Cell phone as a hotspot?

[gesrapk]

Is there a way to use a cell phone as a hotspot during a flight? Has anyone figured that out?

[Definitions2]

Is there a way to use a cell phone as a hotspot during a flight? Has anyone figured that out?

I don't know.
Assuming your phone is getting service from the planes Wi-Fi, why not use the Wi-Fi of the plane directly?

[Sammy82]

Is there a way to use a cell phone as a hotspot during a flight? Has anyone figured that out?

Yes. I know people that do that. They buy internet (for only one device) and then turn on the mobile hotspot on their phone, which then gives internet to their laptop and/or tablet.

[gesrapk]

I don't know.
Assuming your phone is getting service from the planes Wi-Fi, why not use the Wi-Fi of the plane directly?

I have free Wifi through T-mobile, but it only works on the phone. Sometimes, it's more convenient to have the internet on a laptop.

[gesrapk]

Yes. I know people that do that. They buy internet (for only one device) and then turn on the mobile hotspot on their phone, which then gives internet to their laptop and/or tablet.

Interesting. When my phone was connected to free onboard wifi, I could not use it as a hotspot. Does it matter if you're using paid vs. free wifi?

[Dan]

Of course, been doing this forever.

Note that it requires airplane mode to be off.

[Yo ssi]

Interesting. When my phone was connected to free onboard wifi, I could not use it as a hotspot. Does it matter if you're using paid vs. free wifi?

Some phones don't allow to hotspot a wifi connection most modern androids do.

[Dan]

Some phones don't allow to hotspot a wifi connection most modern androids do.

Which phones?

[Yo ssi]

Which phones?

I mainly use a Samsung device which had it for years. I definitely remember devices that didn't. Don't believe my HTC 10 had it
I haven't tried it recently but iPhones didn't have that feature either.

[Euclid]

I haven't tried it recently but iPhones didn't have that feature either.

Correct but you can work backwards and make the computer the hotspot.

[Yo ssi]

Correct but you can work backwards and make the computer the hotspot.

That would work but it requires having the computer on the whole time which is really annoying.

Wouldn't be shocked if Macs don't have that feature 

[Dan]

I haven't tried it recently but iPhones didn't have that feature either.

That's crazy. For real? Why?

[Dan]

Correct but you can work backwards and make the computer the hotspot.

How does that work when only phones get free WiFi on planes?

[Euclid]

How does that work when only phones get free WiFi on planes?

Haven't tried it myself, but I'm sure that user agent or mac spoofing would work

[gesrapk]

So, I tried that again on the yesterday's flight from SEA to BWI on AS. If I use my cell phone (iPhone 11) as a hotspot, I have to disconnect it from Wifi, but if I do, it negates the purpose of using it as the hotspot...

[Dan]

So, I tried that again on the yesterday's flight from SEA to BWI on AS. If I use my cell phone (iPhone 11) as a hotspot, I have to disconnect it from Wifi, but if I do, it negates the purpose of using it as the hotspot...

Once you go Android you don't do back.

[lcm]

Haven't tried it myself, but I'm sure that user agent or mac spoofing would work

Usually user agent works for me.
Just go to inspect element, toggle to phone view, then refresh the page.