Sometimes in-flight Wi-Fi is the bare necessity when you travel abroad or within the country. However not all airlines offer
free in-flight Wi-Fi. There is only a couple of airlines that will allow you to use Wi-Fi internet for free, while the others will ask you to pay for the service. So what can you do when you need to stay connected while onboard?
Option A: Fly exclusively with airlines that offer free in-flight Wi-Fi
These airlines below give free Wi-Fi access to surf the web, get some work done, or simply catch up with your friends while you are onboard. However, free onboard internet is not available to everyone. In most cases you have to be a member of the airline’s frequent flyer program or be a business class passenger to enjoy free inflight Wi-Fi.
Southwest Rapid Rewards members who reached the A-List Preferred status can use free inflight Wi-Fi during the whole flight. A-List members and those who are not members of the Southwest’s Rapid Rewards frequent flyer program, will pay $8 for inflight Wi-Fi.
Icelandair made Wi-Fi available to everyone on board of its airplanes. However, the Wi-Fi access is not free for everyone. Only Saga Class passengers and Saga Gold frequent flyer members get complementary wireless internet for two devices.
All
Aer Lingus’ A330 aircrafts have Wi-Fi on board. And all Aer Lingus flyers can get internet access: one hour will cost $9.95, and full flight access will cost $18.95. Only Business Class passengers can get Aer Lingus Wi-Fi for free.
Wi-Fi connection on
Turkish Airlines flights is available on their Boeing 777-300 ER type aircraft only. Any passenger can use Wi-Fi connection and the service will cost $9.99 per hour, or $14.99 for a 24-hour package. Only Business Class passengers are offered free Wi-Fi internet service.
As you can see, sometimes even being a member of a frequent flyer program doesn’t give you access to free in-flight Wi-Fi. Most often, you should be a business class traveler or buy the service onboard.
Option B: Get a credit card with in-flight Wi-Fi credit
For example, one of the credit cards that comes with this benefit is the
Discover it® Miles card. Discover gives up to $30 each anniversary year for in-flight purchases. This amount is issued as a statement credit in the amount of the Wi-Fi internet access purchase. Other credit cards that can help you cover Wi-Fi costs are cash back rewards credit cards. These cards will allow you to apply cash back as a statement credit towards in-flight purchases.
Other credit cards that can help you cover Wi-Fi costs are
cash back rewards credit cards. These cards will allow you to apply cash back as a statement credit towards in-flight purchases.
| Rewards Earned |
1.5x Miles per dollar on all purchases |
| Intro APR on Purch |
0% (14 months) |
| Regular APR
on Purch |
13.99% - 24.99% Variable |
| Annual Fee |
$0 |
Option C: Pay for in-flight Wi-Fi
You can simply pay for Wi-Fi while on board. This option is good when you do not fly often and never fly business class. The option is not the cheapest one, so it will be worth researching. On-board Wi-Fi prices vary as vary the Wi-Fi service providers. Here are some airlines, their prices and internet providers:
Alaska Airlines uses Gogo internet services and All Day Pass will cost you $14, 1-Hour Pass costs 5%.
American Airlines charges $16 plus tax for All-day pass provided by the same internet provider – Gogo.
Virgin America uses services of two Wi-Fi providers – ViaSat and Gogo – and using either provider will cost you from $4.99 to $17.99 when fly in main cabin.
Lufthansa’s internet provider is Deutsche Telekom, which services cost $10 for 1 hour, $15.50 for 4 hours, and $19 for full flight internet access.
The final word
However, sometimes you won’t even need to pay for in-flight Wi-Fi simply because the service is not available. Yes, such airlines exist. For example, Frontier, Hawaiian and Spirit airlines do not offer in-flight Wi-Fi to their passengers. Some other airlines offer this service only on selected aircrafts. So it is worth checking Wi-Fi availability beforehand to make sure you will stay connected during your flight. And if you want to save on Wi-Fi, go back to Option B to see your options.
Southwest Rapid Rewards members who reached the A-List Preferred status can use free inflight Wi-Fi during the whole flight. A-List members and those who are not members of the Southwest’s Rapid Rewards frequent flyer program, will pay $8 for inflight Wi-Fi.
Icelandair made Wi-Fi available to everyone on board of its airplanes. However, the Wi-Fi access is not free for everyone. Only Saga Class passengers and Saga Gold frequent flyer members get complementary wireless internet for two devices.
All Aer Lingus’ A330 aircrafts have Wi-Fi on board. And all Aer Lingus flyers can get internet access: one hour will cost $9.95, and full flight access will cost $18.95. Only Business Class passengers can get Aer Lingus Wi-Fi for free.
Wi-Fi connection on Turkish Airlines flights is available on their Boeing 777-300 ER type aircraft only. Any passenger can use Wi-Fi connection and the service will cost $9.99 per hour, or $14.99 for a 24-hour package. Only Business Class passengers are offered free Wi-Fi internet service.
As you can see, sometimes even being a member of a frequent flyer program doesn’t give you access to free in-flight Wi-Fi. Most often, you should be a business class traveler or buy the service onboard.
For example, one of the credit cards that comes with this benefit is the Discover it® Miles card. Discover gives up to $30 each anniversary year for in-flight purchases. This amount is issued as a statement credit in the amount of the Wi-Fi internet access purchase. Other credit cards that can help you cover Wi-Fi costs are cash back rewards credit cards. These cards will allow you to apply cash back as a statement credit towards in-flight purchases.
Other credit cards that can help you cover Wi-Fi costs are cash back rewards credit cards. These cards will allow you to apply cash back as a statement credit towards in-flight purchases.
However, sometimes you won’t even need to pay for in-flight Wi-Fi simply because the service is not available. Yes, such airlines exist. For example, Frontier, Hawaiian and Spirit airlines do not offer in-flight Wi-Fi to their passengers. Some other airlines offer this service only on selected aircrafts. So it is worth checking Wi-Fi availability beforehand to make sure you will stay connected during your flight. And if you want to save on Wi-Fi, go back to Option B to see your options.
