets. These planes, operated by smaller subsidiaries, are equipped with Gogo air-to-ground connectionand Free Internet will be activated in the next few weeks and months.
United first partnered with T-Mobile in September 2022 to allow in-flight internet access for select subscribers. At the time, free Wi-Fi was limited to a select few aircraft, including the entire Boeing 737 fleet and select Boeing 757-300 and Airbus A319 aircraft.
These planes are equipped with Viasat or Thales Wi-Fi antennas, the two suppliers originally mentioned in the announcement.
However, United and T-Mobile recently expanded their partnership to include Panasonic, which provides internet access for the rest of United’s main fleet.
Going forward, all you need to do is connect to the “Unitedwifi.com” network while you’re on the plane, then enter your eligible T-Mobile phone number to start browsing. Streaming is supported, but note that the free T-Mobile Wi-Fi is limited to mobile phones (not laptops).
by T-Mobile Plan Magenta and Magenta Max includes free internet in flight. The old plan included four full flights per year, with one hour of internet access available on all other flights. Magenta Max subscribers get unlimited Wi-Fi on board throughout the year.
Sign up for our daily newsletter
T-Mobile is a Popular wireless service providers for frequent flyers. In addition to free in-flight Wi-Fi on United (and on some American Airlines And alaska airline jet), many packages include a generous allowance for high-speed international data roaming. Once you’re done with your 5G data allocation, you’ll enjoy unlimited throttled internet access when roaming.
That is in stark contrast to the other two major US mobile carriers, AT&T and Verizon, which both charge $10 daily for international data.
While T-Mobile subscribers can currently enjoy fleet-wide Wi-Fi access on the United, others can access cheaper internet plans on the carrier.
United offers a free messaging plan across its entire fleet, while cconnections on all short-haul domestic and international flights now fixed $8, or 1,600 miles, per device for MileagePlus members.
The airline has also redesigned the splash page for its Wi-Fi network, making it easier for first-timers to connect to the network.
Internet access on long-haul flights varies in price. I recently paid $8 for Wi-Fi from Newark to Barcelona but saw $37.99 for a full flight en route from London to San Francisco.
T-Mobile subscribers are the big winners. However, competitive pressure forced United to offer free Wi-Fi to all passengers.
In the first day of this month, Delta Airlines activated Unlimited Free Wi-Fi Unlimited Devices on all aircraft equipped with a Viasat antenna. Its service has been doing well over the past few weeks, with download speeds up to 50 Mbps on full flights.
Delta’s free Wi-Fi is sponsored by T-Mobile, but the only requirement to use the internet on Delta is that you must be a SkyMiles member.
That said, United may not be ready to offer free internet to everyone.
“The small price creates a bit of a friction which we think is a way to help the people who really need it – to be able to have it and use it,” said customer manager Linda Jojo. Skift . Aviation Forum in Dallas last November.
