Inflight Wi-Fi is still a long way from being universally available. And nothing less will satisfy the traveling public, which expects to stay connected whether they’re at home or at work or onboard UA632 at 32,000 feet.
Although all airlines are expanding inflight Wi-Fi availability throughout their fleets, only two airlines, Virgin America and AirTran, have already achieved 100 percent coverage on their flights. Most airlines have fitted less than half their planes with Wi-Fi capability.
That’s according to a new report by flight-search site Routehappy. (The full report in .PDF format can be downloaded from this page.)
Among the highlights:
- Wi-Fi is currently available on just 38 percent of domestic U.S. flights.
- In absolute terms, Delta, Southwest, and US Airways have the most Wi-Fi-enabled flights.
- In percentage terms, Virgin America and AirTran both boast 100 percent coverage, followed by Southwest, Delta and Alaska.
- In both absolute and percentage terms, United is a notable laggard in its Wi-Fi implementation.
- Route-wise, Atlanta flights feature the most Wi-Fi, due to Delta’s dominance.
- Flights between New York and Los Angeles or San Francisco are about 80 percent connected.
- Only 6.5 percent of international flights from the U.S. offer full-flight connectivity.
Bottom line: If staying connected inflight is a priority, you’ll have to choose your airline and flights carefully.
Reader Reality Check
How important is inflight Wi-Fi to you?
This article originally appeared on FrequentFlier.com.
You Might Also Like:
- In-Flight Exercises That Aren’t Embarrassingt
- Hottest New Planes in the Sky
- 10 Free Things You Can Get at Airports
We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
Related
Top Fares From
Today's Top Travel Deals
Brought to you by ShermansTravel
9-Night Seoul, Hong Kong & Tokyo...
Exoticca
vacation $3099+16-Night Hawaiian Islands Cruise Over Christmas...
Princess Cruises
cruise $1579+Ohio: Daily Car Rentals from Cincinnati
85OFF.com
Car Rental $19+