Purchasing In-Flight WiFi

Just 10 years ago, being able to while away the hours on a flight by browsing the Internet was nothing but a weary traveler’s pipe dream. Now, in-flight WiFi is not only in existence, but growing fast, so most major airlines have at least a portion of their planes equipped with this magical feature.

Although it will be some time before in-flight WiFi is universal, keep an eye out for it the next time you pick up your boarding pass — it could mean the difference between happily reading blog posts and watching cat videos or trying not to lose your mind surrounded by crying babies and snoring adults.

United Airlines

The airline is currently in the process of installing United WiFi on its full line of aircraft, but passengers on select flights can buy into it right now. To determine if a United flight offers WiFi, you can check the in-flight amenities tab on the Flight Status & Information page for an upcoming flight, look for the WiFi logo on the side of the plane as you board or ask a member of the flight crew.

If you purchase United WiFi, you can check email, use previously downloaded apps or browse the Internet while flying. WiFi is available on domestic and international flights, and pricing varies, depending on the length of the flight from take-off to landing. On flights with DIRECTV, Internet pricing is a fixed, per-hour rate that ends when you disconnect.

Delta Air Lines

Delta has a few options for enjoying Internet goodness while cruising among the clouds. Passengers can still access some free content on Delta Connect, such as shopping deals and breaking news.

The airline also offers passengers the option to connect smartphones with a WiFi Mobile Pass, which start at a rate of $1.95. With the pass, travelers can send and receive mobile messages via apps like Apple iMessage, Blackberry Messenger, WhatsApp, Google Hangouts and Facebook Messenger, as well as check emails and browse the web.

You can also buy a Gogo Internet session to get full Internet access in-flight. To use Gogo, purchase a Delta WiFi Pass before you go, or through Delta Connect once onboard.

JetBlue

JetBlue’s Fly-Fi hooks passengers up to all things Internet, and the airline plans to equip its entire fleet with the feature in the near future.

While JetBlue is in its beta period for the WiFi feature, its basic web-browsing plan, Simply Surf, is currently free, with a high-bandwidth plan available for purchase. Also, services for bandwidth-heavy applications, like streaming movies, can be purchased on JetBlue’s Fly-Fi Plus plan at a rate of $9 per hour. Fly-Fi is currently available only over the contiguous United States..