For some travellers, the advent of in-flight wifi is seen as a curse – the death of a once-legitimate excuse to escape emails and disconnect for a while.
For others (60 per cent according to the European Aviation Network’s annual survey) it is now seen as a necessity. Then again, in an informal online poll of Business Traveller readers, only 19 per cent of respondents said they actually purchase wifi during a flight.
Perhaps this is because offering a strong internet connection at a competitive price is something airlines are still working out.
Regardless of your position, one thing’s for sure: in-flight wifi is here to stay.
Here we look at the wifi packages currently available on Asia-Pacific’s biggest carriers.
Airline | Wifi plan | Aircraft/Routes |
Air China | Free | Mainly A330 and B777-200 |
Air Asia | • 3MB: US$2 • 10MB: US$5 |
Select Air Asia flights with the AK code |
ANA | 30 min/15MB: US$4.95 • 1 hr/30MB: US$8.95 • Full flight/100MB: US$19.95 |
B777-300ER and B767-300ER (202-seat configuration) |
• 30 min: US$6.95 • 3 hr: US$16.95 • Full flight: US$21.95 |
B787-9, A320neo, B787-8 (240-seat configuration) | |
Asiana | • 1 hr: US$11.95 • 3 hrs: US$16.95 • Full flight: US$21.95 |
A350 |
Cathay Pacific | • 1 hr: US$9.95 • Full flight (<6 hrs): US$12.95 • Full flight (>6 hrs): US$19.95 |
A350 |
China Airlines | • 1 hr: US$12 • 3 hrs: US$17 • 24 hrs: US$22 |
B777-300ER, A350 *No data limit |
China Eastern | • Currently in trial stage, available free for first 100 passengers per flight to register | Shanghai to JFK, SFO, LAX, ORD, YYZ, YVR (other destinations on select flights) |
China Southern | • Currently in free trial stage, economy passengers must pre-apply | From Guangzhou to SYD/MEL/AMS/BNE/SHA/PEK and Beijing to AMS |
EVA Air | • 1 hr: US$11.95 • 3 hrs: US$16.95 • 24 hrs: US$21.95 |
B777-300ER, A330-300 |
Garuda Indonesia | • 20MB: US$5 • 1 hr: US$11.95 • 3 hrs: US$16.95 • 24 hrs: US$21.95 |
B777-300ER *Free for first class |
• 30 min/15MB: US$5 • 1 hr/30MB: US$11.95 • 3 hrs/50MB: US$16.95 • Full flight/100MB: US$21.95 |
A330-200/300 *Free for first class |
|
Hainan Airlines | Free | B787-9 |
Japan Airlines | • 1 hr: US$10.15 • 3 hrs: US$14.4 • 24 hrs: US$18.8 |
International routes; free for first class Free on all domestic routes for all classes |
Malaysia Airlines | • 8MB: US$1 • 20MB: US$5 • 150MB: US$20 | A350 |
Philippine Airlines | • 30 min/15MB: Free • 35MB: US$5 • 150MB: US$20 |
Flights with myPal |
Qantas | Free | Domestic B737 and A330 only |
Singapore Airlines | • 15MB: US$6.99 • 30MB: US$12.99 • 50MB: US$19.99 |
All A380 and select B777-300ER * Free 100MB for Suites and first class, 30MB for business and PPS Club members |
• 1 hr: US$11.95 • 3 hrs: US$16.95 • 24 hrs: US$21.95 |
All A350 and select B777-300ER * Free 100MB for Suites and first class, 30MB for business and PPS Club members |
|
Thai Airways | • 10MB:US$4.99 • 20MB:US$8.99 • 30MB: US$12.99 • 100MB: US$34.99 |
A380, and select A330-300 |
• 20MB: US$6.99 • 30MB: US$9.99 • 50MB: US$14.99 • 100MB: US$19.99 |
A350, B787 | |
Xiamen Air | Free | B787 to AMS, SYD, MEL, YVR, SEA, JFK, LAX *Must be requested before flight |