How to Get Online During Flights

How can airlines offer Internet during flights?

Most airlines Internet systems connect to the Internet through satellites via antennas installed on the plane. Some connect to land-based beacons which transmit directly to airplanes, instead of routing signals through satellites. Within the cabin itself, passengers connect to the Internet with their phones, tablets, and laptops through WLAN networks.

Can I use WLAN during flights?

Yes. Most passenger airplanes have WLAN hotspots which passengers can use. Airlines provide various services through these networks. For example, in addition to Internet connections, some airlines let passengers watch movies and series, find information about the flight, check in to connection flights, or browse the airline’s online shop. These additional services are usually available without your having to pay for Internet access.

Which airlines offer onboard Internet?

Out of the five airlines with the most flights to and from Switzerland, inflight Internet is offered by Swiss, Lufthansa, and KLM. However, Swiss only offers this service on its long-distance flights.

Easyjet and Edelweiss do not offer their passengers inflight Internet. Edelweiss responded to a moneyland.ch inquiry by saying that it plans to introduce inflight Internet access on its Airbus A350 aircraft from the end of 2026.

Many other airlines do offer Internet access. These include Air France, American Airlines, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Eurowings, Finnair, Qatar Airways, SAS Scandinavian Airlines, Singapore Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines, and United Airlines. A major airline which does not offer inflight Internet is Ryanair.

But just because an Airline offers inflight Internet, that does not mean you can get online at any time and in any plan when flying with that airline. Some airplanes are not equipped with onboard Internet access. Even on those which do, Internet access may be switched off for technical or legal reasons while flying over certain territories (Greenland or India, for example). On codeshare flights – in which you fly on an airplane belonging to a partner airline – you may not get inflight connectivity even though the main airline you booked with has that service.

Which passenger aircraft are equipped with Internet?

That depends on the airline and the aircraft type. All of the long-distance aircraft from SWISS (Airbus A330, Airbus A340 und Boeing 777) support WLAN, but Internet is only available on long-distance flights. Some of Lufthansa's Airbus A320 aircraft are equipped to provide WLAN access on short-distance and mid-distance flights. All Airbus planes from Finnair have Internet access on European routes. KLM offers Internet access on all of its long-distance flights. Qatar offers Internet access on all of its Airbus A380 and A350 aircraft, and its Boeing 787 aircraft.

Is onboard Internet access included in the ticket price?

Some airlines advertise free Internet access on flights. But in many cases, this complimentary Internet access is limited to text messaging (with Whatsapp, for example). Depending on the airline, complimentary Internet access may be reserved for members of the airline's frequent flyer program, program members with a special frequent flyer status, or passengers in business class or first class.

Many other airlines do not give their frequent flyer program members any special Internet access benefits at all.

The table below gives you an overview of complimentary inflight Internet access from different airlines.

How do I pay for inflight Internet access?

Typically, you pay for Internet access directly using a payment card when you connect to the airplane’s WiFi network. Some airlines give you the option of paying for inflight Internet with your frequent flyer miles.

The way in which you are charged for Internet access varies between airlines. Some airlines have bundles with a certain amount of data, which you can use for your online activities during the flight. Other airlines have time-based bundles which give you a certain number of minutes of Internet use. Other airlines have per-flight access which lets you be online for one whole flight. Regardless of which system is used, you always pay a fixed price in advance, so you always know exactly how much you are spending.

Are there any pitfalls to watch out for in relation to costs?

It is worth taking a look at the fine print. You should exercise cation if your journey includes connecting flights. For example, if you travel from Zurich to Hongkong via Singapore, Internet access you buy when you leave Zurich will only be valid for the flight to Singapore. If you want to use the Internet on the next leg of the flight, you will have to pay again.

What does inflight Internet for flights within Europe cost?

You can find out what fees apply to inflight Internet on flights within Europe in the table below. You do not have to pay any additional fees to get online (mobile roaming fees, for example).

How much does inflight Internet cost on long-distance flights?

The table below shows the costs of getting online on intercontinental flights. You do not have to pay any additional fees to get online (mobile roaming fees, for example).

Air France, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Qatar Airways, and United Airlines also offer inflight Internet access. But there is not enough information about these offers available to include them in the overview.

How fast is inflight Internet?

Inflight Internet generally has limited connection speeds. Satellite connections are not as fast as the line-based home Internet connections you may be used to. Airlines are generally hesitant to make concrete claims about connection speeds. The connection you get on Lufthansa flights has a connection speed of up to 15 Mbps.

Many of the inflight WiFi offers target passengers who want to use email and messaging services like Whatsapp to communicate during flights. In most cases, activity is limited to text messages. Sending images or other files is not possible. SWISS is an exception to this rule, as it stresses that passengers can also send images. With these offers, access to music and video streaming services is blocked.

When can I use inflight Internet?

Normally, you can only connect to the onboard Internet connection while the airplane is flying at cruising height. You cannot stay online during takeoff and landing.

Can I use mobile roaming while flying?

Some airlines do let you get online via your mobile service provider during flights. The signal is transferred via satellites. Your phone connects to your telecom operator via onboard mobile service beacons, enabling you to connect to the Internet.

When you get online this way, you are using your telecom company’s inflight mobile roaming services, which are extremely expensive. However, as a Swiss consumer you will not likely be hit with the terrible ghost roaming bills which were common in the past. That is because inflight roaming is no longer possible with Swisscom (and its Wingo, M-Budget Mobile, and Coop Mobile subsidiaries), Salt (and its Lidl Connect, Post Mobile, and Gomo subsidiaries), and Sunrise (including Yallo, Aldi Suisse Mobile, Lebara, and Swype).

If you use a SIM from another service provider, inflight roaming can generate enormous costs. There are reports of telecom customers receiving bills in excess of 10,000 euros after their phones automatically connected to inflight roaming because they failed to put them in flight mode.

Are there any other options for getting online while flying?

For communicating or just general Internet use during flights, there are no real alternatives to the inflight WiFi offered by airlines. The only exception: If you have a foreign SIM, you may be able to get online using inflight mobile roaming. But this is best avoided as it is very expensive.

Although some airlines offer inflight WiFi services which are fast enough to watch Netflix or other streamed videos, it is generally a good idea to download the videos you want to watch onto your phone or tablet before the flight (in your home or hotel, for example). That way you can watch these in the airplane or airport even without any Internet connection at all.

What else should I be aware of when using inflight Internet?

On long flights, your device’s battery may become depleted during the trip. Although power supply connections for charging phones can be found on the seats of many airlines, these do not always work. Taking a phone battery backup with you can help to ensure that your device remains usable. Check which power banks the airline allows you to use in the cabin before you fly.

Can I stream movies and series using inflight WiFi?

A few airlines let you watch movies and series which are stored on onboard storage devices. You stream the video to your phone, tablet, or laptop from the central storage unit over the WLAN connection.

For example, passengers on short and mid-length flights from Edelweiss Air can access around 20 movies and 40 series at no extra cost. Swiss airline Chair lets you watch movies and series during flights.

The paid Connect Premium package from Eurowings includes access to movies and series via WLAN.

Which other services can I access through airplane WLAN connections?

Some airlines provide information portals which you can access via WLAN. Services which may be found in these portals include:

• Information about the current flight (the expected arrival time, for example).
• A map tracking the aircraft’s location.
• Electronic versions of newspapers.
• Audiobooks.
• Information about the airline.
• Information about connecting flights.
• A travel guide and weather reports for your destination.
• Check in services for connecting flights.
• Digital airline shops.

The services included in WLAN portals vary broadly between airlines.

These services are typically available free of charge.

More on this topic:
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Find the best mobile roaming solution now
Guide to using airline miles
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