Are you planning a summer vacation, but are worrying about the cost of staying online whilst flying?
Whether you want to binge-watch your favorite shows, stay in touch with family, or catch up on work there are plenty of options out there for people who need to stay online.
From one hour to the full flight, from messaging to streaming, most of these airlines offer multiple options for their passengers. So depending on what type of internet you need, you can always find the best package and at the best price as well.
To help you find the best deal, we’ve collected and analyzed the data for 42 of the most popular airlines around the world, ensuring that you have as much information as possible for your next flight.
We’ve created four price comparison tables, so you can pick what’s best for you/suits your needs:
- Full flight Internet packages
- Limited Internet packages
- Streaming/entertainment packages
- Messaging-only packages
The top ten most affordable airlines for an internet package for the whole flight
For those looking to purchase an internet package for the whole flight, prices vary from CA$6.17 to CA$69.26 which is a huge difference of CA$63.09 depending on the airline you are flying with.
This wide price range indicates that some airlines will offer faster internet speeds, which is why it’s important to do your research before you fly, particularly if you need to be on an important business call when up in the air.
If you are looking for a more budget friendly option, the average price of an internet package for a full flight is CA$34.42. Which means that out of our 42 airlines that we researched, there are 12 that are cheaper than the average, and therefore more affordable.
For a limited time on the internet these are the best airlines
Most airlines offer different internet packages depending on what people are looking for.
This could vary from short haul flights that are only an hour or two, to long haul flights. The majority of the flights we looked at, offer internet packages of 30 minutes to one hour as the minimum.
Two airlines (Aer Lingus and Swiss International Air Lines) offer a WiFi package up to four hours, whilst Etihad Airways’ package is for under seven hours. The rest are two hours or less.
If you only need the internet for a short amount of time on your flight, then the average price is CA$17.26. This means that out of the 42 airlines we looked at, there are 15 that are below the average and therefore more affordable.
The price does vary though, from CA$5.53 to CA$55.45, so that’s a whopping difference of CA$49.92!
Airlines that offer the most affordable streaming internet packages
*available on purchase
Most airports will offer a selection of good films and tv shows to watch, but in this day and age, having the option to watch a wider selection of entertainment on your own device.
With this in mind, a few airlines (not all) do offer the option of purchasing a streaming package. Two had publicly available data, whilst the others are only available once a ticket has been purchased.
The average cost to stream on an airline is around CA$22.18! And whilst there are only two airlines that have shared how much it would cost to purchase a streaming package, the prices do differ greatly – the cheapest one is CA$9.70 and the other is CA$34.67, a difference of CA$24.97!
These are the best airlines for those looking to only send messages whilst flying
If your main priority is to just send a message whilst flying, then this is an option that many airlines offer! Some will let you message for your full flight, whilst a couple of airlines have a time limit.
If you just want to send a quick text or keep your family informed about where you are and how you’re doing, then on average it will cost you CA$7.33 to send a message when you’re flying!
There are only ten airlines that are cheaper than the average, but the price doesn’t vary much. The cheapest option is CA$4.15 and the most expensive option is CA$11.10, which is only a difference of CA$6.95.
So there you have it, how much it would cost you to stay connected whilst flying. It doesn’t always have to break the bank, as there are various internet options tailored to different needs and budgets.
But our advice would always be to check the airline first if you know that you’ll need the internet whilst up in the sky. This way you can find the most suitable and affordable internet package for your next flight, ensuring you stay connected whether for leisure, work, or communication.
