Why Wi-Fi When You Fly Is Unreliable and Expensive
672 views · Published 2 June 2015 · 3:23 · Indexed 29 October 2026
Channel: FOX 5 New York · 2015 · Science & Technology
Airline Wi-Fi is a blessing and a curse for many travelers, especially those flying for business. A lot of flights still don't have it. According to Brian Kelly, the founder of ThePointsGuy.com most of the major U.S. carriers have Wi-Fi on their domestic jet service, but if you're flying to the Caribbean or Canada, service can drop out. Kelly says if you're on a regional jet, do NOT expect Wi-Fi. Internationally, Kelly says, it's a mixed bag. Cathay Pacific, one of the top airlines in the world, just announced that it is adding Wi-Fi to some flights, but not all. If you do snag a flight with Wi-Fi, the service can be awful. Adam Gwosdof, Chief Data Officer at Routehappy says there are two reasons why Wi-Fi can be slower when you fly. The first has to do with the time it takes for the signal to go from the aircraft either up to the satellite and down to the earth, or from the air to a ground antenna. The second factor: a lot of people using Wi-Fi on the same flight at the same time impacts speed. So if you absolutely have to get work done in the air, which carrier should you choose? Virgin America has fleet-wide Wi-Fi, but flies limited routes. Kelly says Delta is leading the pack domestically, with Wi-Fi on almost every flight, even regional ones. JetBlue has a free Wi-Fi service called Fly-Fi. Kelly says it is great for sending texts or emails. If you have to pay for Wi-Fi, the prices are all over the map. Southwest Airlines charges a flat fee of $8 per day, whether you're taking one flight or several connecting flights. Gwosdof says other airlines and service providers can charge up to $50. If you fly internationally, you'll pay based on your usage so be careful. Kelly says a passenger on Singapore Airlines had over $1,300 in Wi-Fi charges for one flight because he fell asleep and left his phone on with apps running in the background. Both Kelly and Gwosdof say you can save money buying your Wi-Fi before you fly. GoGo is one of the leading providers, and is also rolling out a new 2KU satellite service this year that could make a big difference improving both the Wi-Fi coverage footprint and its speed. --ALISON MORRIS
