Internet on an airplane: how much it costs and how to connect. How much does wifi cost on board an airplane? Comparing airline prices Is there Wi-Fi on planes?

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Today you can’t hide from wifi, you can’t hide, and if previously the last refuge of those tired of the Internet was on board an airplane, now airlines are increasingly offering their passengers access to wifi during the flight.

Personally, the lack of Internet on board an airplane never seemed like a big problem, much less a catastrophe, because an airplane is almost the only place, and not on the ground, but in the sky, where no one can disturb you via instant messenger or messages on social media. networks. But the fact remains that many people cannot live even an hour without the Internet. Let's compare the cost of access to wifi from different airlines; for correct comparisons, all prices are given in the same currency - euros. Aeroflot

: Russian airlines distinguished themselves by making different tariffs depending on whether you connect to wifi from a mobile phone or from a tablet. In the first case, the cost of wifi will be 4.5 euros per hour, but when connecting using a tablet, the cost increases to 9 euros per hour. Alitalia

: the cost of wifi from the national airline of Italy is 9.6 euros per hour, and if you decide to connect for three hours at once, then the cost of wifi drops to 21 euros for three hours of use. Air France

: for the French, the cost of wifi on board is higher than for the Italians; for an hour of Internet you will have to pay 10.95 euros, however, if you wish, you can buy access to wifi throughout the flight, such a package costs only 19.95 euros and allows use Internet services on board for 24 hours. Lufthansa

: if you buy access to wifi from Lufthansa for a day, then its cost is relatively humane - 17 euros, but an hour of Internet on board will cost you the standard 9 euros. Aer Lingus

: The Dutch airline Aer Lingus provides wifi free of charge for business class passengers; otherwise, for access to the World Wide Web during the flight you will have to pay 10.95 euros per hour or buy access to wifi for a day for 19.95 euros. United Airlines

: The world's largest air carrier, United Airlines, asks for 4.5 euros for hourly access to wifi; the cost of a day pass is 15.5 euros.: But Emirates airline has access to wifi on board - free for all passengers, however, if you are flying on an Airbus A350. On other planes of the airline, the cost of wifi is only $1 per hour, that is (compared to other airlines), one might say, almost for nothing.

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You can’t just go and install Wi-Fi; it’s complicated and expensive. It’s easier for those airlines that order new aircraft - the equipment can be installed in them at the factory.

In the vast majority of cases, except for very exotic ones, a Wi-Fi router with an open network (without encryption) is installed on the plane, the signal from which is available throughout the cabin. In large long-haul airliners, several antennas are also installed throughout the cabin.

Of course, this is not done “on the knee,” that is, we are talking about special equipment designed for a specific type of aircraft and certified by the manufacturer. It is also installed on a technical base that has a license to install such equipment, and is usually carried out simultaneously with other forms of maintenance, so as not to have to drive the plane back and forth.

It remains to figure out where to get the Internet itself, that is, the backbone channel.

Ground-to-air Internet

The first method of organizing a main channel is called Air-to-Ground, that is, “from air to ground.” This technology works in much the same way as regular mobile Internet on your smartphone, tablet or router. Base stations are installed on the ground, pointing upward - and you can use existing cell phone towers. On an airplane there is an antenna on the bottom, a modem inside, and that’s it. Wi-Fi works approximately the same way in the metro or in Sapsan.

The world's largest Air-to-Ground network operates in North America, it is called GoGo (aka AirCell). Only 200 or so base stations are enough to cover the entire territory of the United States and Canada, because practically nothing interferes with the propagation of the signal in the air.

Since the base stations are located at a distance of 10-12 km, the speed of the flying aircraft relative to the base station is low, and the effective coverage area of ​​one cell is several thousand square kilometers.

The network operates in the CDMA-2000 standard at a frequency of 850 MHz and uses EV-DO Rev.A and Rev.B technologies - roughly speaking, the same as our former Sky Link, only at other frequencies (total bandwidth - 4 MHz ). In Rev.A, the channel width is 3.1 Mbit/s per aircraft, in Rev.B - 9.6 Mbit/s.

That's not much by today's standards, but it's cheap: $5 an hour, $16 a day, and $60 a month for unlimited access on four major airlines. In the near future, the network will be switched to LTE, which will significantly increase access speeds.

The technology has exactly one drawback: it only works when flying over land, while on long transcontinental routes a significant part of the route lies over the ocean, where base stations cannot be installed.

Antenna for communication with ground base stations.

Satellite Internet

If access cannot be taken from the ground, then it must be taken from the sky. At an altitude of several hundred kilometers above the Earth there are satellites in geostationary orbits. Geostationary orbit means that the satellite rotates around the Earth at the same speed as the planet itself on its axis, so it appears to “hang” at the same point all the time, covering the entire continent. It is connected to the Earth through a ground station with directional antennas, and to the aircraft via antennas on the top of the fuselage.

Launching a satellite is a very complex science; if it does not enter the calculated orbit, it will move relative to a fixed point on Earth at one speed or another, and will become useless: such a satellite is considered lost.

Airbus A320 aircraft with satellite dish.

There are several different satellite providers that provide Internet access to aircraft passengers, the technology is generally the same for all, only the satellites and frequency bands used differ. The higher the frequency, the smaller the antenna can be and the higher the signal power can be, which means the signal-to-noise ratio and, ultimately, the data transfer rate.

Older systems use L-band (about 1.5 GHz) and the data transfer rate is 432 Kbps when using one channel and 864 when combining two (for the entire aircraft!). Such exoticism still unofficially operates on three Aeroflot aircraft, and access there is provided not via Wi-Fi, but through a base station with GSM/GPRS (not even EDGE).

Communication satellite ground stations.

However, in reality, the average speed is about 25 Mbit/s for the entire plane (with pings of about 500-1000 ms) and again, it is divided among all users on board, while satellite channels themselves are quite expensive. Therefore, providers limit access using economic methods.

Mobile Internet in the air is not a whim, but an urgent need for most air travelers now. But one careless connection can easily empty your wallet by $20-30, while you won’t even have time to go anywhere. But it turns out that you simply do not know how to control your Internet traffic. WiFi on board is expensive and slow, this stereotype is also widespread.

In the last couple of years, the situation in the market for wireless Internet access on board an aircraft has improved significantly, more and more airlines are offering Internet access at a very affordable tariff schedule, options are changing dynamically and becoming more flexible, and some airlines even offer mobile wireless Internet on board free and for everyone!

Today we’ll talk about WiFi on board an airplane, prices and, most importantly, rules of use and reasonable traffic consumption!

HOW WIFI WORKS ON BOARD

Air-to-Ground

You can’t just go and install Wi-Fi; it’s complicated and expensive. The first method of organizing a main channel is called Air-to-Ground, that is, “from air to ground.” Base stations are installed on the ground, pointing upward - and you can use existing cell phone towers. On an airplane there is an antenna on the bottom, a modem inside, and that’s it. The world's largest Air-to-Ground network operates in North America, it is called GoGo (aka AirCell). Only 200 or so base stations are enough to cover the entire territory of the United States and Canada, because practically nothing interferes with the propagation of the signal in the air. Since the base stations are located at a distance of 10-12 km, the speed of the flying aircraft relative to the base station is low, and the effective coverage area of ​​one cell is several thousand square kilometers.

The technology has exactly one drawback: it only works when flying over land, while on long transcontinental routes a significant part of the route lies over the ocean, where base stations cannot be installed. This is precisely why the technology has become most widespread in the United States.

Satellite Internet

The second method is satellite Internet. There are several different satellite providers that provide Internet access to aircraft passengers, the technology is generally the same for all, only the satellites and frequency bands used differ. The higher the frequency, the smaller the antenna can be and the higher the signal power can be, which means the signal-to-noise ratio and, ultimately, the data transfer rate. It works on a very simple principle: relay satellites fly in geostationary orbit (that is, conditionally stationary relative to the Earth), which are simultaneously connected to a ground station and aircraft. The coverage area of ​​each satellite can be measured in hundreds of thousands of square kilometers. Currently, direct providers of onboard Internet service typically lease capacity from satellite operators, working, for example, as distributors of Inmarsat Global Xpress and other existing satellite communications services.

It is quite logical that, under current conditions, mobile Internet access on board cannot cost the same as at home. And you and I cannot expect comparable Internet speeds, but some airlines offer access to WiFi on board for free, of course, for marketing reasons.

HOW MUCH DOES WI-FI COST ON BOARD?

This is one of the most current infographics showing the range of airlines and prices for mobile Internet in 2017. Of course, assessing the cost “expensive/cheap” is a subjective fact and not always true, but in general the picture looks exactly like this. The cost changes dynamically, so it makes no sense to provide charts with detailed figures. Yes, and I, as an air traveler who makes more than a hundred flights a year, rank for myself the cost of mobile Internet in categories free/adequate/expensive.

I’ll try to explain below what this means for me, and I’ll focus on the airlines that are closer to you and me.

FOR FREE

Among airlines that offer free WiFi on board, Norwegian is by far the leader. The Scandinavian network airline and long-haul low-cost carrier is the world's largest airline offering free internet to everyone.

Naturally, “free” means misuse by many, speed limits and other nuances.

EXPENSIVE

I consider all airlines that offer Internet with per-megabyte payment to be inadequately expensive. Megabytes are rapidly flying into the air along with tens of dollars from your account... After all, you are unlikely to have turned off automatic updates on your gadgets (and generally know what it is). This is exactly what those who create tariff plans with per-megabyte payment for traffic on board an aircraft need...

On average in the market, the cost of a traffic package up to 20 MB is $8-10, 50 MB - $12-15, 100 MB up to $20-30.

For example, once on a flight from New York to Madrid I received this voucher for 4 megabytes of free Internet.

Is FOUR megabytes a lot or a little? This is NOTHING in the modern world of smartphones! My smartphone has a lot of applications that are updated in the background and this update cannot be limited to one general switch; this one really annoys me in modern programs in general. For example, you can limit automatic background updates or program updates to only the wi-fi network, but on an airplane it will be a wi-fi network, but the cost of traffic is golden.

I unloaded all the programs, turned off background updates in the settings and pressed the treasured “start” button... went into Facebook messenger, wrote to my wife “hi, I’m writing from the plane,” received a short answer, sent a photo and never received an answer.. .4MB used. A package of 25MB costs $20, for example, on long-haul flights.

Here is a sad screenshot about the spent 4MB:

ADEQUATELY

The most optimal, predictable and convenient to use Internet tariff on board an aircraft is a time-based tariff (with a possible limitation of the maximum speed).

The most interesting offer in this segment are the airlines that are part of the Lufthansa Group, for example, Austrian Airlines and Lufthansa. The cost of mobile Internet differs on intra-European and long-haul flights.

Fares for intra-European flights:

FlyNet Message: 1 hour - 2 EUR (speed up to 150 kBit/s)
FlyNet Surf: 1 hour - 7 EUR (speed up to 600 kBit/s)
FlyNet Stream: 1 hour - 12 EUR (speed up to 15 MBit/s)

Fares for long-haul flights:

1h - 9 EUR
4h - 14 EUR
Full flight (up to 24 hours) - 17 EUR

But the most important thing about this model is that this tariff allows you to use mobile Internet on board even on two or three connecting flights during the day, the optimal approach for network airlines. You pay for an access package for a day and continue to use Wi-Fi automatically after the transfer!

On average in the market, 1 hour costs up to $6-10, 4 hours - up to $10-15, 12-24 hours - up to $20.

HOW TO CORRECTLY USE WI-FI ON BOARD

Important things to know before logging on to the network on board an aircraft:

Disable any automatic software and application updates
- disable synchronization of cloud data storages (Dropbox, Google Drive)
- install and configure a firewall for more precise control of the connection and, accordingly, traffic.
- do not use video services (YouTube) or video calls, disable automatic playback of videos on social networks.

I understand perfectly well that most users have no idea what traffic is, when both at home and on a mobile device you and I have constant and, in fact, unlimited access to the Internet. But, as you can see, it is careful preparation for the flight, even in such matters as access to the Internet on board, that can make this task the most optimal in terms of comfort and cost. You will get the highest channel speed exclusively for the tasks you need, and not for useless application synchronization (for example).

How much traffic will you use if for 1 hour I use:

Viber call - 14 MB
Podcasts - about 60MB
Web Browsing - about 60MB
FaceTime - about 85MB
Facebook - about 80MB
Music Streaming - about 150MB
Instagram - about 720MB

Enjoy your travels!
Fly more often!

I only look for cheap tickets with convenient filters for baggage availability in the tariff and much more here: Aviasales! Aviasales searches for flights everywhere, and you choose where to buy the most profitable ones. Honest, simple and transparent.

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Many people need access to the network constantly, almost around the clock, regardless of where they are - on the ground or in the sky. Whether you can use the Internet on airplanes depends on the specific carriers, but most often they provide such a service.

Many companies allow Wi-Fi on board

How does the Internet work on board?

The satellite dish installed on board is capable of picking up signals from cell towers on the ground, as well as from relay satellites flying in the sky. The tower system is called ATG (air-to-group). Connection to repeaters is required when the aircraft loses contact with towers on the ground, for example, while flying over the ocean. The repeaters have a range of hundreds of thousands of kilometers, so passengers will not be left without access to the network.

Satellite communications begin to work immediately after takeoff and climb to an altitude of 3000 km. Passengers can use satellite Internet throughout the flight.

However, not all carriers can provide passengers with free use of the Internet on the plane, because special equipment is very expensive. As an alternative, they offer watching videos or movies, as well as listening to music. But still, some carriers can afford such luxury on board.

Another interesting technology that airlines around the world are gradually starting to use is the Deep Packet Inspection system. This is a system capable of analyzing all packets that pass through it at the upper levels. It is capable of covering thousands of aircraft from hundreds of companies at one time. The technology allows you to determine which Internet sites are the most popular among users in order to “throw” the highest speed at them. This allows the speed not to be wasted on other resources, and allows users to stay on their favorite sites. Sites that pull the most traffic, such as online videos, are blocked to prevent other users from suffering from slow speeds.

Connection speed and connection quality

The ATG system is installed in most aircraft, however, it is not capable of providing good connection speed. In the USA, this technology operates at the border of 3 megahertz, which is very low for ordinary users. For comparison, the speed of the lowest-power home Wi-Fi is at least 20 megahertz. Wi-Fi on an airplane using such a system will be slower than regular mobile Internet.

More advanced and expensive airlines use a satellite system called Ku band, which allows them to reach speeds of 50 megahertz. But there is a problem here too. Taking into account the fact that a huge number of people connect to the satellite at the same time, surfing the Internet becomes problematic, since the connection speed is significantly reduced.

The most innovative and progressive airlines are gradually introducing the so-called Ka-band system, which gives speeds of hundreds of megabytes per second. This technology allows you to watch videos, listen to music and even conduct online broadcasts at maximum load in the cabin. But you should understand that the technology is quite expensive, as are the plane tickets that use it.

How much does it cost to connect to wi-fi on an airplane?

On some planes, Wi-Fi is already included in the ticket price, while on others it is available for an additional fee. The amount of payment depends on what tariff is chosen and how much the company spends on maintaining the technology.

How to pay and connect

Payment and connection are carried out differently on different aircraft, but almost all have the following system:

1. When the plane takes off, the flight attendant tells you how to connect to the Internet.
2. Equipment installed on board “remembers” how much traffic each passenger needed.
3. Before boarding, the Internet is turned off, and the cost of connection is debited from the passenger’s card.

If the cabin operates differently, you will be notified immediately before takeoff or during check-in.

Which Russian and foreign airlines provide Internet on board?

Not all airlines are yet ready to provide passengers with an Internet connection, but some can. So, which airlines have access to the network:

1. Aeroflot offers Internet access on absolutely all flights. You can pay for the service on board using a bank transfer. Connection costs up to $40 for 180 minutes. Those who need the Internet for 15 minutes can connect for $5. If this is not enough for the passenger, he can buy each subsequent MB of traffic for $1.
2. Virgin America and AirTran Airways provide internet on all aircraft.
3. American Airlines also allows you to connect to the Internet, but not on all flights, but only on 80% of them.
4. Lufthansa, Oman Air and Qatar Airways provide internet on only 25% of flights, and on those it is available mainly in business class.

The following foreign airlines also provide Internet access: AirAsia, Air Berlin, Air France-KLM, British Airways, Cebu Pacific, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Ryanai, Vietnam Airlines.

But S7 Airlines, which is the leader in Russia right after Aeroflot, has not yet equipped its aircraft with equipment for Internet access, although many passengers are asking for it. In the cabin, you can use a special airline application to watch entertaining videos, but the Internet is not yet available to users. Wireless connectivity is available at all airports that the company serves, so you can get online right before your flight.

So, Internet on a plane is available on many airlines, but not all. In addition, in most cases this service is paid and quite expensive, so you should think about the advisability of using it in advance.

When going on vacation or on a business trip, more and more people want to stay in touch online. When flying on an aircraft, many people wonder: is there Internet on the plane?

Gradually, both Wi-Fi and mobile Internet are becoming commonplace. Unfortunately, the quality of communication is at a rather low level, although these technologies are also gradually developing. In fact, the answer to the question - is it possible to use the Internet on an airplane depends directly on whether an Internet connection system is installed on board or not.

The very first company to introduce access technology was Boeing in the 90s of the 20th century. But due to low demand for this service in those years, the company had to abandon it.

In the United States, on-board Wi-Fi technology became the most widespread in the world by 2016. It continues to gain momentum in European countries. The access point is located inside the aircraft cabin, allowing your laptop to connect wirelessly, and the aircraft's transmitters communicate via radio waves with a satellite or ground station. It depends on the service provider.

Russian airlines and Internet access

In Russia, the pioneers were the Aeroflot company with the installed Megafon on-board equipment. And access to the network was provided by the Swiss company SITA OnAir.

Since 2011, passengers have been able to use mobile Internet using GPRS technology. But the cost of the tariff was considerable - 44 rubles per 100 KB of traffic, so it was used exclusively by wealthy clients.

Lately, airlines have not risked rushing to install this equipment, because installation and connection of 1 aircraft costs at least $1 million, although they admit that the question “does there Wi-Fi on planes” is one of the three most asked questions when choosing airlines and buying a ticket . Based on this, Transaero plans to equip more than 30 aircraft with Wi-Fi technology, but does not specify an exact date.

Cost of Wi-Fi on board

The cost of connecting to this service varies and depends on the type of aircraft and the air carrier, so it is worth checking the tariff when purchasing a ticket. Some companies provide access to the Internet completely free of charge, and some may offer pricing per flight, per day or per hour.

Since September 2016, the Russian company Aeroflot has introduced new tariffs for accessing the Internet via Wi-Fi. Let's look at the main changes.

1. The cost has been halved. For example, for a 10 MB package previously you had to pay 10 dollars, but now it’s no more than 5 dollars.
2. The highest price was introduced for the tariff valid during the entire flight - $50 for 150 MB.
3. An innovation is a free package that gives you the opportunity to access the World Wide Web in just 5 minutes, and the amount of traffic should not exceed 5 MB.
4. Along with these improvements, an additional time limit was approved. Now, to use the purchased traffic, the passenger is given only 15 minutes, and not the entire flight time, as before.