Free Starlink Internet is coming to all of United's airplanes(arstechnica.com)
arstechnica.com
Free Starlink Internet is coming to all of United's airplanes
https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2024/09/free-starlink-internet-is-coming-to-all-of-uniteds-airplanes/
5 comments
Looks like I'm flying exclusively United when I can in 2025
Just because the internet is free?
So it makes sense to pay a lot more for the always United tickets rather than the $10 fee for internet on the flight from some other company that had cheaper tickets?
So it makes sense to pay a lot more for the always United tickets rather than the $10 fee for internet on the flight from some other company that had cheaper tickets?
I avoid UA because they intentionally sit families on different rows, with plenty of room to be sat together, to get them to pay $$ per member. I frequently travel with 2 children, and it's annoying when airlines do that.
Because charging for specific seating allows them to sell un-specific seats to cheapsters, who still manage to complain about it.
There's a difference between "I want to pick exactly where we sit and am willing to pay extra for it", and "I want my family to sit together, but don't care where that is on the plane, and I'm already paying a lot for 4 tickets, so don't have extra budget to pay more to to pick where I sit."
Also, I can't imagine people who end up sitting next to a kid whose parent isn't nearby, or the stewards who have to deal with such children would be happy about the arrangement either.
Also, I can't imagine people who end up sitting next to a kid whose parent isn't nearby, or the stewards who have to deal with such children would be happy about the arrangement either.
Well I am not a marketing guy, but from the little I know, this is price discrimination between a group of 4 who do not mind sitting anywhere, and a group of 4 that must sit together. Sure, your needs may be higher, but each need has a price, and sitting together is one such need. Just need to plan the $$$$s for that.
Well, people generally don't like being on the receiving end of price discrimination. So you shouldn't be surprised when people refuse to fly with you because you charge you more to fly with them just because you have children with you.
Although, I wonder if maybe the real reason for this might be to discourage families from flying with them....
Although, I wonder if maybe the real reason for this might be to discourage families from flying with them....
You are defending that asking more money for your children not to be alone is ok ?
In most companies, when you don’t book specific seats, the algorithm puts you alongside your children anyway.
In most companies, when you don’t book specific seats, the algorithm puts you alongside your children anyway.
If having my children sit next to me is important then I expect to have to pay extra for this since this is mostly how airline pricing works. In other words, it isn't perfect in all use cases, like not every seat is next to a window and I may have to pay extra for this rather than have to take my chances.
Are you saying that spawning offspring should grant you privileges that other passengers shouldn't get?
I say "Yes" to both of you.
Children should have privileges adults don't have. As they aren't full independent adults, it's fair to give them special treatment. Nobody is born an adult, so every person in society will get these benefits at some point of their lives.
At the same time, I don't see why airliners shouldn't be able to charge less for tickets that are truly "we will put you whatever we want irrespective of your needs and wants". Children who need to be by their parents shouldn't buy these tickets, the same way children shouldn't buy adult shoes.
Children should have privileges adults don't have. As they aren't full independent adults, it's fair to give them special treatment. Nobody is born an adult, so every person in society will get these benefits at some point of their lives.
At the same time, I don't see why airliners shouldn't be able to charge less for tickets that are truly "we will put you whatever we want irrespective of your needs and wants". Children who need to be by their parents shouldn't buy these tickets, the same way children shouldn't buy adult shoes.
If a passenger cannot take care of themselves for whatever reason, I think they should be allowed to sit next to whoever takes care of them without having to pay extra.
Indeed and there already is a legal concept for that called a 'dependent'. And both the caregiver and dependent already receive special consideration under various laws and regulations. Requiring airlines to seat them together is both consistent with existing concepts, and just the right thing to do.
Are you saying you’d prefer to sit next to some rando’s kid?
I would say that.
Place shuffling in planes is a novel "invention". Putting existing features behind a Paywall isn't being smart and innovative. it's a signal for to little competition and a cash grap.
Man flying in the US really is the Wild West isn't it?
For reference on Singapore Airlines, the cheapest seats don't have free seat selection ($10 SGD I think to choose, but not 100% sure I've never flown with them without a child), but if you fly with a child you do get free seat selection, and I've never once encountered any airline that would not place travelling groups together.
For reference on Singapore Airlines, the cheapest seats don't have free seat selection ($10 SGD I think to choose, but not 100% sure I've never flown with them without a child), but if you fly with a child you do get free seat selection, and I've never once encountered any airline that would not place travelling groups together.
It looks like maybe that is no longer the case for children under 12: https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/travel/accessibility-and-as...
I am sure they will help, and I have had positive experience with United the 1 time I had to make a change in the past year.
However, it is not always a straightforward solution. You are a family of 4, and the airline allots. you 2 + 2 (middle+aisle on one side, and aisle+middle on the other side) as that is efficient, but you would rather have window+middle+aisle + aisle. Or maybe vice versa.
basically an algorithm may not meet your needs, and while the airline can help adjust, it is an overhead in terms of personnel costs, and also if you decide to pick seats last minute when most of the seats are already allocated.
However, it is not always a straightforward solution. You are a family of 4, and the airline allots. you 2 + 2 (middle+aisle on one side, and aisle+middle on the other side) as that is efficient, but you would rather have window+middle+aisle + aisle. Or maybe vice versa.
basically an algorithm may not meet your needs, and while the airline can help adjust, it is an overhead in terms of personnel costs, and also if you decide to pick seats last minute when most of the seats are already allocated.
Free can mean anything from "unlimited bandwidth for free for everyone" to "free limited/capped service with an add on premium bandwidth service for a fee".
Given that Starlink is still a relatively low bandwidth service and there would be hundreds of people wanting to stream Netflix etc. I'm guessing the latter might be more likely and perhaps better for those that want/need decent internet.
Given that Starlink is still a relatively low bandwidth service and there would be hundreds of people wanting to stream Netflix etc. I'm guessing the latter might be more likely and perhaps better for those that want/need decent internet.
It's not the latter. The latter is what you used to have
Will take years to upgrade the entire fleet. Until then…T_T
They aren’t going to monetize that? I can’t believe it.
Earlier:
United Airlines Taps Elon Musk's Starlink for In-Flight Wi-Fi
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41532121
United Airlines Taps Elon Musk's Starlink for In-Flight Wi-Fi
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41532121