We live in a world where it feels necessary to be constantly logged in. Whether it’s to check emails, browse social media, watch TV shows and films, or WhatsApp our friends, we are all connected in one way or another.
We’ve had the ability to access the internet and log onto Wi-Fi wherever we go for some time now, it seems like a natural step for Wi-Fi to be available on planes. Wi-Fi is generally more common from 30,000 feet, but a handful of planes are starting to offer it for the entire duration of their flights. In general, passengers around the world have a 39% chance of stepping aboard a Wi-Fi enabled flight.
Which airlines offer free Wi-Fi?
Currently, around 70 airlines worldwide offer Wi-Fi on their flights. That’s 11 more airlines than in 2016. US airlines seem to be leading the way, with a lot more planes utilising the technology than other airlines around the world.
According to airline data specialists, Route Happy, the three airlines that come up top when it comes to Wi-Fi connectivity are Delta, Emirates and United because they offer the most seats with the service. If you are looking for airlines that offer Wi-Fi on all their flights, then Etihad, Iberia, Icelandair and Scoot fit the bill. Last year Virgin America was unique in being the only airline with all its seats having Wi-Fi, and in early 2017, JetBlue joined them. British Airways has just announced that Wi-Fi will be available on select Boeing 747 flights.
How good is airline Wi-Fi?
If you want to use Wi-Fi on board, you need to check just how good the internet access is on individual airlines. Airline Wi-Fi ranges from being capable of advanced media streaming similar to a home connection, through to a lower level that enables basic web browsing with no media streaming capabilities.
How might things change in the next few years?
It’s highly likely that Wi-Fi services over the next few years will not only become more widely available, but more affordable and better quality. As operating costs and satellite bandwidth decrease, airlines should be able to charge less too.