United Airlines adds Wi-Fi for international flights

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 15 Jan 2013 10:16 User comments (12)

United Airlines has announced the introduction of satellite-based Wi-Fi for international flights.

The move is the first for a U.S.-based international carrier.

Boeing 747-400s that serve both trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific routes will be the first with the technology. Each will be equipped with Panasonic Avionics Corporation's Ku-band satellite technology.

"Satellite-based Wi-Fi service enables us to better serve our customers and offer them more of what they want in a global airline," added Jim Compton, our vice chairman and chief revenue officer. "With this new service, we continue to build the airline that customers want to fly."

Depending on how long the flight is, costs will vary. For "Standard" speeds, the prices are between $3.99 and $14.99 and "Accelerated" speeds will cost between $5.99 and $19.99.

Tags: Wi-Fi International united airlines

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12 user comments

116.1.2013 00:16

cjdevesa

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"to better serve our customers"

What a load of PR BS, its another cash grab

216.1.2013 06:35

dali

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Originally posted by cjdevesa:
"to better serve our customers"

What a load of PR BS, its another cash grab

Agreed. Shame on them and those who pay a single cent for not being disconnected for a while. I won't use it if it isn't free. I lived without it until now, and I won't miss it after all.

316.1.2013 08:44

JST1946

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Who cares about Wi-Fi!I just want to fly from one place to another and make it there in one piece and get my free bag of peanuts.

416.1.2013 23:24

PraisesToAllah

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I'm not that desperate for Internet.

518.1.2013 08:33

ChikaraNZ

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Originally posted by cjdevesa:
"to better serve our customers"

What a load of PR BS, its another cash grab

So every service any company offers at a price is a cash grab?
Little bit cynical, aren't we??
No-one is forcing their customers to use it if they don't want to pay those prices.
Personally, I can't imagine I'd need the internet that desperately when flying, but it's good they've offered it.

618.1.2013 10:32

dali

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Originally posted by ChikaraNZ:
So every service any company offers at a price is a cash grab?
Little bit cynical, aren't we??
No-one is forcing their customers to use it if they don't want to pay those prices.
Personally, I can't imagine I'd need the internet that desperately when flying, but it's good they've offered it.

It would be, if they offered it for free, which is, more or less, what it costs to them. Let passengers pay for higher speeds, offer a basic service for free. That should cover your costs and give you enough profit. But this is the greedy way of "serving their customers".

718.1.2013 23:04

GernBlan

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Wait...isn't WiFi going to interfere with the electronics on the plane or has having me turn off all my electronics all this year just been blowing smoke right up my....

819.1.2013 06:16

dali

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Originally posted by GernBlan:
Wait...isn't WiFi going to interfere with the electronics on the plane or has having me turn off all my electronics all this year just been blowing smoke right up my....

Only during take-off and landing

919.1.2013 06:41

ChikaraNZ

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Originally posted by dali:

Originally posted by GernBlan:
Wait...isn't WiFi going to interfere with the electronics on the plane or has having me turn off all my electronics all this year just been blowing smoke right up my....

Only during take-off and landing

Good point though... you can't use anything at all now during take-off and landing, and during flight it's supposed to be non-transmitting electronics only (eg with flight mode)...

1020.1.2013 18:27

nourishment

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It's great that they're offering it. Whether you pay or not is up to you bur personally I'd pay another $10 on top of my flight costs for wi-fi so I don't have to entertain myself with dumbed-down sitcoms and movies.

Secretly I have never turned off my mobile whilst flying and none of the planes I've been onboard have crashed (obviously!).

1120.1.2013 18:38

nourishment

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I'm sure if you look on the web there are many explanations why you can't use electronic devices on planes. In the old days you weren't even allowed to use a walkman/cd player. If planes were really at risk of crashing because of personal devices then f**k knows why terrorists use explosives :-)

I remain unconvinced and will keep my devices turned on bt on mute (I'm not a nutter!!).

1220.1.2013 18:41

dali

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Originally posted by ChikaraNZ:
Good point though... you can't use anything at all now during take-off and landing, and during flight it's supposed to be non-transmitting electronics only (eg with flight mode)...

Not for long, if that policy hasn't changed already:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/29/busin...ic-devices.html

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United Airlines adds Wi-Fi for international flights

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