Airplane Wi-Fi – How It Works, Airline Availability, Fees & More

Key Takeaways

• Airplane Wi-Fi operates via satellite or air-to-ground (ATG) systems, which use cell towers.
• Satellites communicate with ground stations, which then relay signals to the aircraft. They have better coverage over open water but can be slower.
• Airlines partner with providers such as Gogo or Viasat. Pricing is often based on flight duration or subscription plans.

It wasn’t long ago that you’d board a plane and be entirely unreachable, with nothing to do but switch off and enjoy a good book, snooze, watch the inflight entertainment system, or get to know your neighbors.

But in today’s digitally demanding age, many airlines are introducing onboard Wi-Fi so passengers can share their trips on social media and business travelers can use their flight time productively.

When airplane Wi-Fi was first introduced around a decade ago, it was expensive and slow, with just enough bandwidth to satisfy a few laptops or Blackberry phones. However, with the surge in smart device ownership, airlines are now exploring and implementing more advanced technology to improve connectivity.

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How Airplane Wi-Fi Works

There are 2 types of operating systems for airplane Wi-Fi: air-to-ground (ATG) which bounces signals off ground-based cell towers, and satellite Wi-Fi, which uses signals from satellites orbiting the earth.

Air-to-Ground Wi-Fi

Air-to-ground, or ATG, is the same operating system that provides Wi-Fi to your home or mobile devices. Your mobile device or wireless router receives and transmits radio signals through its antenna to and from ground-based cell towers. An antenna on the underside of an airplane’s body receives and transmits signals to and from these cell towers. As the aircraft moves, these signals switch from one available cell tower to the next.

The limitation of ATG is that there are few or no cell towers in remote areas of land or large expanses of water, such as oceans. This makes this type of connection only suitable for land travel, with the expectation of some dead zones here and there.

Wi-Fi speed is slow with an ATG connection, around 3Mbps, so it’s suitable for checking emails or messaging apps but wouldn’t hold up against bandwidth-intensive actions such as streaming or uploading files.

Satellite Wi-Fi

With satellite operating systems, ground-based units transmit signals to satellites in orbit, relaying the signal to the airplane. This system allows for better connections where no cell tower coverage is present, such as over large expanses of water. However, because of the distance the signals must travel, there can be latency issues, which can still affect Wi-Fi speed.

Ku-Band and Ka-Band are 2 types of satellite operating systems. Ku-Band uses 12 to 18 GHz, and Ka-Band uses 26.5 to 40 GHz. The higher the frequency, generally, the higher the available bandwidth.

Ku-Band

Ku-Band speed improves on ATG connections at around 30 to 40Mbps, but satellite signals are shared with other airplanes, so bandwidth reduction may occur depending on airspace concentration.

Although it’s not the fastest Wi-Fi available, it is the most consistent. Hundreds of Ku-Band satellites orbit Earth, so the airplane’s antenna is more likely to maintain a signal. This bandwidth, when potentially split across many users, is generally not up to the job of streaming content.

Providers such as Gogo, Panasonic, and Global Eagle Entertainment (now part of Viasat) provide connectivity to airlines using Ku-Band.

Ka-Band

Ka-Band provides the most advanced high-speed satellite Wi-Fi, boasting up to 80Mbps per airplane. However, there are significantly fewer Ka-Band satellites in orbit, giving them smaller geographical coverage, so it’s only suitable for some airlines.

JetBlue, American Airlines, and United Airlines offer high-speed Wi-Fi for routes over the contiguous U.S., whereas availability for other routes may vary.

Although many Ku-Band providers purchase bandwidth from various satellite owners, Viasat (a provider of Ka-Band) owns 4 satellites, with more planned for launch in the coming years. Additional satellites will increase coverage throughout the world, so this should be a real game-changer for Viasat, if successful.

Currently, over 1,400 commercial aircraft flying in the U.S. use Viasat’s satellite inflight Wi-Fi. But airlines consider which provider will suit their needs (e.g., domestic U.S. route coverage versus international), with some opting for hybrid Ka-Band and Ku-Band receivers to provide widespread coverage. Of course, this comes at a cost.

Onboard Wi-Fi Installation

Airplane manufacturers place an antenna for satellite Wi-Fi systems within a dome-shaped container on top of the airplane. Over time, these antennas have been designed to be more aerodynamic, producing less drag and, therefore, using less fuel.

Older antennas had to face the direction of the signal, and a somewhat cumbersome gimbal was used to provide rotation and tilt. Newer antennas are streamlined and can receive and transmit signals without moving, which saves airlines tens of thousands of dollars in annual fuel costs.

For ATG systems, there are usually a couple of antennas on the underside of the aircraft and sometimes side antennas to receive and transmit signals to and from ground cell towers.

These signals are processed by an onboard modem and distributed to passenger devices through wireless access points, or WAPs, with 1 WAP required for approximately every 50 passengers.

Airline Wi-Fi Availability and Fees

U.S. Airlines

Alaska Airlines

Most of Alaska Airlines‘ aircraft, including all Airbus aircraft, have been upgraded with the Gogo 2Ku satellite. Currently, Alaska lists only the Boeing 737-700 and Embraer E175 as aircraft without faster satellite Wi-Fi.

This improved Wi-Fi has 20 times more bandwidth, enabling passengers to stream content, and is available from the departure gate to the arrival gate.

If you find yourself on a flight that has yet to be upgraded, you still have Gogo ATG4 basic inflight internet, which is good for checking emails, social media, and browsing.

Satellite Wi-Fi is available everywhere except flights above the Arctic Circle in Alaska. Basic Wi-Fi is available everywhere except when flying to Hawaii, Mexico, Costa Rica, or parts of Alaska.

Alaska has announced that they are expanding their partnership with Starlink to offer ultrafast streaming Wi-Fi to Atmos Rewards members. This rollout is starting in early 2026 and continuing through 2027.

Hot Tip:

T-Mobile customers on eligible plans (Magenta and Magenta MAX) and Sprint customers on eligible plans (Sprint ONE and Sprint MAX) can receive free Wi-Fi on many Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United flights.

Alaska Airlines Wi-Fi Fees

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Option	Fee	Details
Inflight messaging	Free	Works with iMessage, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp
Flight duration	$8	Available for purchase on board; pricing on Boeing 737 aircraft varies
Monthly pass	$5 per month with annual commitment	Alaska offers monthly Wi-Fi vouchers with Alaska Access. Eligible T-Mobile customers may also receive free Wi-Fi on Alaska flights.
Annual pass	$599 per year	Automatic annual renewal unless canceled; Alaska Airlines Atmos Rewards Titanium elites can now choose this as one of their Choice Benefit perks

Allegiant Airlines

Allegiant Airlines does not currently offer Wi-Fi on any of its flights.

American Airlines

American Airlines has a direct Wi-Fi subscription plan for North American flights with rates starting at $49.95 per month.

Depending on whether you’re flying on a narrow- or wide-bodied aircraft outside of North America, American currently uses 3 different Wi-Fi providers. Some of the unlimited Wi-Fi packages are not compatible across all services.

All of American’s narrow-bodied aircraft are now equipped with high-speed satellite Wi-Fi provided by either Gogo or Viasat. Its wide-bodied aircraft uses Panasonic satellite Wi-Fi. Providers for individual aircraft models are featured below, with any model not mentioned using the older Gogo services or providing no Wi-Fi at all.

• Gogo 2Ku on around 75% of its Airbus A319s, all A320s, and Boeing 757s that operate to Hawaii
• Viasat on the remaining 25% of its Airbus A319s, all A321s, all Boeing 757-800s, and Max 8s
• Panasonic on the Airbus A330-200/300, Boeing 757-200, 767-300, 777-200ER/300ER, and the 787-8/9

American Airlines Wi-Fi Fees

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Option	Fee	Details
Monthly American Airlines plan	$49.95	1 device
Monthly American Airlines plan	$59.95	2 devices
Viasat 1-hour pass	$12	Valid for 1 hour of continuous use from activation
Viasat flight duration pass	$16	Valid for the flight duration
Panasonic 2-hour pass	$12	Valid for 2 hours of continuous use from activation
Panasonic 4-hour pass	$17	Valid for 4 hours of continuous use from activation
Panasonic flight duration pass	$19	Valid for the flight duration

American Airlines and AT&T are partnering to provide complimentary Wi-Fi to AAdvantage members on all aircraft equipped with Viasat and Intelsat high-speed satellite connectivity starting in January 2026. This accounts for about 90% of the American Airlines fleet.

Hot Tip:

To check if your flight has high-speed satellite Wi-Fi, look for the icon on the flight results page, which is a Wi-Fi icon with a clock dial. 

Avelo Airlines

As a no-frills budget carrier, Avelo Airlines does not offer Wi-Fi on any of their flights. None of their planes are equipped with Wi-Fi, so make sure you download or bring your own entertainment if you are flying Avelo.

Breeze Airways

Breeze Airways offers Wi-Fi powered by Viasat on all its A220 planes. You can purchase Wi-Fi with a credit card, flight credits, or BreezePoints. There are also a few ways that you can get complimentary Wi-Fi. One is if you purchase the Nicer or Nicest bundles when you buy your ticket. Breeze Visa cardholders also receive complimentary Wi-Fi on board.

Breeze Airways Wi-Fi Fees

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Option	Fee	Details
Inflight messaging	Free	Works with iMessage, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp
Wi-Fi	$8	On aircraft where Wi-Fi is available; complimentary for Breeze credit cardholders and with the Nicer or Nicest fare bundle.

Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines was among the first to offer complimentary Wi-Fi, with the service available on almost all of its flights. As with other airlines, Delta has been upgrading its aircraft to offer high-speed satellite Wi-Fi that can now be found on the following aircraft:

• Boeing 737 and B757 aircraft
• All Airbus A321ceos, A321neo, A320, A319 and A223, as well as all A221 aircraft
• Delta is rolling out Wi-Fi on its regional jets and Boeing 717 aircraft

Delta Air Lines Wi-Fi Fees

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Option	Fee	Details
Inflight messaging	Free	Works with iMessage, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp
Wi-Fi	Free	On aircraft where Wi-Fi is available; complimentary for Sky Miles members

Frontier Airlines

As of 2025, Frontier Airlines does not currently offer Wi-Fi on its flights. However, Frontier has recently announced that it is exploring adding inflight Wi-Fi for its planes. For now, however, you need to plan your own entertainment if you are flying Frontier.

Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines signed a deal with Starlink to provide Wi-Fi to its customers, free of charge. Starlink internet is now available on all A330 and A321neo aircraft.

Wi-Fi is available on flights between Hawaii and the continental U.S. and on flights to international destinations.

JetBlue

JetBlue offers Wi-Fi free of charge for all passengers. This high-speed Wi-Fi is called Fly-Fi and supplied by Viasat.

Through an Amazon partnership, passengers can stream content through their Amazon Prime account, or nonmembers can purchase content to stream. Passengers also earn 3 TrueBlue points for every eligible $1 spent on inflight purchases from Amazon.

Fly-Fi is available on most flights operating throughout the contiguous U.S. JetBlue’s Airbus A320 and A321neo aircraft also offer expanded coverage over much of the Caribbean and Central America. Its Airbus A321LR aircraft offers expanded coverage to and from London.

JetBlue’s Fly-Fi has been praised for providing speeds similar to those achievable on the ground. It’s also one of the most widely accessible connections available from gate to gate and from any altitude, though some services are only available above 10,000 feet.

Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines offers a flat fee of $8 daily for Wi-Fi access across multiple flights. The service is free for Southwest’s A-List Preferred members.

» Related: Southwest Adds Power Outlets, Upgraded Wi-Fi, Other Enhancements

Although Southwest uses a high-speed Ku-band connection, the airline blocks access to bandwidth-hungry websites and apps such as Max, Netflix, and VoIP.

Southwest Wi-Fi Fees

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Option	Fee	Details
Inflight messaging	Free	Works with iMessage and WhatsApp
Flight duration	$8	Available on all Southwest flights Free for Southwest’s A-List Preferred members

Spirit Airlines

Spirit Airlines offers Wi-Fi on nearly all the routes it flies, and it plans to continue enhancing the service over the next year by adding multiple-device plans, gate-to-gate coverage, and more.

In keeping with the airline’s brand, the service is relatively low-cost and dependent on the flight length. Free Spirit Gold elite members and Spirit First passengers get complimentary Wi-Fi.

Spirit Airlines Wi-Fi Fees

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Option	Fee
Browsing	From $5.99	Lower speeds; browse, chat, use email and social media
Streaming	From $7.99	Speeds 20x faster than the browsing option; stream, browse, and chat

United Airlines

United Airlines has several Wi-Fi providers across its fleet of aircraft:

• Gogo on the Embraer 170, Embraer 175, Bombardier CRJ-700/550
• Panasonic on the select Airbus 319, Airbus 320, select Boeing 757-200/300, 767-300ER/400ER, 777-200/200ER/300ER, 787-8/9/10
• Thales on the 737-700/800/900, 737-900ER, and select 757-300s
• Viasat on select Airbus 319, select Boeing 737-900, Boeing 757-200 with premium transcontinental service, and 737 MAX 9
• Starlink Wi-Fi on select flights

» Related: The Complete Guide to United’s Inflight Wi-Fi Service [2025]

United Airlines Wi-Fi Fees

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Option	Fee	Details
Inflight messaging	Free	Available on some Wi-Fi-equipped aircraft and works with iMessage, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp
Starlink Wi-Fi	Free	Available on some flights for MileagePlus members
Standard Wi-Fi on U.S. domestic and short-haul international flights	$8, or 1,600 miles for MileagePlus members and $10 for everyone else	Includes flights to Mexico and Canada
Standard Wi-Fi on longer flights	Varies on route and flight duration	All other flights
Standard Wi-Fi for T-Mobile customers	Free	Eligible T-Mobile customers get unlimited Wi-Fi, texting and streaming on most domestic and international United flights
North America monthly pass	$49 or 7,500 MileagePlus miles per month	Monthly unlimited use on North American Wi-Fi-equipped flights
Global monthly pass	$69 or 10,5000 MileagePlus miles per month	Monthly unlimited use on North American and international Wi-Fi-equipped flights

Hot Tip:

For premium transcontinental services, you can check which Wi-Fi provider is on board by searching for your flight in the United app and checking in the amenities section. This information is available 48 hours before the flight departs.

U.S. Airline Wi-Fi Subscriptions

Many major U.S. airlines offer Wi-Fi subscriptions for frequent flyers, usually monthly or annual. This is great if you fly regularly with the same airline, but these subscriptions are not valid across multiple airlines.

American Airlines offers a direct Wi-Fi subscription plan for North American flights starting at $49.95 monthly.

United Airlines offers monthly and annual subscription plans starting at $49 that provide access across multiple Wi-Fi providers. Passengers can buy a North and Central American or global subscription.

iPass Subscriptions

iPass provides access to millions of Wi-Fi hot spots across 180 countries and includes inflight Wi-Fi. iPass is marketed at companies rather than individuals, so if you’re lucky enough to have an account through your employer, you have Wi-Fi access with select airlines.

It partners with Gogo, Deutsche Telekom, and Panasonic to provide Wi-Fi on more than 4,000 aircraft (including domestic and international routes), but some passengers have reported difficulties gaining access with some providers and airlines.

For a while, a couple of companies offered subscriptions to iPass for $10 per month, like US Mobile, which proved so popular it’s now on a waitlist.

International Airline Wi-Fi Fees

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Airline	Fee
Aer Lingus	A330 and A321neoLR Prices range from about $3.99 to about $24.99 depending on the length and speed of the connection Complimentary for business class passengers and AerClub Concierge members
Aeroflot	A350 Messaging: $4.90 1 hour: $8.90 3 hours: $16.90 Entire flight: $24.90 A330 and Boeing 777 Messaging (5MB): $4.99 Medium (35MB): $19.99 Large (200MB): $59.99
Aeromexico	Free messaging with iMessage, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp only. Cost of Wi-Fi varies based on route and flight duration
Air Canada	Wi-Fi is complimentary from gate to gate on flights within North America and to Sun destinations for Aeroplan members. Aeroplan is also planning to roll out free Wi-Fi on long-haul international flights in 2026.
Air China	Free
Air France and KLM	Message pass Free messaging with iMessage, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp only Surf pass Short-haul flights: about $3 (€3) for flight duration Medium-haul flights: about $5 (€5) for flight duration Long-haul flights: 1 hour about $8 (€8), flight duration about $18 (€18) Stream pass Long-haul flights: about $33 (€30) for flight duration
Air New Zealand	Free Wi-Fi for all passengers on selected Wi-Fi-enabled aircraft
All Nippon Airways	30 minutes: $4.95 (15MB limit) 1 hour: $8.95 (30MB limit) Flight duration: $19.95 (100MB limit) OR 30 minutes: $6.95 (no limit) 3 hours: $16.95 (no limit) Flight duration: $21.95 (no limit) Free for first class passengers
Asiana Airlines	1 hour: $11.95, 3 hours: $16.95, unlimited use: $21.95
Austrian Airlines	FlyNet Messaging: about $3 (€3) FlyNet Surf: about $5 (€5) flights less than 90 minutes about $7 (€7) flights 90 or more minutes FlyNet Stream: about $10 (€10) flights less than 90 min about $12 (€12) flights 90 or more minutes
British Airways	Short-haul flights Messaging: about $2.25 to $3.50 (£1.99 to £2.99) Browse and stream: about $5.50 to $14 (£4.99 to £11.99) Long-haul flights Messaging: about $3.50 to $6 (£2.99 to £4.99) Browse and stream: about $6 to $25 (£4.99 to £21.99) Wi-Fi is available on 90% of British Airways flights; cost depends on the duration of the flight
Cathay Pacific	Free Wi-Fi for business class passengers, Gold and Diamond elite members 1 hour on any flight: $9.95 Flight durations under 6 hours: $12.95 Flight durations over 6 hours: $19.95
China Airlines	15MB: $3.25, 1 hour: $11.95, 3 hours: $16.95, 24 hours: $21.95
China Eastern	Free Wi-Fi for first class passengers, chargeable for other passengers
El Al	Free messaging with iMessage, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp only Basic plan (browsing, emails, and short videos up to 3 minutes)Europe: flight duration $3.99North America: flight duration $5.99 Social plan (streaming and VPN access) Europe: flight duration short-haul $6.99, flight duration long-haul $9.99North America: flight duration $14.99  Business plan (streaming and VPN access)Europe: flight duration short-haul $12.99, flight duration long-haul $99.99North America: flight duration $24.99
Emirates	Unlimited messaging with iMessage, Facebook Messenger, and WhatsApp only for $2.99 to $5.99 depending on the length of the flight 30 minutes: $9.99Flight duration: $9.99 to $19.99 depending on the length of the flight Free Wi-Fi for Blue, Silver, Gold, or Platinum Skywards members traveling in first and business, or Gold and Platinum Skywards members traveling in economy
Etihad	Free for first class passengers and Etihad Guest Platinum member Chat: $1.99, 1 hour: $6.99, 6 hours: $15.99, 24 hours: $29.99
EVA Air	30MB: $4.95, 100MB: $14.95, 300MB: $29.95, unlimited: $39.95
Finnair	Within Europe and the Middle East Business class: Free for 30 minutes, then €4.95 to €6.95 for browsing and €9.95 to €12.95 for streaming All other classes: €4.95 to €6.95 for browsing and €9.95 to €12.95 for streaming Within Finland, Scandinavia, and Baltic Countries Business class: Free for 30 minutes, then €4.95 for browsing and €9.95 for streaming All other classes: €4.95 for browsing and €9.95 for streaming To and From Asia North America, Havana, Puerto Plata Business class: 1 free hour, €7.95 to €19.95 after All other classes: €7.95 to €19.95
Garuda Indonesia	Free Wi-Fi for first class passengers Free messaging available on A330-300/200/900Neo Boeing 777-300 ER and Airbus 330-900neo 50MB: $11.95, 150MB: $16.95, 250MB: $21.95
Hainan Airlines	Free Wi-Fi (no information disclosed on usage limits)
Iberia	A330-200 and A350: high-speed Wi-Fi 1 hour (40MB:) about $10 (€8.99) 3 hours (100MB:) about $22 (€19.99) Flight duration (200MB:) about $33 (€29.99) A340-600 and A300-300: standard Wi-Fi 4MB: about $6 (€4.95) 10MB: about $11 (€9.95) 25MB: about $22 (€19.95) 45MB: about $39 (€34.95)
Japan Airlines	Domestic Flights Free International Routes 1 hour: $10.152 4 hours: $18.80 10% discount when paying with the JAL USA CARD
Lufthansa	Short- and medium-haul FlyNet Mail and Surf: about $3 (€3) on flights less than 1 hour about $5 (€5) on flights 1 to 2 hours about $7 (€7) on flights longer than 2 hours Short- and medium-haul FlyNet Stream: about $7 (€7) on flights less than 1 hour about $10 (€10) on flights 1 to 2 hours about $12 (€12) on flights longer than 2 hours Long-haul FlyNet chat: about $7 (€7) FlyNet mail and surf: about $17 (€17) FlyNet mail and surf plus: about $29 (€29)
Malaysia Airlines	Messaging (10MB): $2. Social (50MB): $10, Business (200 MB): $25, Available on the A350
Norwegian Air	Free for all passengers to use for browsing, email, and messaging 3 hours of premium access to faster Wi-Fi for $14.95
Philippine Airlines	30MB free for economy passengers, 100MB free for business class passengers, 100MB extra: $5
Qantas	Available and free on selected domestic flights only
Qatar Airways	Free for the first 30 to 60 minutes (depending on the flight) and $10 to $20 to extend for the flight duration
SAS	Domestic and Scandinavian flights: $7European flights: $7Flights to/from Asia and the U.S.: $19
Singapore Airlines	100MB free for Suites and first class passengers, 30MB free for business class passengers and PPS Club Members, Other passengers or for extended use: 5MB: $5.99, 10MB: $9.99, $0.15 per additional 100KB over the data plan
TAP Air Portugal	Between Europe and North and South America, on board the A330 fleet: 4MB: $4.99, 14MB: $14.99, 50MB: $45, free messaging on the Neo fleet
Virgin Atlantic	40MB: about $6 (£4.99), 150MB: about $19 (£14.99) Unlimited data (on A330s, A340s, and 747s:) about $19 (£14.99) Messaging pass (on A330s, A340s, and 747s:) about $4 (£2.99)
WestJet	The cost of Wi-Fi varies depending on the destination and length of the flight.

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How To Save on Airplane Wi-Fi

Several credit cards offer free or discounted airplane Wi-Fi. These cards all have annual fees and aren’t worth getting for this benefit alone, but if you’re choosing between cards, this may swing the balance in favor of one over another.

• Citi® / AAdvantage® Business™ World Elite Mastercard®: Receive 25% off American Airlines inflight Wi-Fi when purchased with this credit card, valid on Wi-Fi passes for Gogo, Viasat, or Panasonic services, and Wi-Fi subscriptions.
• Southwest Performance Business card: Southwest’s Wi-Fi costs $8 per day, and cardholders receive this amount back in statement credits when the Wi-Fi is purchased with this credit card. Cardholders are credited a maximum of 365 $8 credits in 1 year, so even if you flew daily with Southwest, you would still receive free Wi-Fi! Just note this perk expires after December 31, 2025.

Final Thoughts

Ground-based businesses have long seen the benefits of offering free Wi-Fi to their customers, as the marketing exposure of a shared Instagram photo far outweighs the operational costs. Airplanes are one of the few places where you still have to pay to access Wi-Fi, but free access is trending, as JetBlue, Delta, and Hawaiian Airlines all offer complimentary Wi-Fi.

With technical developments in streamlining airplane antennas and decreasing operational costs for fuel consumption, the savings can hopefully be passed on to passengers across the board.