It seems we expect free Wi-Fi just about everywhere on the ground but when it comes to connecting on a plane 30,000 feet in the air, options for the longest time have been somewhat non-extent. While it’s not free, Air Canada you can now stream your favourite content like you would at home with their new top-of-the-line as they call it satellite Wi-Fi technology.
The service is available on select North American, Caribbean and International flights. You need to set up a free Gogo account. You can opt to buy your Wi-Fi in advance. a 1-hour pass will run you $6.50; a one-way pass, $21.00 or $65.95 per month between airports (Canada, U.S. & Mexico). Check with Air Canada for on-board and International pricing.
As for speed and latency, it will depend on whether the plane Air Canada air-to-group equipped or Air Canada Rouge satellite equipped.
According to Air Canada’s service provider Gogo Air:
“Gogo expects that users of this Plan on Air Canada air-to-ground equipped aircraft will typically experience download speeds of 250 Kbps-3 Mbps for the first 100 MB downloaded within an hour and upload speeds of 100-300 Kbps for the first 25 MB uploaded within an hour. After the first 100 MB downloaded within an hour, Gogo expects that these users will typically experience download speeds of 200-400 Kbps for the remainder of the hour; after the first 25 MB uploaded within an hour, Gogo expects that these users will typically experience upload speeds of 100-200 Kbps for the remainder of the hour. We expect that these users will typically experience latency of 200-600 mms.
Gogo expects that users of this Plan on Air Canada Rouge satellite-equipped aircraft will typically experience download speeds of 250 Kbps-3 Mbps for the first 150 MB downloaded within an hour and upload speeds of 100-400 Kbps for the first 50 MB uploaded within an hour. After the first 150 MB downloaded within an hour, Gogo expects that these users will typically experience download speeds of 200-400 Kbps for the remainder of the hour, and after the first 50 MB uploaded within an hour, Gogo expects that these users will typically experience upload speeds of 100-200 Kbps for the remainder of the hour. We expect that these users will typically experience latency of 600-1000 ms.”
For more information, check our Air Canada’s Wi-Fi page. There you can also check Wi-Fi availability by Flight Number or Route.
Logo Courtesy Air Canada
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