United WiFi – Does United Airlines Have Inflight WiFi?

United Airlines now offers WiFi access on all eligible flights for MileagePlus members at $8, while other customers pay $10. Read on for details.

UPDATE: Wi-Fi access on all eligible United Airlines flights will now cost $8 dollars for all MileagePlus members. All other customers will have to pay $10 for internet access on United Flights.

United WiFi – United Airlines has been around since 1926. Its headquarters are based in Chicago, Illinois. They serve 325 destinations on six continents. Their fleet consists of more than 700 aircraft, with the Boeing 737, 777, and 787 Dreamliner making up the most significant percentage of their fleet.

Does United Airlines Have WiFi?

Yes, there is WiFi on United Airlines flights over the continental US and worldwide destinations. United Airlines has four WiFi providers, each with different coverage areas.

What Company Provides United WiFi?

The following companies offer WiFi access on United Airlines:

  • Gogo: Gogo provides WiFi across the United States and portions of Alaska and Canada . The following flights use Gogo: Embraer 170, Embraer 175, Bombardier CRJ-700, and Boeing 757-200.
  • Panasonic: Panasonic’s global coverage works on the following aircraft: select Airbus 319, Airbus 320, select Boeing 757-200, select 757-300, 767-300ER, 767-400ER, 777-200, 777-200ER, 777-300ER, 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10.
  • Thales: Thales covers the Continental U.S. The following aircraft use the Thales WiFi service: Boeing 737-700, 737-800, 737-900, 737-900, and 737-900ER.
  • ViaSat: ViaSat WiFi operates across the U.S. mainland, Canada, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and Europe. The following United aircraft use this provider: select Airbus 319, select Boeing 737-900, select Boeing 757-200 with premium transcontinental service, and select Boeing 737 MAX 9.

How Much Does United Airlines WiFi Cost?

United WiFi pricing is based on a monthly subscription. However, there is also a prepay United WiFi buy in the form of a day pass. The pricing for the day pass varies based on the flight route. Travelers can access the United WiFi Portal before departure for the most up-to-date pricing information.

RegionMonthly CostAnnual Cost
North America and Central America$49 or 7,500 miles$539 or 80,000 miles
Global$69 or 10,500 miles$689 or 100,000 miles

How To Get Free Wi-Fi On United

Similar to Delta InFlight WiFi, United Airlines also offers free WiFi texting. With this plan, travelers can send instant messages using WhatsApp, iMessage, and Messenger. Travelers can also access the United WiFi app for free to check their flight status, book hotels, and cars, and view their mobile boarding passes. Access to united.com is also free.

Please note that the United Airlines WiFi free internet messaging service may not be readily available on some flights. Only text-based messages can be sent and received using internet-based instant messaging apps. Multimedia messages and messages sent through cellular networks are not supported.

What Is United Airlines WiFi Speed?

The speed of United Airlines Wi-Fi is about 500–600 Kbps for downloads and approximately 300 Kbps for uploads.

United Airlines WiFi Coverage Areas

united airlines wifi coverage map

How To Connect To United WiFi?

Follow these steps to connect to United Wi-Fi and buy internet access onboard:

  • Enable airplane mode

Before the flight leaves the gate, make sure your wireless device is in airplane mode.

  • Connect to Wi-Fi

To connect to United Wi-Fi on your device, view available wireless networks and select “United_Wi-Fi”.

  • Visit the homepage

Launch your internet browser and visit the United Wi-Fi homepage: www.unitedwifi.com

  • Buy a plan

If you’d like to pay for an internet access plan, select the “Internet” tile on the United Wi-Fi homepage.

Which Devices Work With United Inflight Wi-Fi?

Any Wi-Fi-ready gadget with an internet browser will do if you want to access the Internet on a United Airlines flight.

DevicesPlatformsSystems/Browsers
Smartphones
Laptops
Tablets
Android®
Kindle®
Apple®
Nokia®
Windows®
Google® Chrome™
Mozilla® Firefox®
Safari® on Mac OS® X
Internet Explorer® 7+

Can You Stream Content United Wi-Fi?

Unfortunately, United Airlines Wi-Fi does not support streaming. It is not compatible with any video-streaming service, such as Netflix and Hulu. Neither does it work with audio streaming services such as Spotify.

About United Airlines

Airlines NameUnited Airlines (UA)
FoundedApril 6, 1926
Commenced OperationsMarch 28, 1931
HeadquarterWillis Tower, Chicago, Illinois, United States.
Main HubChicago O’Hare International Airport
Frequent-flyer ProgramMileagePlus
AllianceStar Alliance
IATA CodeUA
ICAO CodeUAL
CallsignUNITED
AOC #CALA014A
ISINUS9100471096
CountryUnited States of America
Destinations300+
Parent CompanyUnited Airlines Holdings
SubsidiariesMileagePlus, Inc. MileagePlus Holdings, LLC United Aviation Fuels Corporation United Cogen, Inc. United Vacations, Inc., etc.
Wi-Fi ProviderGogoPanasonicThales ViaSat
Wi-FiInflight-Paid
Fleet Size800+
Address77 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60601
Phone Number1-800-864-8331 (1-800-UNITED-1)
Social MediaFacebook
Instagram
Twitter
YouTube
LinkedIn
WebsiteUnited

The Bottom Line

United Airlines recently rolled out free messaging on most flights beginning in late December 2021. A welcomed change. However, unlike FlyFi by JetBlue, which is entirely free, you’ll have to upgrade to United’s paid subscription to browse the internet.

Thanks for reading on Airline WiFi Connect! We hope that your next flight offers an excellent WiFi service to help you stay connected during your journey! Feel free to contact us if you have any suggestions or queries.

Scroll to Top