In a move that surprised both passengers and crew, another airline is now trialing blazing-fast and completely free satellite Wi-Fi on its transpacific flights for the first time. While onboard a United Airlines Max 8 yesteday between Lihue and Los Angeles, we experienced something unprecedented: Wi-Fi that not only worked seamlessly over the ocean but was also completely free of charge.
BOH editors were totally taken by surprise about this development, as we are regular flyers on this route between Hawaii and California. Rob decided to play around and stumbled on it inadvertently. Also of notable interest, the flight attendants never made any announcement about Wi-Fi one way or the other. And when we received email notifications about the flight when it was upcoming, it said that Wi-Fi might not be available.
This is a significant leap for Hawaii travelers, as oceanic Wi-Fi has long been inconsistent or nonexistent on similar routes. The implications of this development extend far beyond convenience, setting a new benchmark for in-flight connectivity.
While testing the United Viasat provided satellite Wi-Fi, we experienced speeds to 135 Mbps—remarkably close to the performance of Hawaiian Airlines’ Starlink service. This speed was more than sufficient for streaming, video calls, or catching up on work. Such high-speed, complimentary connectivity changes the game for passengers, transforming how we spend long hours over the Pacific.
We recently reported on our inflight Wi-Fi experience on Hawaiian, flying from Honolulu to Tahiti.
Flying from Honolulu to Papeete, we reported, “Connecting to the Hawaiian Airlines WiFi network was a simple, hassle-free process. No login was required, and the network was entirely ad-free, without even a typical airline landing page—a refreshing change from the often cumbersome logins and interruptions seen on other airlines.”
That was exactly the experience on United Airlines. No landing page, no ads, just click, browse, and then we were instantly connected. The purchase screen on United still indicated there would be a charge of $8. But when selecting purchase, it said there was no cost. This could means that United may be joining Hawaiian, sooner than we expected with free Wi-Fi to Hawaii and elsewhere.
Wi-Fi at great speeds, powered by Viasat.
The technology behind this connectivity on our United Airlines Max 8 experience was from one of their four internet providers, Viasat, which is still a leading satellite internet provider. Viasat operates a robust network of geostationary satellites, including their latest Viasat-3 series, which enhances coverage over oceans like the Pacific. This technology allows for reliable, high-speed internet access even in remote regions such as one of the longer stretches of ocean, between the U.S. mainland and Hawaii, making long transoceanic flights seem shorter and more enjoyable.
Viasat is a major player in the U.S. inflight Wi-Fi market, partnering with airlines such as Delta, American Airlines, and United. Their satellite system is said to be optimized to handle high traffic, ensuring a smooth online experience for passengers, even on crowded flights.
The crew confirms a major change.
Even the flight attendants we spoke to were surprised. They admitted being out of the loop about this new feature but confirmed that Wi-Fi had never been available on these routes on these MAX planes before, let alone offered for free. One flight attendant shared that they had only recently noticed the connectivity changes themselves, and no formal announcement had been made to them by the company.
The flight attendants said that they like the free Wi-Fi too, as it keeps passengers engaged during the flights. We took that to mean passengers so engaged were less likely to be issues for the flight attendants. Regarding the sudden unannounced price drop from $8 to free, the FA’s said that they had just become aware of that, but had not been provided any information to date by the airline.
This suggests United may be quietly testing the service before a broader rollout.
Such testing often precedes industry-wide innovations, as airlines fine-tune offerings to enhance passenger experiences while remaining cost-effective.
How does United compare to other airlines flying to Hawaii?
Even as Hawaiian Airlines introduced Starlink Wi-Fi across its fleet with excellent results, Hawaiian’s parent, Alaska Airlines, has yet to introduce free Wi-Fi on its Hawaii routes. Alaska’s offerings remain reliable but are now overshadowed by United’s bold move to free. This shift in competition could lead to faster adoption of free Wi-Fi across all airlines flying to Hawaii, benefiting travelers in the long term.
Linking to past trends in Hawaii travel.
This development ties into previous trends we’ve reported on, such as the rise of in-flight connectivity on Hawaii routes with technological advancements in aviation. For deeper insights, explore:
Will Free Starlink WiFi on Hawaiian Airlines Stay, Expand, or Disappear?
Hawaii Travelers Just Got Upgraded: Blazing Free Wi-Fi on Major Airlines.
What this means for Hawaii travelers.
For Hawaii visitors and residents alike, this development is part of another airline technology game-changer. Long flights over the Pacific are often associated with limited connectivity, but United’s move signals a shift in airline priorities. Complimentary Wi-Fi is not just a convenience—it’s now becoming the standard.
The impact of free, high-speed internet extends beyond entertainment. We use the time to stay connected with friends and loved ones, remain productive including authoring this article on the flight, while Hawaii visitors can plan their tripos mid-flight. This innovation clearly elevates the overall travel experience for most passengers, making long-haul flights more functional.
What’s next for United Airlines?
For now, without more information, United’s new service appears to be in a testing phase. Whether this offering becomes a permanent feature remains to be seen. Airlines often trial new technologies in select markets before expanding them, and this route between Hawaii and California could be an early indicator of broader changes to come.
That having been said, free Wi-Fi will soon become a standard offering all Hawaii flights. With the planned introduction of Starlink coming to the United fleet starting in 2025, the airline is clearly aiming to remain at the forefront of passenger connectivity and entertainment innovation.
Final thoughts.
United Airlines’ unexpected leap, or perhaps tip-toe, in free and transpacific Wi-Fi services highlights the fast-paced changes occurring in the airline industry. Hawaii travelers are already reaping the benefits, with improved connectivity promising to reshape island long-haul travel.
Have you experienced free Wi-Fi on a United Airlines flight or noticed other connectivity upgrades? Share your experiences in the comments below, and stay tuned as we monitor this evolving story.
Photo Credit: Beat of Hawaii at Lihue Airport while boarding United Airlines.
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Overwater cellular service would be terrific, as long as cell voice calls are not allowed. What a mess that would be if you had 100 people on their cell phones for five or more hours! 😳
I would still rather pay 8 dollars for wifi on southwest than free wifi on any united flight. If you know you know.
For Tmobile customers, free wifi may be an option on some flights. Used on flights PHX to LIH and KOA to PHX on American.
As part of In-Flight Connection, eligible customers get free connectivity with streaming, where available, all flight long on nearly 100% of domestic flights on partner airlines: Alaska, American, Delta and United.
Inadvertently did not mention flight was from Maui to Seattle.
Inadvertently did not mention flight was from Maui to Seattle.
Just returned last night, 12/25, on Hawaiian wide body and although unannounced the Starlink WiFi worked great.
Sure can’t say the same about the onboard entertainment as not working properly and FA had no solution.
Sure was nice having the complimentary Starlink internet
I was pleseantly surprised at how responsive the Starlink was on HA. We recently flew on the A330 from SAN to HNL. I was able to stream Netflix the entire flight with only minor connectivity glitches.
It’d be great when paid WiFi is a thing of the past and seeing other airlines jump on board assuages my concerns that Alaska will take away the free starlink service. My only surprise is your sub-200 speed on your PPT flight. My last flight on HA saw 346 Mbps – WAY faster than that viasat speed.