50 Airlines With the Best Wi-Fi, Only 4 US Airlines Make the List

Oct. 05, 2018

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3 min read

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It's 2018, and there are still aircraft out there that do no offer inflight Wi-Fi. And, with airplane seats shrinking and legroom diminishing, passengers could use some internet distractions.

Traveloka, an Indonesian technology company that provides online airline ticketing and hotel booking services, looked at the top 50 most tech-friendly airlines, and only four US carriers made the list. Traveloka analyzed 50 airlines operating long-haul flights and ranked the carriers based off Wi-Fi speed and cost, power outlet availability and ability to make phone calls, send text messages and watch live TV.

The airlines providing the most connectivity are Qatar Airways, Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Etihad Airways and Virgin Atlantic. These five airlines all offer text messaging, live TV and phone calls. Delta earns a top spot at No. 3 for its relatively low-cost Wi-Fi ($1.17/hour) and free messaging via iMessage, What'sApp and Facebook Messenger. Qatar Airways lands the top spot for having the most amenities all around at just $5/hour. Although Singapore Airlines is one of the best airlines in the world, it landed at No. 14 on the tech-friendly list. Singapore Airlines' Wi-Fi costs nearly $9/hour and does not have the greatest connection, nor does it allow for phone calls and live TV.

"Staying connected is a key part of traveling," Caesar Indra, senior vice president of business development at Traveloka, said in a statement to CNN. "For many of us, hours spent in the sky without an Internet connection can feel like losing a limb."

Top 50 Most Tech-Friendly Airlines:

1. Qatar Airways2. Emirates3. Delta Air Lines4. British Airways5. JetBlue Airways6. Cathay Pacific7. Alaska Airlines8. Turkish Airlines9. Etihad Airways10. Eva Air11. Oman Air12. Lufthansa13. Virgin Atlantic14. Singapore Airlines15. Air Canada16. Saudi Arabian Airlines17. Finnair18. Aer Lingus19. Hong Kong Airlines20. Malaysia Airlines21. China Southern22. Virgin Australia23. Austrian24. Air New Zealand25. Southwest Airlines26. China Airlines27. Iberia28. WestJet29. Ana All Nippon Airways30. Japan Airlines31. Garuda Indonesia32. Thai Airways33. Air Astana34. KLM35. Aeroflot36. Qantas Airways37. Asiana Airlines38. Swiss International Air Lines39. Air France40. Norwegian41. Korean Air42. Vietnam Airlines43. South African Airways44. Avianca45. Azul Brazilian46. Latam47. Hainan Airlines48. Ethiopian Airlines49. SilkAir50. Jetstar Airways