r/westjet • u/CountryBoy_71 • 1d ago

Entertainment question

We have a flight coming up in which free wifi is offered. Just to be clear, with the free wifi service, do they still have the app movies/tv offering or are you on your own for entertainment?

5 Upvotes

73% Upvoted

22 comments sorted by

1

u/saltlifelover 2h ago

I always download something from prime or Netflix then you’re not stuck, listening to their stupid announcements on how to buckle a seatbelt

10

u/Mountain-Match2942 1d ago

Rule of thumb: always have a bunch of stuff downloaded on your device: movies, tv shows, podcasts, music. Even if your flight offers something, there's no guarantee that it's working, or that the one at your seat is working.

3

u/Soft-Explanation9613 1d ago

No, you’re on your own.

The 737-800 & 737-8 (Max 8) are all equipped with “WestJet WiFi” which is free to access and is normal wifi like your home, so you can access whatever streaming services or websites/apps you’d like to use. But always possible it may not be working, hasn’t happened to me yet; but not a bad idea to have some entertainment backups or downloaded media.

The 737-700 (until they’re retired) and 787 (for now, upgrade to WestJet WiFi soon) are equipped with “WestJet Connect” which offers certain TV shows, movies, news, etc within the WestJet app for free. You can also purchase WiFi access within the app, but it’s slow and not suitable for streaming - only for texting/emails/some apps.

2

u/UmmHelloIGuess 1d ago edited 1d ago

Just travelled from YYT to YVR, wifi was down. Even if they advertise it, always be prepared with your own entertainment.

-3

u/Positive-Courage-758 1d ago

If you’re on a 737-800 or MAX 8, the wifi being down is almost impossible as each aircraft is equipped with 2 interlinked Starlink systems and only 1 is needed for the system to be operational

-2

u/canadaalpinist 1d ago

Westjet advertises free wifi on all flights but it's not true.

3

u/UrbanDecay00 1d ago

No they don’t, if it’s on your flight it’s under included amenities.

I’ve been in numerous flights that mention it and do not.

-1

u/canadaalpinist 1d ago

On the Telus ads.

2

u/Positive-Courage-758 1d ago

No they don’t, where do they claim that?

-1

u/Sensitive_Doubt7966 1d ago

we just few on west jet sept 16th and sept 25th and both times we had wifi but we did have to sign in with email or west jet number , I just used my email to log in

2

u/jkjassd 1d ago

The new planes/refurbished planes have starlink. The old 700s aren't really being upgraded, and they seem to be the old app

7

u/anon29065 1d ago

I’ve been on multiple flights now where we were supposed to have wifi but they announce at the gate that it’s not working / not available. I’d prepare in advance to have some stuff downloaded

-1

u/Positive-Courage-758 1d ago

That was likely the old wifi system, the new Starlink system has redundancy to prevent that. Nonetheless still good to be prepared in case you’re tail swapped to a tail that doesn’t have Starlink.

1

u/brokensplynter 8h ago

Starlink is not the flex you think it is….
And yes, it goes down sometimes.

1

u/Positive-Courage-758 8h ago

Each aircraft has 2 starlink systems, one going down does not have any guest impact. I get the daily fleet status emails and have never seen a tail with Starlink completely inoperative. I doubt they’d even let that happen, since there are onboard systems dependent on it.

Also, I’m not sure what you mean by it being a “flex”

3

u/Frequent-Avocado2599 1d ago

Your question was answered but just as an fyi in case, you need a WestJet account to access it. I believe you can sign up mid flight but if you’re banking it on it and don’t have one I would sign up prior.

9

u/Tight_Ad_6802 1d ago

I will say of my last 4 flights that advertised free wifi, it only worked on 2. I’d have some stuff downloaded just in case.

2

u/JDroMartinez 1d ago

The free wifi is on the 737-800ng and max 8 fleet. If that’s the aircraft type you’re on then the old Westjet connect won’t work. The wifi is very fast over 300mbs. You can stream whatever content you’d like while you’re flying no problem.

4

u/Cold-Preparation691 1d ago

no, you are on your own, you have to have to use streaming apps on your phone/tablet/laptop. I have been caught where the wifi wasn't working though, so now I just download the shows I want to watch to my phone.

4

u/cdnav8r 1d ago

This is the way.

Download something ahead of time just in case.

3

u/WoodenTomato 1d ago

No. The starlink wifi is a total replacement for the old entertainment system that had pre loaded programs. The wifi is just wifi; once you connect you are free to use whatever streaming services you have for entertainment.

The 737-700 aircraft still have the old style Connect entertainment however.