You can use airplane mode to avoid roaming charges when travelling. You won't be able to send or receive text messages or phone calls, or use data services, but you could connect to a Wi-Fi network to check your email or browse the internet.

Yes, you can absolutely use Wi-Fi while your device is in airplane mode. When you first activate airplane mode, it is designed to immediately disable all wireless transmissions, including cellular data, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, to prevent radio interference with aircraft systems. However, on almost all modern smartphones and laptops in 2026, you can manually re-enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth while keeping the cellular radio turned off. This is a standard practice for many travelers who wish to use in-flight Wi-Fi services or connect to wireless headphones while avoiding expensive international roaming charges. Using Wi-Fi in airplane mode is also a great way to conserve battery life, as it stops your phone from constantly searching for a weak cellular signal at 35,000 feet. Most airlines now permit and even encourage the use of Wi-Fi during the flight, though they still require cellular functions to remain off during takeoff and landing. Once you have toggled Wi-Fi back on once while in airplane mode, many devices will remember this preference for future "flight mode" activations.