Beginning today, T-Mobile is providing its customers free in-flight internet access through GoGo — a service used by Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and United Airlines, among others. You can get up to one free hour of Wi-Fi, unlimited texting, picture messaging, and access to T-Mobile visual voicemail.
More instructions are available online at the T-Mobile website. I’ve also copied the access guide below:
Before you board, make sure to:
- Have a valid T-Mobile phone number.
- If you don’t have Wi-Fi Calling on your phone, no worries! You can still use data, iMessage, WhatsApp, and Viber.
- If you have a Wi-Fi Calling capable device, you can send and receive SMS, MMS, and VVM on top of the other benefits. You need to have a T-Mobile branded phone with Wi-Fi Calling, valid E911 address on file with T-Mobile for your mobile number. To review or add your 911 address please access your T-Mobile account, either via T-Mobile.com or via MyAccount on your handset. You will also need to have made at least one Wi-Fi call with your current SIM card on your current phone.
Once you’re on board:
- Follow the instructions from your cabin crew to hear when the Gogo service is available.
- Turn on Wi-Fi and make sure you’re connected to the ‘gogoinflight’ Wi-Fi network.
- Open the browser. Select the ‘T-Mobile FREE hour of in-flight Wi-Fi and unlimited texting’ option.
- Click the “LET’S GO” button and follow the on screen instructions.
- Your device should connect to T-Mobile Wi-Fi Calling.
- It can take a few minutes for your device to register on the ground for T-Mobile In-flight Texting. If you don’t want to wait, just reset (turn off, then on) your Wi-Fi or start messaging using iMessage, Google Hangouts, WhatsApp and Viber.
- Android Users: You should see a WFC icon, in the upper left corner.
- iPhone Users: Your network indicator should say “T-Mobile Wi-Fi”.
- Start texting and browsing!
I’ve used T-Mobile before, when they offered me a complimentary phone to try their service during a two-week trip to Southeast Asia. Their Simple Choice plan is a great pick for frequent flyers and includes unlimited text messaging and internet as well as calls at a discounted rate. This is all included in your normal plan for service here in the U.S., and you can upgrade to faster internet abroad if the free stuff doesn’t cut it for you.
So if you’re interested in T-Mobile service, an hour of free GoGo is just another way that they make it easier for frequent travelers to stay connected on the road. (There are also other freebies. The company separately announced that they’ll also be giving away stock to all their customers, and T-Mobile Tuesdays include perks like free pizza.)
