How to get free Wi-Fi on your next flight

For anyone who had to rely on inflight Wi-Fi, you probably already know just how painful this can be. Not only that the connection can be extremely slow and unreliable, but it’s also anything but cheap. So, what happens when you have an important deadline you cannot miss and a long flight ahead of you?

Are there any options that you choose which will allow you to use Wi-Fi free of charge? Today, we’ll take a look at some of the best options you can choose from, thus saving you a lot of time and helping you avoid frustration during your flight. Here are some of the ways in which you can get free Wi-Fi during your next trip.

Be careful about the airline you choose

Most travelers look at things such as prices and available luggage space when searching for a flight, but if access to free Wi-Fi ranks high on your list of demands, be sure to take it into consideration. Certain airlines such as Delta Air Lines offer free internet to their passengers, but only if you take membership in their SkyMiles program.

When it comes to carriers that offer free Wi-Fi to all passengers, the only one that stands out in the United States is JetBlue. In recent news, Hawaiian Airlines became another carrier that planned to offer free Wi-Fi during their flights, but we should wait for a couple of months and see whether or not that will become reality.

On the other hand, you can try international carriers

When it comes to international airlines, there are several options for you to choose from. Some of the most popular include Qantas, Nok Air, Air New Zealand or Shanghai Airlines. So, if you plan to visit foreign countries where these carriers operate most frequently, you should take them into consideration.

However, our advice would be to pay attention to the small letters and special conditions that may apply if you pick any of these airlines. For instance, free Wi-Fi may be limited to specific types of planes such as Boeing 737, or only guaranteed for the first 100 people who book a particular flight. Also, the use of free Wi-Fi may be time limited to half an hour or 15 minutes, after which you will have to pay in order to keep using it.

Use some of your credit card perks

When it comes to credit cards, there are a lot of options that offer perks in form of welcome bonuses that can be used for in-flight Wi-Fi or through credit reimbursements. Without question, some credit cards are better than others when it comes to these additional bonuses, so for example, Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card offers reimbursements in amounts of $8 for in-flight purchases.

We are perfectly aware that additional perks aren’t the first thing that comes to mind when choosing your next credit card, but it’s something to think about nonetheless if free Wi-Fi is high on your list of priorities.

Rely on your mobile provider

Certain mobile providers such as T-Mobile offer specific premium subscription plans that include the use of free Wi-Fi. Naturally, you will have to stick to certain airlines, but fortunately, that includes some of the most popular options out there like Alaska Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines. Now, this option is not exactly free, as you have to pay for your mobile plan, but it’s a nice per to have.

While most of the premium mobile plans cover this option, you also have some more affordable plans from which to choose, such as Sprint ONE, Everything Data Share as well as T-Mobile’s Magenta and their pre-paid plans. However, most of the more affordable plans cover up to four flights a year, as well as one additional hour per flight for future costs. No matter which option you choose, make sure to log in on the carrier’s Wi-Fi by imputing your phone number, and you will be good to go.