A320
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Type 2383
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Weather; Human Factors; Aircraft
During our flight to IAH; we discovered our Wi-Fi was inoperative. There were no forecasted areas of convective activity until the DFW-IAH area noted during preflight planning; so no real concern. As we approached the Rocky Mountains (near DEN) we were enveloped in an area of thunderstorms with tops well above our weight-limited ceiling of FL370; estimate tops between 40-45k; some higher. Prior [to this]; nearing waypoint 'YALES' (Northwest of DEN) we were trying to get info from our Dispatcher [regarding] a route to avoid weather. Our Dispatcher began discussing TCC (northeastern New Mexico); ABSOLUTELY USELESS INFORMATION; as we would have to traverse all of the WORST of the weather just to get to the New Mexico border! It seemed he was not paying attention to the explosion of weather near the Rockies (happens most days all summer long); directly ON our route. With no WSI [Pilotbrief] for a big picture; no help from [Dispatch] whatsoever; we had to use our Mk-1; grade-A; eyeballs along with our 60-80nm radar to try and find a way through the weather. We got lucky. The WSI picture is so invaluable that the Wi-Fi SHOULD be a NOGO item (if INOP; during convective we much like our we radar). With WSI; we can find a routing to avoid thunderstorm penetration (a really bad thing in an all electric jet) and provide a the expected product...fly from point A to point B safely; efficiently; and as close to on time as possible. Without WSI; we are looking out 80nms and praying. Not a good way to conduct our flights.
A320 Captain reported they had difficulty safely navigating through an area of thunderstorms because their Wi-Fi was inoperative; rendering their WSI system unusable.