Photo: Virgin America
JetBlue recently announced that its newly installed high-speed Wi-Fi would be available for free — becoming the first U.S. carrier to offer fleet-wide free Wi-Fi — and then it sat back and listened to everyone’s lower jaws hit the ground. Not only is its adorably named Fly-Fi free, its satellite connection can reportedly deliver speeds of 20 mbps, which is faster than the average American’s internet speed at home. Oh JetBlue, you’ve almost made us forget about your new-ish checked bag fees.
But if you’re not flying JetBlue, what can you expect from other airlines’ Wi-Fi offerings? A price tag. And so much Gogo.
If you are on one of the airlines that uses Gogo, you’ll probably save money if you sign up for your Wi-Fi access before you board the flight (and all prices listed below are for advance purchases). Through Gogo’s website, you can also get a smartphone or iPod touch-only pass, which is $8 for 24 hours of access. Also, if you’re bouncing from carrier to carrier for the next month or so, you can sign up for a multi-airline pass that is good for 30 days of Wi-Fi on any of Gogo’s participating airlines. But be careful: those monthly passes are set to auto-renew, and auto-charge your credit card for almost $50.
That said, here are the latest details on other domestic carriers’ in-flight Wi-Fi offerings, including the availability and the cost.
Alaska Airlines
Availability: Wi-Fi is available on Alaska’s entire fleet of full-passenger Boeing 737s and Embraer E-175 jets.
Provider: Gogo
Cost: $5 for a one-day pass, $16 for 24 hours, $49.95 for one-month of access on Alaska Airlines flights; passengers can sign up for one or more of these options in advance on Gogo’s website.
Fun Fact: Alaska is one of the few carriers that doesn’t block any online content. “You are responsible for your surfing behavior,” it warns on its website, using its best Mom Voice.
American Airlines
Availability: Wi-Fi is available on “nearly all flights within the continental U.S.”; American also offers Wi-Fi on some international flights on its 777-300ER, 787 Dreamliner and select 777-200 aircraft. Passengers can enter their flight details on this website to see if their plane is Wi-Fi equipped.
Provider: Gogo (domestic); T-Mobile (international)
Domestic Cost: $16 for 24 hours, $49.95 for one month of access on American Airlines flights.
International Cost: $12 for 2 hours, $17 for 4 hours or $19 for the duration of the flight.
Delta Air Lines
Availability: 2,400 daily Delta flights; passengers can check the Find Your Trip site to see if their plane is Wi-Fi equipped.
Provider: Gogo
Cost: $16 for 24 hours, $49.95 for one month of access on Delta Air Lines flights; Wi-Fi access can be purchased in advance through Delta or Gogo.
Fun Fact: Delta offers an Unlimited Annual Wi-Fi pass for $538.95.
JetBlue
Availability: Fly-Fi is currently available on all of JetBlue’s Airbus A321 and A320 aircraft and on 2% of its Embraer E190s. (That installation is projected to be complete by Fall 2016; eager fliers can monitor the progress on JetBlue’s website).
Provider: LiveTV
Cost: Fly-Fi is currently freeeee while its in the Beta period.
Fun Fact: If basic Fly-Fi isn’t fly enough, JetBlue offers Fly-Fi Plus for $9 per hour.
Southwest
Availability: Passengers can check Southwest’s Wi-Fi Finder to see if their plane is Wi-Fi equipped.
Provider: Row 44
Cost: $8 per device for all day access.
Fun Fact: If you just want to send increasingly annoyed iMessages about your seatmate’s use of the arm rest, Southwest has a $2 messaging-only option that allows access to iMessage, Viber and WhatsApp. (The latter two apps must be downloaded before you board your flight).
Spirit Airlines
Availability: Are you serious?
United Airlines
Availability: Wi-Fi is available on more than 700 aircraft, including all of United’s A319 and A320 planes, as well as almost all of its 747s servicing both p.s. (Premium Service) and non-p.s. routes. Wi-Fi installation should be completed on its full fleet by May 2016 (and you can check the progress on this website). Passengers can check the Flight Status and Amenities page to determine if Wi-Fi will be available on their upcoming flights.
Provider: United has the most confusing combination of Wi-Fi providers, availability and options. On its p.s. flights, it “currently offers Internet service from several providers including Gogo.” Other Wi-Fi equipped flights will use United’s own satellite Wi-Fi, which is cleverly called United Wi-Fi.
Cost: Pricing for United’s Wi-Fi access varies, based on which carrier is providing the service, the duration of the flight and whether or not the flight also has DirecTV (the availability of DirecTV also determines how long Wi-Fi will be available during international flights). BUT if the aircraft does have DirecTV, the pricing for Wi-Fi is a “fixed per-hour rate” determined by the time it is purchased and the time you log off.
Fun Fact: The first question on United’s Wi-Fi Frequently Asked Questions page is “What is Wi-Fi?“
Virgin America
Availability: Virgin America’s entire fleet is Wi-Fi equipped, although it is not currently available on flights to Hawaii or for up to two hours of its flights to Los Cabos, Cancun or Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Provider: Its 10 new A320 aircraft have Wi-Fi from ViaSat; its other 53 aircraft are Gogo-equipped.
Cost: ViaSat is currently free through March 2, 2016; Gogo is available for between $5 for one hour to $49.95 for one month of access.
Fun Fact: You can currently (but temporarily) stream Spotify and Netflix for free on those A320 aircraft.