United Airlines Taps Starlink for Free In-Flight Wi-Fi (msn.com)
- Reference: 0174989779
- News link: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/24/09/13/1520205/united-airlines-taps-starlink-for-free-in-flight-wi-fi
- Source link: https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/united-airlines-taps-elon-musk-s-starlink-for-in-flight-wi-fi/ar-AA1qvTwy
> United's deal is a bet that Starlink's technology can propel it above rival carriers in offering fast, free Wi-Fi. The airline is in the midst of a broader effort to burnish its premium and business travel bona fides, which has included retrofitting planes with lots of power outlets and seat back screens.
>
> The airline said it would begin testing the Starlink service early next year, with the first passenger flights likely equipped later in 2025. United said Starlink's service will be more reliable, particularly over oceans and other remote areas -- a key advantage for the airline's network of long-haul international flights that cross the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It will allow passengers to access live TV and streaming, and to use several devices at once.
[1] https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/united-airlines-taps-elon-musk-s-starlink-for-in-flight-wi-fi/ar-AA1qvTwy
"...and to use several devices at once." (Score:2)
So I guess, now Chatterbait hosts can work on the fly.
Please no.... (Score:2)
... don't let the arsehole next to me do a video call. And you know they'll do it without headphones too.
And of course, on a long haul international flight, they'll do it when you're trying to sleep too.
"Uh, this is your captain, . . ." (Score:2)
"I'll just turn the internet off. Now, don't make me turn this flight around and land back at the airport, because I'll do it if that's what you want. Oh, and thank you for flying United. I realize you had a choice before you got on the aircraft, but uh . . . damn, that one got away from me. I was . . ." *click*
Re: (Score:2)
> ... don't let the arsehole next to me do a video call. And you know they'll do it without headphones too.
> And of course, on a long haul international flight, they'll do it when you're trying to sleep too.
I'm genuinely curious what kind of a world you people live in. I've heard this complain all the time on this site (which is predominantly American). The idea of someone chatting loudly on the phone, or talking in the cinema, or on a flight (you have been able to make phone calls on flights for 25 years now) is so foreign to me.
Are you literally a country of arseholes who weren't taught how to behave? It seems at odds with every time I've visited America where people were in general nice and courteous. Is it
Re: Please no.... (Score:1)
Generally no, but those few who scream "my rights! 'Murica!" tend to do it way louder than the polite ones with restraint and self-control.
Look out! Wifi! (Score:3)
And to think - just a few years ago using any kind of wifi was likely to bring down a jet.
Technology marches on!
Re: (Score:2)
that was an game boy at some point?
they had dial up email at some point on the $10/min phones.
Re: (Score:2)
Apparently it dates back to the 1950s when transistor radios first became available. People tried them out on aircraft and found that they could interfere with the aircraft's radio systems. While transistor radios are receive only, having an oscillator on the same or close frequency can cause problems.
In the early 90s the FTC decided to ban using mobile phones, not because they were worried about safety, but because they thought that hundreds of phones rapidly moving between cells could cause the network to
Profit (Score:2)
Ohhh, so the profits you'll get from more customers paying for WiFi will allow you to increase seat sizes and let us bring carry-on bags for free, right? Riiiiiiiggght.
Re: Profit (Score:2)
It's going to be free. It's not free today. So, that's an improvement. Of course, it is intended to encourage people to pick United over the competition.
Re: Profit (Score:2)
Oh, and carryon bags *are* free on United. You must be thinking of the shittier LCCs like Frontier.
No seat back screens, please... (Score:2)
They are bright and disturb sleep and the driver boxes take up legroom. They also are a tempting channel for ads, which I hate. If you're offering power and wifi, I can get everything I need on my laptop/phone/tablet.
Re: No seat back screens, please... (Score:2)
I disagree with this. You can turn off the screen if the light bothers you. But there are a bunch of advantages to having it. No battery concerns, bigger screen than a phone, doesn't have to be put away during TO and landing, plus it usually has a few games worth playing.
No thanks (Score:5, Interesting)
So, to get fast reliable wifi, I need to put up with United customer service?
No thanks. I'll read a book while flying on another airline.
Re: (Score:2)
You'll also be on Boeing aircraft so maybe being able to contact emergency services via another channel is a good thing?
Re: (Score:2)
Would have been useful on Malaysia Airlines Flight 370.
There'll be a kill switch in the cockpit. (Score:2)
And, of course, one at Starlink HQ. Basic security. Nothing nefarious, per se .
Re: (Score:2)
For about 60 seconds anyway.
Re: No thanks (Score:2)
Then what do I call a married woman?
Re: (Score:3)
For a while, apartments around here had huge painted signs outside saying "FREE WIFI".
The urge to get some black paint and change the final I to an E was pretty strong.
Re: (Score:2)
No, it's called "you have a stick up your ass". Please resolve your own problem and stop bothering others with it.