Free In-Flight Wi-Fi Is the Way Forward (Sigh)

Not too long ago, a boy named Travis and I found ourselves gliding toward each other on an empty dance floor, our arms intertwined—my hand on his shoulder, his hand on my waist—awaiting the moment as about 100 eyes watched us. It was senior prom, and we were the newly crowned king and queen. Awkwardness set in, and when the music started, it only got worse. Back when I was a child / Before life took away my innocence / My father would lift me high filled the air. Someone had picked Luther Vandross’s “Dance With My Father” for the evening’s song. We had no choice but to shuffle around the floor until our supportive classmates finally joined in. I hadn’t recalled that memory in years—until I saw news that airplane Wi-Fi might soon be complimentary.

Believe it or not, the analogy holds: Like Travis, airlines are doing their utmost to ensure I enjoy my journey. But their approach is reminiscent of the Luther Vandross tune in that moment: familiar yet unsatisfying, and not really suited to the times—at least not for me.

I realize I’m the outlier here. Today, 93 percent of Americans are internet users, according to the Pew Research Center, which dubbed internet access in the country “almost universal.” (The global average is slightly lower, with nearly 60 percent of people online.) In the U.S., there are 409,185 Wi-Fi hotspots: 12,038 in New York City, 10,496 in Los Angeles, per the latest tally from the crowdsourced app WiFi Map, which showcases over 100 million free hotspots worldwide. So, what’s the plan when the majority of the globe is Wi-Fi connected? Take to the skies.

And airlines are making an effort . . . kind of. The largest domestic carriers provide in-flight connectivity for a fee: Delta recently introduced a flat $5 Wi-Fi charge, no matter the destination. United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and Southwest Airlines have also set an $8 Wi-Fi rate for most domestic and short-haul international flights. American Airlines charges $10 for domestic flights, $35 for international, and $50/month for flights within the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. As of now, JetBlue is the only airline in the U.S. offering free Wi-Fi on every flight.

The latest update? Southwest has just announced it will provide free Wi-Fi on select flights from May 4 to June 10 to test its new Wi-Fi hardware, which has been installed on 40 of its Boeing 737 aircraft, according to CNBC. Hawaiian Airlines revealed it plans to offer complimentary in-flight Wi-Fi as early as 2023, and in early April, American Airlines mentioned it would also offer free Wi-Fi during a trial phase. Passengers can access up to 30 minutes of free internet in exchange for watching an advertisement (depending on the flight length).

Delta conducted its own test in 2019, providing free Wi-Fi on 55 daily domestic flights. Southwest, Delta, and American Airlines are all evaluating the cost-benefit equation: While free in-flight Wi-Fi attracts many travelers, accommodating high levels of passenger internet use necessitates speeds that are currently unfeasible. It’s clear that change is on the horizon—and consumers are eager for it. In an April poll of Dinogo readers on Instagram, 57 percent of respondents expressed they would connect to free in-flight Wi-Fi.

Katherine, you might be thinking, no one is making you use in-flight Wi-Fi. While that’s true—and while I recognize that making Wi-Fi accessible to everyone is a more democratic approach, not just for those who can afford it—I still value the complete disconnection that has marked much of my air travel experience. I choose to disconnect because I have no alternative. I can’t check on my dog, my family, my partner, or my work, even though none of them expect me to. (Katherine, you might think, this sounds like a self-control issue.) I have to embrace the moment and simply be, even if that moment is cramped, too hot, too cold, or if someone is kicking the back of my seat.

From an economic standpoint, I get where airlines are coming from: More comfort leads to more passengers and more revenue. I’m feeling nostalgic for a time that has passed. Yet, in an age of increasing connectivity, doesn’t it feel refreshing to just disconnect? In a time of “overwhelming stress,” isn’t it nice to be compelled to read a book; to watch the clouds drift by? To endure a bad Hugh Grant movie—or take a moment to listen to Luther Vandross? I say yes.