Are you getting ready to fly on United and wondering if there is wifi available on your flight? We will show you how to determine the availability and which United Wifi plan is right for you. We’ll even share some hacks to help you save money. Don’t be stuck in a long flight without internet access!
✈️ About United Airlines
United Airlines is the third largest airline in the world. It operates out of over 300 airports around the world with almost 5,000 flights per day.
Its largest hubs are Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., San Francisco, Denver, Houston and Newark. With such a large network of flights and partnerships, you are sure to end up on a United Flight at some point.
🗝️ Key Information
| Affiliation | Founding Member of the Star Alliance, with Lufthansa, Scandinavian Air, and Air Canada |
| Lounges | 50+ United Club Lounges in airports |
| Aircraft Used | Most aircrafts. Services vary. |
| Reservations | united.com |
| Rewards Program | MileagePlus |
🌐 United Wifi
United does offer wifi on most of its flights. There are four different internet providers contracted through United, and the coverage and availability are dependent on which one is servicing your plane.
Also, I have been on more than a few flights where the internet service simply isn’t working. So, make sure you have backup entertainment, just in case.
Four Providers of Wifi
Note which planes or regions these are used for.
Gogo: Read further for a neat price hack on how to save money if Gogo is the provider on your United flight. This service is offered over most of the United States and southern Canada on regional aircraft.
Panasonic: This includes near-global coverage and is on many narrow-body and wide-body aircraft.
Thales: This service provider is strictly covering the continental United States and is installed on some 737s and 757-300s.
ViaSat: This service covers North America, the Caribbean, and most of Europe. This service is on some A319s, B737-900s, B737-MAX9s, and B757-200s. Alaska and Hawaii have extremely limited service, if any.
For most of you, the service provider will be seamless. It really doesn’t matter which one you have. The only exceptions are listed below, and it deals with ways to save money on your trip.
💲 United Wifi Plans and Costs
If you don’t fly routinely, you’ll find it best to choose the “per-flight” options with United.
The cost of internet access for a single flight is $10. If you are a MileagePlus member, that cost is $8.
If you fly more frequently, you’ll probably be better off choosing a monthly or annual plan.
Note: These rates are current as of July 2022.
| Plan | Cost | Notes |
| Monthly | $49 or 7,500 miles | Limited to North and Central America only |
| Annual | $539 or 80,000 miles | Saves almost $50 per year |
| Global Plans | $69/month or $689 annually | Best coverage for worldwide travel |
You can enroll in the plans or make changes to your account at https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/subscription/wifi
Note: The conversion rate for the points in the table above is pretty bad. It is far less than $0.01 per point. I do not recommend using points for this purchase.
Premium Transcontinental Service
Within 48 hours of your departure, look at the “Amenities” section of the United App to see if your transcontinental flight is equipped with premium transcontinental service. If it shows that Gogo is your provider, you can save up to 60% on the cost of the wifi by signing up for the service straight with Gogo.
They offer one-hour, all-day, monthly, or annual plans.
Definitely take advantage of these cost savings!
✔️ Caveats
Some Aircraft do not have internet available outside the Continental United States.
Streaming video, including Youtube, Hulu, Netflix, etc are not available, so make sure you download shows for off-line viewing.
Voice over IP (VoIP) and conference calling are expressly prohibited. This includes Skype and Facetime.
ℹ️ How to Connect
I found it extremely easy to connect to United’s WiFi service. All you have to do is select the network named “UnitedWifi” or something very similar and you will be redirected to a page to select a plan and connect. I found that sometimes the redirect doesn’t always work so you can go to your web browser and go to https://unitedwifi.com or https://united.com/wifi and they will both redirect you to the correct page.
Some flights have free messaging and a “Free” option will appear. This free plan only includes IP-based instant messaging apps like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and iMessage work perfectly, but cellular-based texts do not work.
💰 How to Save Money WiFi
- Monthly/Annual Subscriptions – especially good if you are a frequent traveler.
- United Card Perks – If you hold a United Explorer Card or a United Club Card, you are eligible for a 25% in-flight credit.
- American Express – If you select United as your airline of choice with AMEX, you can be reimbursed for some incidental in-flight expenses, including wifi.
- GoGo – If you are within 48 hours, you can check your flight status. If GoGo is the internet operator, bypass the United in-flight purchase and sign up with Gogo before you leave.
- Redeem your MileagePlus points – I am hesitant to include this as it is NOT typically a good deal, but you can purchase your wifi using your points. The exchange rate on them is typically horrible, but if you don’t plan on using them on an upcoming flight, then it might make sense for you.
❓ FAQs
Check the “Ammenities” section on the Flight Status Details screen on your app.
You should be in airplane mode before takeoff. Once in the air, connect to “United_Wi-fi” network. Enable the local network for the United App. Select “Browse Movies and TV Shows” to begin.
Yes. This makes a fantastic gift for frequent travelers. You can give the gift https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/subscription/purchase/offerswf You can activate the gift Gift Activation
No. All subscription charges are final.
You can manage renewals or other aspects of your plan https://www.united.com/en/us/myunited
More Wifi Options