image source joshoakes on flickr
WiFi is everywhere, from cafes to bus stops, trains to airports, it’s a service that people on the go value highly. Unfortunately the WiFi craze hasn’t reached its fullest potential yet.
Though frequent fliers have made their pleas to the airlines to offer onboard internet, when the service is available it isn’t always up to par with the tech-savvy traveler’s needs. Even though an increasing amount of airlines like Ryanair (to trial later this year on top business routes), Finnair, Srilankan Airlines, Kuwait Airways, TAAG Angola Airlines, and WestJet have announced that they’ll soon be implementing WiFi, there’s still a long way to go when it comes to the service, as exorbitant pricing and speeds that would make even a snail yawn are deterring fliers from considering purchasing internet aboard. At the moment only eight airlines offer free inflight WiFi: Emirates, JetBlue, Norwegian, Turkish Airlines, Air China, Philippine Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines and Nok Air.
Want to know which airlines offer inflight internet access? Here’s the complete list:
Airlines that offer inflight WiFi and/or GSM internet access
Aer Lingus
Aircraft: A330 aircraft on all transatlantic routes
Providers: Panasonic Avionics, AeroMobile and Deutsche Telekom
Price: Business class passengers – free; 1 hour pass – €10.95/$14.95; 24 hour pass – €19.95/$24.95
Book Aer Lingus flights
Aeroflot
Aircraft: “Sky High” wifi service available on Airbus 330 and Boeing 777
Providers: OnAir
Price: Smartphone: 3MB – $8; 9MB – $22. Laptop or iPad: 9MB – $22; 19MB – $40
AirAsia
Aircraft: 4 aircraft currently have the chat wifi service. 80 aircraft to be equipped by 2nd quarter 2015.
Provider: roKKi wifi service allows passengers to use roKKi chats to send text messages over Whatsapp, WeChat and LINE.
Price: RM8 to use roKKi Chats
Air Berlin
Aircraft: On 2 A320s from Vienna and Stuttgart to Abu Dhabi.
Provider: Panasonic
Price: €4.90 for 30 min/20MB; €8.90 60 min/50MB; €13.90 duration of entire med-haul flight/90MB; €18.90 full flight package (long-haul flights)/120MB data.
Air Canada
Aircraft: some A319s (on select flights traveling between Toronto or Montreal and Los Angeles over the United States). Up to 30 planes will be equipped with in-flight wifi by the end of 2014. And more than 100 planes are expected to be equipped by the end of 2015.
Provider: Gogo
Price: Gogo Unlimited $49.95/month (unlimited internet on all Gogo equipped airlines); Gogo All Day Pass $14 (24 hours of internet access on the same airline); 1-Hour Pass $5 (internet access on any single domestic Gogo equipped flight); The Traveler Pass $39.95 (monthly subscription for unlimited internet on one Gogo equipped airline)
Air China
Aircraft: no information
Provider: Current provider not specified. (To be the first to try GX Aviation on A330s, high speed broadband connection, estimated for 2nd quarter 2015)
Price: Free (but not allowed on smartphones).
Air France
Aircraft: To be installed on 2 Airbus A320s (short and medium-haul flights) from summer 2015.
Provider: Orange
Price: TBA
AirTran
Aircraft: All aircraft
Provider: Gogo
Price: Gogo Unlimited $49.95/month (unlimited internet on all Gogo equipped airlines); Gogo All Day Pass $14 (24 hours of internet access on the same airline); 1-Hour Pass $5 (internet access on any single domestic Gogo equipped flight); The Traveler Pass $39.95 (monthly subscription for unlimited internet on one Gogo equipped airline)
Alaska Airlines
Aircraft: all B737-400, B737-700, B737-800, B737-900 on flights within the lower 48 states (USA) and within/to/from Alaska
Provider: Gogo
Price: Gogo Unlimited $49.95/month (unlimited internet on all Gogo equipped airlines); Gogo All Day Pass $14 (24 hours of internet access on the same airline); 1-Hour Pass $5 (internet access on any single domestic Gogo equipped flight); The Traveler Pass $39.95 (monthly subscription for unlimited internet on one Gogo equipped airline)
All Nippon Airways
Aircraft: B777-300ER and B767-300ER (on designated international flights only. Note: This service is not available on domestic flights in Japan)
Provider: OnAir
Price: 5MB – $6; 10MB – $12; 20MB – $24
American Airlines
Aircraft: Domestic Wi-Fi is now available on nearly all flights within the US; International Wi-Fi on 777-300ER aircraft. To install on 250 regional jets by 2016.
Provider: Gogo
Price: Domestic flights WiFi prices: All Day Pass $14 (24 hours of internet access on AA/US Airways flights); The Traveler Pass $39.95 (monthly subscription for unlimited internet on on AA/US Airways flights); International flights WiFi prices: 2 Hour Pass $12, 4 Hour Pass $17, Duration of Flight Pass $19
Book flights with AA
ANA
Aircraft: Designated international flights using B777-300ER and B767-300ER aircraft. Will be gradually installed to all B777-300ER and a part of B767-300ER aircraft by the end of March, 2015.
Provider: OnAir
Price: 5MB for $6USD; 10MB for $12USD; 20MB for $24USD
British Airways
Aircraft: On one 747-400 aircraft on the Club World London City flight route (direct flights between New York JFK and London City airports)
Provider: T-Mobile
Price: £8 (~$14USD) for 1 hour, or £15 (~$25USD) for 24 hours
Book flights with BA
Cebu Pacific Air
Aircraft: A330 fleet
Provider: OnAir
Price: 25MB – $5; 50MB – $10
Delta Air Lines
Aircraft: All A319, 320, B737, B757, B767, MD88, MD90, CRJ 700, CRJ 900, ERJ 170, ERJ 175. On select DC9 and B757. On US Domestic flights only.
Provider: Delta Connect & Gogo. Delta will be providing Gogo’s new 2ku satellite service on long haul domestic flights and in 2016, for all long haul fleets.
Price: New 2ku satellite service: TBA. Mobile Pass starting at $1.95; Gogo Unlimited $49.95/month (unlimited internet on all Gogo equipped airlines); Gogo All Day Pass $14 (24 hours of internet access on the same airline); The Traveler Pass $39.95 (monthly subscription for unlimited internet on one Gogo equipped airline); Delta Annual Pass $469.95
Egypt Air
Aircraft: On selected A330-300
Provider: OnAir
Price: 2 price packages available based on time and usage
Emirates
Aircraft: On about 60% of total fleet – all A380s and some B777
Provider: OnAir
Price: 10MB free in all classes on A380 aircraft. 500MB available for purchase starting at USD 1 on select A380 and B777 aircraft that do not offer free wifi.
Etihad
Aircraft: Airbus A330-200 (entire fleet to have WiFi by end of 2014)
Provider: Wi-Fly
Price: 24-hour pass $24.95; 1-hour pass $13.95; Free for Etihad’s Diamond First Class passengers
EVA Air
Aircraft: On selected B777-300ER aircraft
Provider: Sky Wi-Fi provided by Deutsche Telekom
Price: 11.95 USD for 1 hour; 16.95 USD for 3 hours; 21.95 USD for 24 hours
Finnair
Aircraft: To launch during end of 2015 on 4 Airbus A350. Airbus A330 to follow in 2016. The Wi-Fi installation is estimated to be completed by 2018.
Provider: TBD
Price: TBD
Frontier Airlines
Aircraft: Embraer 190
Provider: Gogo
Price: Gogo Unlimited $49.95/month (unlimited internet on all Gogo equipped airlines); Gogo All Day Pass $14 (24 hours of internet access on the same airline); 1-Hour Pass $5 (internet access on any single domestic Gogo equipped flight); The Traveler Pass $39.95 (monthly subscription for unlimited internet on one Gogo equipped airline)
Garuda Indonesia
Aircraft: B777-300ER and Airbus 330-200/300
Provider: OnAir
Price: Aboard B777-300ER – Executive Class & Economy Class passengers: $11.95 1 hour unlimited browsing or $21.95 for an unlimited 24-hours. First Class passengers: free. Aboard Airbus 330-200/300 – Executive Class & Economy Class passengers: mobile $2.49/$9.95 (3MB/10MB); laptop $9.95/$21.95 (10MB/25MB). First Class passengers: free.
Gulf Air
Aircraft: no information
Provider: Panasonic
Price: Unlimited MB $15/BHD 6 per hour ; Unlimited MB $30/BHD 11 for 24 hours
HongKong Airlines
Aircraft: All Airbus A330-200 aircraft
Provider: OnAir
Price: Free
Iberia
Aircraft: Onboard transatlantic routes between Europe and the Americas (By 2015, both Mobile OnAir and Internet OnAir will be installed on 25 Iberia A330s and A340s).
Provider: OnAir
Price: Smartphones and tablets: 4MB for $4.95 or 22MB for $19.95. iPad: 22MB for $19.95 or 50MB for $39.95.
Icelandair
Aircraft: aboard the following aircraft currently: Hekla (FIU), Krafla (FIO), Herðubreið (FIA), Eldborg (FIN), Askja (FIR), Skjaldbreiður (LLX), Grábrók (FIY), Keilir (FIZ). To be installed across entire fleet by the beginning of 2015
Provider: Row44
Price: Economy class: Exact pricing TBA. Saga Class passengers and Saga Gold members: Free.
JAL
Routes: JAL SKY Wi-Fi available on select routes: Tokyo(Narita) – New York(JL005/006)/Chicago/Los Angeles/Frankfurt/Jakarta(JL725/726), Tokyo(Haneda) – London/Paris(JL045/046) and Sydney – Tokyo (Boeing 777).
Provider: T-Mobile
Price: 1 hour – $11.96; 24 hours – $21.95
JetBlue
Aircraft: limited number of JetBlue aircraft – available on all A321, and progressively across A320 and E190.
Provider: LiveTV
Price: Simply Surf basic version: Free; Fly-Fi Plus: $9/hour streaming
Lufthansa
Aircraft: all long haul fleet aircraft except A380 and Boeing 747-8 (A380 aircraft are gradually being fitted out with Lufthansa FlyNet WiFi)
Provider: Panasonic
Price: HotSpot Pass Sky 1 hour: €9 or 3,000 miles; 4 hours: €14 or 4,500 miles; 24 hours: €17 or 5,500 miles
Libyan Airlines
Aircraft: A330 (long-haul flights to and from Tripoli)
Provider: OnAir
Price: no information
Malindo Air
Aircraft: Boeing 737-900ER aircraft
Provider: Panasonic Avionics (eXConnect in-flight broadband connectivity)
Price: 4 packages that range from 30 mins (USD 6.95), 1 hour (USD 11.95), 3 hours (USD 16.95) and 12 hours (USD 21.95). You can use a credit card to purchase in the portal.
Mango Airlines
Aircraft: All
Provider: G-Connect
Price: 30MB R 29.00; 60MB R 49.00
Nok Air
Aircraft: On one Boeing 737-800 (the Nok Bussarakam) and progressively across entire fleet of 737 into 2015
Provider: Thaicom PLC
Price: Free
Norwegian
Aircraft: 61 out of 76 Boeing 737-800 (flights within Europe short & medium-haul). Currently not offering WiFi on its long-haul flights.
Provider: Row44
Price: Free
Oman Air
Aircraft: Airbus A330
Provider: OnAir
Price: On smartphone $5-15; Laptops/in-flight entertainment screen $15-40
Philippine Airlines (PAL)
Aircraft: Boeing 777 (only available on route London to Manila and Manila to London), A330s and 6 A340s.
Provider: OnAir
Price: Free
Qatar Airways
Aircraft: Inflight mobile services available on select A319, A320, A321 & all B787 aircraft; inflight internet services available on all B787 aircraft. To be implemented on A380s across all classes of travel.
Provider: OnAir
Price: Prices depends on the passenger’s network provider’s international roaming charges.
Ryanair
Aircraft: To trial on top business routes later this year
Provider: unknown
Price: TBD. However, may be free for e-mail access only
SAS
Aircraft: On select Boeing 737-800 fleet (flights within Europe)
Provider: Panasonic
Price: SAS Go passengers: €8 (within Nordic countries) €12 within Europe. SAS Plus & EuroBonus members: Free.
Saudia
Aircraft: Airbus A330 (and select Boeing 777-300ER)
Provider: OnAir
Price: Prices depends on the passenger’s network provider’s international roaming charges.
Singapore Airlines
Aircraft: Progressively made available on A380 and Boeing 777-300ER
Provider: OnAir or Panasonic
Price: Depends on time or MB usage
Southwest Airlines
Aircraft: Progressively across entire fleet
Provider: Row 44
Price: $8 all day, per device
TAM
Aircraft: select Airbus A319, A320, A321 on domestic flights within Brazil
Provider: OnAir
Price: Prices depends on the passenger’s network provider’s international roaming charges.
TAP Portugal
Aircraft: A330 (Pedro Nunes, Vasco da Gama, João XXI and João Gonçalves Zarco) fleet. On routes between Europe and North and South America.
Provider: OnAir
Price: 4MB €6 or 10MB €12
THAI Airways
Aircraft: A330-300 & A380-800 (long-haul flights only)
Provider: OnAir
Price: THAI Sky Connect Smartphone users: $4.50/146 baht for 3 megabytes or $14.50 for 10 MB; Laptop or tablet users: $14.50 for 10 MB and $28.50 for 20 MB. Business Class passengers: Free 3-month trial.
Transaero
Aircraft: Transaero Connect is available on 14 long-haul aircraft, including 9 Boeing 747-400 and 5 Boeing 777-300. Also available on 2 medium-haul Boeing 737 Classic (for corporate flights). To be installed during 2014 on long-haul Boeing 777-200 and Boeing 767-300.
Provider: Panasonic
Price: Long-haul flights – RUB 800 for the duration of the flight, or RUB 400/hour. Medium-haul flights – RUB 600 for all-flight internet connection, or RUB 300/hour
Turkish Airlines
Aircraft: On some B777-300ERs and progressively on A330-300s
Provider: Panasonic
Price: Free for business travelers during an introductory period
United
Aircraft: All Boeing 747 and 757 aircraft routes between New York (JFK) and both Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO). All A319 and A320 aircraft. And progressively across rest of entire fleet.
Provider: Gogo
Price: Unlimited access on United flights $17. Gogo Unlimited $49.95/month (unlimited internet on all Gogo equipped airlines); Gogo All Day Pass $14 (24 hours of internet access on the same airline); 1-Hour Pass $5 (internet access on any single domestic Gogo equipped flight); The Traveler Pass $39.95 (monthly subscription for unlimited internet on one Gogo equipped airline).
Book flights with United
US Airways
Aircraft: Airbus A321, A320, A319 and Embraer 170, 175 and 190 (currently installed on 90% of entire fleet). Only available on flights within the continental US.
Provider: Gogo
Price: All Day Pass $14 (24 hours of internet access on AA/US Airways flights); The Traveler Pass $39.95 (monthly subscription for unlimited internet on on AA/US Airways flights)
Vietnam Airlines
Aircraft: To provide international and domestic inflight wifi by May 2015 on 30 Boeing 787 and Airbus A350s
Provider: Gogo
Price: TBD. Estimated at $15-$20 on international flights and possibly free on domestic.
Virgin America
Aircraft: Entire fleet (US domestic flights only, coverage does not extend 100 miles beyond the US border)
Provider: Gogo
Price: 30-minute session $2; Gogo Unlimited $49.95/month (unlimited internet on all Gogo equipped airlines); Gogo All Day Pass $14 (24 hours of internet access on the same airline); 1-Hour Pass $5 (internet access on any single domestic Gogo equipped flight); The Traveler Pass $39.95 (monthly subscription for unlimited internet on one Gogo equipped airline)
Vueling
Aircraft: Airbus 320 on all transatlantic routes
Providers: Telefónica will use LiveTV’s high-speed technology with Eutelsat’s AIR ACCE. Service with KA-SAT satellite
Price: TBA
WestJet
Aircraft: TBA
Provider: Panasonic
Price: TBA