Is there Wi-Fi on a plane?

Plenty of airlines offer Wi-Fi on flights, but not all service is created equal. Thanks to advancements in technology, we're seeing better speeds — but plenty of aircraft still rely on outdated equipment, so you'll be waiting a while for that Facebook feed to load.



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Can you get WiFi on a plane? WiFi is available in the air depending on the airline you're flying with. Many airlines, like British Airways, offer WiFi for a small fee, but there are a handful of airlines that have free WiFi onboard, like Emirates and Turkish Airlines.

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How to connect. If you are travelling on a Wi-Fi enabled aircraft, your crew will advise you once on board. Go to Wi-Fi settings on your device and join the 'BAWi-Fi' network. Open your web browser and the .air homepage will open automatically.

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You can't make phone calls on a plane using cellular service, as using cellular service for any reason isn't permitted. WiFi calls may be allowed, though that's at the discretion of the airline, as it impacts passenger comfort.

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To text while flying, you'll need to use a messaging app like WhatsApp, Apple iMessage, WeChat or Facebook Messenger. These Over The Top applications don't require a cellular network connection and instead send messages through the internet.

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Inflight wifi has been a “reality” since around 2006. British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, Norwegian and Qatar Airways are just some of the airlines to launch a version of it since then. Some offer free access to business class customers, most charge anything from £2.99 to £20 for a wifi pass.

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Here are all the major airlines that currently offer free WiFi on most flights:
  1. JetBlue. JetBlue was the first U.S. airline to start offering free WiFi to all passengers through their Fly-Fi service in 2013. ...
  2. Delta Air Lines. ...
  3. Singapore Airlines. ...
  4. Qatar Airways. ...
  5. Norwegian Airlines.


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Usually Wi-Fi can be purchased prior to your flight or while on-board, and is limited to a single device. Similar to personal televisions in the seat back, Wi-Fi is often disabled during takeoff and landing to ensure passenger focus and safety. But in-flight Wi-Fi is also often tiered.

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To access the content, passengers simply use their own mobile phones, tablet or laptops to connect to the local wi-fi network created onboard by the AirFi hardware.

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How to get WiFi on a plane? You can get free WiFi on some airlines, by paying for the internet service with the airline or through your cellular operator. How does the internet work on flights? They work through WiFi, getting the internet connection through terrestrial antennas or through satellites.

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To provide Wi-Fi, planes need to have a satellite antenna, a network modem, and a number of wireless access points around the interior, says Jeff Sare, vice president of in-flight connectivity solutions at Panasonic Avionics Corporation. And all that hardware has to be maintained in addition to installed.

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How it works. Standard SMS messaging typically won't work in the air since you'll need a cellular network connection. But as long as there's Wi-Fi available on a flight, you'll have some way to communicate with people on the ground.

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WhatsApp uses the same internet connection as web browsing and email on your phone. If you use WhatsApp while your phone is roaming, data charges might apply. Contact your mobile provider for more information about roaming in other countries.

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When to arrive. We recommend getting to the airport three hours before your flight if you're travelling internationally, or two hours if you're travelling domestically or to Europe.

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