Smart Traveller: a guide to inflight wifi

Taking a flight used to mean being out of comms for the duration of the journey, but things have drastically changed. Not only do most airlines now offer wifi connectivity, many are also starting to offer this service for free, meaning it probably won’t be long before they all do.

Until then, we’ve compiled a list of wifi packages on board some of the main carriers. To access, passengers need to open their device settings and select the wifi network onboard the aircraft. If there are paid packages available you can choose the one you want and enter your payment details.

Wifi providers often vary between aircraft, so packages and services provided by an airline may differ. Coverage and speeds may also change depending on things like the location, with some parts of a route network being patchy.

• Aircraft with wifi: On all A321 neo LR and most A330 aircraft.
• Is it free? Wifi is complimentary for business class customers and AerClub Concierge members.
• Paid packages available: Messaging: from £2.99 for one hour (£4.99 for entire flight). Web browsing: from £11.99.
• Is there a data cap? Upload capacity of approx 5Mbps, download capacity of 1Mbps.
• Can I use multiple devices? You can switch between devices.
• aerlingus.com

• Aircraft with wifi: Most of its fleet, apart from the Boeing 737 MAX 8. The airline also says wifi access is only available on select North American and international Air Canada-operated flights.
• Is it free? There is free texting for Aeroplan members, and free wifi for T-Mobile or Sprint customers. To access, add your Aeroplan number to your booking before checking in. To access free wifi, select the ‘In-Flight Connection On Us’ option and enter your Sprint or T-Mobile phone number.
• Paid packages available: One hour: CAD$6.50; entire flight: CAD$21; monthly plan: (between airports in Canada, US and Mexico) CAD$65.95.
• Is there a data cap? No.
• Can I use multiple devices? You can switch between devices.
• aircanada.com

• Aircraft with wifi: All of its fleet.
• Is it free? No, but the airline offers free messaging on all flights with wifi access.
• Paid packages available:  

– Surf Pass: €3 (short haul), €5-10 (medium haul), €8 (long haul for one hour), €18 (long-haul for the entire flight).

– Stream Pass: €10 (short haul), €15-20 (medium haul), €30 (long haul).

• Is there a data cap? No.
• Can I use multiple devices? No.
• airfrance.co.uk

• Aircraft with wifi: A320 neo, Boeing 777s and the majority of the 787s. The airline is extending wifi technology to more of its fleet throughout 2023.
• Is it free? Yes.
• Is there a data cap? No.
• Can I use multiple devices? Yes.
• airnewzealand.co.uk

• Aircraft with wifi: All apart from single-cabin regional jets. Regional aircraft can only support texting and limited browsing.
• Is it free? No.
• Paid packages available:  The airline says it is available on “almost all routes for as little as US$10”. A monthly plan costs US$49.95 and is valid on most domestic flights operating between airports within the US, or between the US and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean or Central America. To purchase a wifi subscription plan you must be a member of the AAdvantage programme.
• Is there a data cap? No.
• Can I use multiple devices? You have to switch between them, or you can buy a two-device monthly plan for US$59.95.
• aa.com

• Aircraft with wifi: Wifi is progressively being rolled out across the whole fleet.
• Is it free? Yes for first class passengers. All passengers can use wifi to view flight information or manage their booking and Executive Club account.
• Paid packages available:

– “Messaging” and “Browse and Stream packages. Messaging includes instant messaging and emails without attachments. Browse and Stream additionally includes emails with attachments, browsing social media and the web, and streaming music, video content and films. Prices depend on length of flight.

– Short-haul Messaging: £1.99-£2.99; Browse and Stream: £4.99-£11.99

– Long-haul Messaging: £2.99-£4.99; Browse and Stream: £4.99-£21.99.

• Is there a data cap? No
• Can I use multiple devices? No.
• ba.com

• Aircraft with wifi: All A350 and A321 neo aircraft, progressively being rolled out across Boeing 777 and A330 aircraft.
• Is it free? No.
• Paid packages available: 

– One-hour pass: US$9.95

– Message pass (for instant messaging services) for flights under six hours: US$3.95.

– Full flight under six hours (includes browsing the web, emails and online shopping, but not video streaming): US$12.95.

– Full flight over six hours (includes browsing the web, emails and online shopping, but not video streaming): US$19.95.

• Is there a data cap? No.
• Can I use multiple devices? You can switch between devices.
• cathaypacific.com

• Aircraft with wifi: All domestic US flights by December 31, 2023 and entire global fleet by the end of 2024.
• Is it free? Yes, there is free wifi for SkyMiles Members on most domestic US flights. All passengers can benefit from free messaging. SkyMiles members will need to log in with their SkyMiles number and password for free wifi.
• Paid packages available: 

– One hour pass: US$7; All day pass: US$19 for 24 hours of continuous internet access on any domestic wifi onboard serviced flight.

– Monthly global plan: US$69.95; Monthly domestic plan: US$49.95; Annual domestic plan: US$599.

• Is there a data cap? No.
• Can I use multiple devices? Yes.
• delta.com

• Aircraft with wifi: Entire fleet.
• Is it free: All Emirates Skywards members can access some form of free wifi. Emirates Skywards Blue members can access “Unlimited Chat” to use WhatsApp and other messaging services. Emirates Skywards Blue members travelling in first, or Emirates Skywards Gold or Silver members travelling in business or first class can access full complimentary wifi. Emirates Skywards Platinum members can enjoy free wifi throughout the flight in any cabin class.
• Paid packages available: 

– Unlimited chat: US$2.99-US$5.99 (depending on the length of the flight), includes access to messaging services.

– Wifi for the whole flight: US$9.99‑ US$19.99 (depending on flight length); Easy connect: US$9.99 for 30 minutes with no data limit.

• Is there a data cap? No, although bandwith is shared and some services may be restricted.
• Can I use multiple devices? Yes.
• emirates.com

• Aircraft with wifi: On all aircraft apart from the A320 and A321.
• Is it free? Etihad Guest members get access to a free Chat package for the entire flight. Etihad Guest Platinum and Exclusive tier members as well as first class passengers get complimentary Surf wifi access. Etihad Guest Gold members receive a 25 per cent discount on the Surf package.
• Paid packages available: 

– Flights under seven hours: Chat package US$2.99; Surf package US$9.99.

– Flights over seven hours: Chat package US$4.99; Surf package US$19.99.

• Is there a data cap? No.
• Can I use multiple devices? No, but you can switch devices.
• etihad.com

• Aircraft with wifi: On all Airbus aircraft.
• Is it free? Business class passengers and Finnair Plus Gold members get complimentary access for one hour on long-haul flights/30 minutes on short-haul flights. Finnair Plus Platinum members get free access for the entire long-haul flight (30 minutes on short haul). All Finnair Plus members will get free messaging on short-haul European flights in 2024.
• Paid packages available: 

– Narrowbody fleet – flights under two hours: Browsing €5.95, Streaming €12.95; flights over two hours: Browsing €9.95, Streaming €24.95.

– Widebody fleet – one hour: €7.95, three hours: €14.95, full flight: €25.95.

• Is there a data cap? No.
• Can I use multiple devices? No.
• finnair.com

• Aircraft with wifi: On 95 per cent of its fleet.
• Is it free? There’s free messaging for business class passengers and Iberia Plus members – you must enter your Iberia Plus number to make use of the free service.
• Paid packages available: 

– Messaging: €3.49 for one hour, €5.99 for full flight.

– Browse and streaming: €5.99 for one hour, €13.49 for four hours, full flight €24.99.

• Is there a data cap? No.
• Can I use multiple devices? No.
• iberia.com

• Aircraft with wifi: Entire fleet.
• Is it free? Yes. Fli-fi is available on all domestic US flights and most Caribbean and Central America routes, where passengers can use social media, surf the web and stream content. Airbus A321 LR aircraft also offer this on the carrier’s transatlantic services.
• Is there a data cap? No, although some passengers may receive temporarily reduced speeds if excessive data usage
  is detected, such as apps downloading in the background.
• Can I use multiple devices? Yes.
• jetblue.com

• Aircraft with wifi: All apart from select Boeing 737-800 aircraft.
• Is it free? No, but free messaging is available on flights with wifi.
• Paid packages available: 

– Surf Pass: €8 (entire flight in Europe), €8 (one hour intercontinental flights), €18 (entire intercontinental flight) – enables you to surf the internet, send and receive emails and text messages.

– Stream Pass: €12 for entire flight in Europe (€30 for intercontinental flights) – enables you to surf the internet, send and receive emails including large attachments, send and receive messages including photos, videos and audio files, stream music, audio and video.

• Is there a data cap? No.
• Can I use multiple devices? No.
• klm.com

• Aircraft with wifi: The airline is rolling out wifi onto all aircraft. At the moment it is available on all international flights with the new Boeing 737-8 aircraft.
• Is it free? No.
• Paid packages available:

– Messaging for full flight: US$4.95 (short and medium haul), US$5.95 (long haul).

– Web browsing for two hours: US$10.95 (medium and long haul); full flight: US$11.95 (short haul), US$13.95 (medium haul), US$20.95 (long haul).

• Is there a data cap? No.
• Can I use multiple devices? You can switch between devices.
• koreanair.com

• Aircraft with wifi: All apart from some regional aircraft.
• Is it free? Miles & More members get 30 minutes of free messaging on short or medium-haul flights until the end of the year – you will need to enter your membership Travel ID to make use of this. First class passengers get complimentary access.
• Paid packages available: 

Short and medium-haul flights

– Chat package: €3 for entire flight.

– Mail and Surf: €5 for flights under 90 minutes, €7 for flights over
90 minutes.

– Stream: €10 for flights under 90 minutes, €12 for flights over 90 minutes.

Long-haul flights

– Chat package: €5; Two-hour web surfing: €15; Full flight web surfing: €25.

• Is there a data cap? No.
• Can I use multiple devices? You can switch between devices.
• lufthansa.com

• Aircraft with wifi: All A350 aircraft and progressively being rolled out on the A330 fleet. Not available on Boeing 737 aircraft.
• Is it free? The airline has launched a trial to offer 100MB of free wifi to all business suite and business class passengers, as well as Platinum members of the Enrich frequent flyer programme until 31 December, 2023.
• Paid packages available: Lite (send and receive messages): US$2; Social (Light browsing and messaging): US$10; Business (emails; messaging; browsing – video streaming not recommended): US$25.
• Is there a data cap? Yes. Lite: 10MB/200kpbs; Social: 50MB/512kbps; Business: 200MB/512kbps.
• Can I use multiple devices? You can switch between devices.
• malaysiaairlines.com

• Aircraft with wifi: All domestic services and some international routes (Singapore, Denpasar, Jakarta, Manila, Port Moresby) operated by an A330-200D or Boeing 737 aircraft when travelling over Australia.
• Is it free? Yes
• Is there a data cap? No.
• Can I use multiple devices? Yes.
• qantas.com

• Aircraft with wifi: The A350-900, A380, A350-1000, Boeing 787-8, 787-9 and select Boeing 777 aircraft. Wifi is progressively being rolled out on all aircraft.
• Is it free? Privilege Club members get an hour of complimentary wifi. On some aircraft types there is complimentary messaging.
• Paid packages available: US$8 in advance and US$10 onboard.
• Is there a data cap? There are multiple data-volume/time-based internet plan options on flights equipped, which you can select during the initial sign-up process.
• Can I use multiple devices? You can switch between devices on some aircraft.
• qatarairways.com

• Aircraft with wifi: Virtually the whole fleet, apart from seven Boeing 737-800s operating short-haul flights to Phuket, Penang and Kuala Lumpur
• Is it free? As of 1 July, wifi is free for all passengers who sign up to the KrisFlyer loyalty programme.  Passengers need to input their membership details at the time of booking or checking in to access the free wifi.
• Paid packages available: Non-KrisFlyer members: one-hour Surf Plan US$3.99; three-hour Surf Plan US$8.99; full-flight Surf Plan US$15.99.
• Is there a data cap? No.
• Can I use multiple devices? You can switch between devices.
• singaporeair.com

• Aircraft with wifi: Selected A350-900, Boeing 787-8, 787-9, selected Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
• Is it free? No.
• Paid packages available: Unlimited chat: US$7.99; Unlimited surf: US$24.99; Unlimited streaming: US$39.99.
• Is there a data cap? No.
• Can I use multiple devices? You can switch between devices.
• thaiairways.com

• Aircraft with wifi: The majority of the airline’s fleet, apart from 30 CRJ-900 aircraft, the ERJ-145s and CRJ-200s.
• Is it free? Yes, for T-Mobile or Sprint customers on an eligible plan. All passengers get free messaging and access both to united.com and the app.
• Paid packages available: 

– US domestic and short-haul flights cost US$8 (or 800 miles) for MileagePlus members, US$10 for everyone else.

– Day Pass: MileagePlus members can purchase a Day Pass for their trip. This starts one hour before the first flight and expires 24 hours later. It costs the same as it would to buy wifi for each individual flight in the 24-hour period.

– Wifi subscriptions for North America and Central America: US$49 (or 7,500 miles) per month; US$539 (80,000 miles) per year.

– Wifi subscriptions for global coverage: US$69 (or 10,500 miles) per month; US$689 (100,000 miles) per year.

– MileagePlus Cardholders get 25 per cent back on all wifi subscription purchases.

• Is there a data cap? No.
• Can I use multiple devices? You can switch between devices.
• united.com

• Aircraft with wifi: The entire fleet, though streaming is not guaranteed on A330-300 or A350-1000 aircraft.
• Is it free? No, but all customers on the new A330-900 fleet can access 20 minutes of free wifi in exchange for watching a short advert.
• Paid packages available: Pricing and packages vary per aircraft and start from £2.99 (full flight pass costs £20.99).
• Is there a data cap? No.
• Can I use multiple devices? You can switch between devices.
• virginatlantic.com