T-Mobile Puts a PIN in It: Inflight Wi-Fi Loophole Reportedly Closed
The days of freeloading on T-Mobile’s inflight Wi-Fi are coming to an end. It was a good run while it lasted, wasn’t it? For years, T-Mobile’s offer of complimentary inflight Wi-Fi to those on qualifying 5G plans was a standout feature, but it also opened the door to a glaring loophole. The system’s lack of verification meant that anyone armed with a T-Mobile customer’s number could access the Wi-Fi without paying a cent.
But a screenshot shared on /r/AmericanAirlines shows that the free ride is no more. Now, a one-time PIN sent via SMS is required to connect, which effectively shuts down the exploit. It’s a simple fix, one that’s surprising in its lateness given the potential revenue lost by airlines and Wi-Fi providers like Viasat due to this oversight.
For legitimate T-Mobile subscribers, this means a bit of prep is in order—make sure Wi-Fi calling is enabled before your flight to receive that crucial PIN. While iMessage works with just a simple Internet connection, SMS does require Wi-Fi calling to be enabled.
Let’s just hope we soon see the day that T-Mobile’s free Wi-Fi is extended to long haul international flights using Panasonic’s offering – or, better yet, airlines ditching Panasonic altogether.