Flying to and from Hawaii now offers a more mixed bag than ever of in-flight Wi-Fi experiences and costs. Some passengers enjoy fast, free service mid-ocean, while others are stuck with no connection or barely functioning systems.
Maybe more annoying is the inability to quickly discern what to expect. So, if you are like BOH editors, who count on the flight time on frequent flights back and forth from Hawaii to get work done, this is entirely frustrating.
As airlines update strategies and equipment, the Wi-Fi ecosystem for Hawaii flights remains inconsistent and unpredictable at best. Will its future be breakthroughs, blackouts, or big delays?
An airline can surprise you on one flight; fail on another.
Several months ago, Beat of Hawaii editors flew a United Airlines Max 8 from Lihue to Los Angeles. Unexpectedly, the Wi-Fi worked—and it was very fast, free, and stable over the Pacific. There was no announcement, no prompts—just a simple connection. Though the screen showed an $8 charge, clicking through revealed the cost had been waived. Flight attendants said it was haphazard—it worked on one flight, not the next.
Powered by Viasat, that connection reached 135 Mbps. Streaming, browsing, and even video calls worked without login or ads. This may be part of a quiet test, as there was no crew communication about the change.
But that performance hasn’t, by any measure, extended across the fleet. On another United widebody flight just last week, we found the Wi-Fi offered between Hawaii and the mainland unusable. It was slow, and sites could not be reached. The difference was dramatic on our continuing flight across the Atlantic, and the Wi-Fi worked fine.
United has confirmed plans to roll out free Wi-Fi fleetwide using Starlink, a satellite internet system by SpaceX designed to deliver high-speed access even over remote areas like the Pacific. That rollout has just begun, with only the first regional aircraft coming online. A full system-wide implementation, including Hawaii, remains months or more likely years away.
Hawaiian Airlines leads—except on its newest plane.
Hawaiian Airlines has set the standard for in-flight Wi-Fi on Hawaii routes and elsewhere, thanks to its complete Starlink installation across its A321neo and A330 fleets. The service is free, fast, and seamless. There’s no login page, no ads, and the system is stable enough for everything from casual browsing to video streaming.
The one exception is Hawaiian’s new Boeing 787 Dreamliner. According to their website and as confirmed by their reservations department, these aircraft currently offer no Wi-Fi. Hawaiian has confirmed that Starlink will be added to the Dreamliner, but it first requires FAA certification and a unique installation process. With only three 787s delivered at this time, the airline might even be waiting before pulling one from rotation to attain the certification so that the process can continue.
“We are committed to installing Starlink internet on our new Boeing 787 aircraft in the future. The plans currently are in the works with Boeing and SpaceX. “- Hawaiian Airlines.
Delta’s rollout skips Hawaii for now.
Delta offers free Viasat Wi-Fi on many domestic flights and recently announced it will install internet on its Boeing 717 fleet—a model Hawaiian has long said isn’t viable for Wi-Fi due to short flight distances and perhaps other reasons. That contrast underscores how different each airline’s implementation strategy can be for Wi-Fi.
Still, Delta’s free Wi-Fi rollout is far behind schedule. The original goal of 2024 completion has slipped to 2026, and it could slip again. Flights to Hawaii, particularly on the A321, typically offer no connectivity at all as they lose signal trans-Pacific. Future A321 deliveries are said to include Wi-Fi, but that appears to do nothing for the more than 70 A321neo planes already in service.
Alaska hasn’t joined the free Wi-Fi wave.
Alaska Airlines still charges for Wi-Fi, including on flights to and from Hawaii. While the service is generally reliable, it’s now being eclipsed by what Hawaiian and (sometimes) United offer. Alaska Airlines has confirmed it is evaluating Starlink for its aircraft, with an announcement expected soon.
As Alaska and Hawaiian move toward final integration later this year, their Wi-Fi gap raises questions. Whether Alaska adopts Starlink or sticks with its current system remains to be seen. For now, it’s a split experience between the two carriers under one roof.
For now, Alaskan passengers should expect a paid system, while Hawaiian passengers enjoy fast, free service.
Satellite tech finally reaches Hawaii skies.
For years, in-flight Wi-Fi over the Pacific was nonexistent or barely functional. That’s changing with next-generation satellite systems like Starlink and Viasat-3, which are designed to provide high-speed service even over vast ocean stretches.
Still, implementation takes time. FAA approvals, antenna installs, and aircraft-specific challenges continue to slow adoption. Hawaiian’s 787 Wi-Fi delay is one such example—technically feasible but operationally stalled.
While Starlink has proven technically impressive, it’s not without controversy. Owned by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, the system has also drawn criticism due to Musk’s polarizing public presence. As a result, some major companies and even governments are reportedly considering distancing themselves from Starlink.
Meanwhile, Amazon is preparing to launch its low-Earth orbit internet network, which could eventually compete with airlines. For Hawaii travelers, the focus remains on who can reliably deliver fast, stable Wi-Fi across long ocean routes like those to and from the islands.
What travelers should expect now.
Wi-Fi to Hawaii is getting better, but inconsistently. Hawaiian has delivered on most of its promises. United is testing significant upgrades. Delta is stalling, and Alaska hasn’t moved yet. Even within the same airline, passengers may experience excellent Wi-Fi one day and nothing the next.
For travelers, that means planning for the unknown. Some flights now allow real-time trip planning, streaming, and staying in touch, while others remain offline.
Have you experienced working Wi-Fi—or lack of it—on your Hawaii flights? Let us know. We’ll keep covering what’s changing in the skies over the Pacific.
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I have not used Southwest’s Wi-Fi service to Hawaii for the simple fact – I have not flown Southwest to Hawaii.
When I fly Southwest for domestic flights, I receive free Wi-Fi via the purchase of Business Select. If you’re an A-List Preferred member, Wi-Fi is free for you.
I have found that Southwest’s Wi-Fi seems to work well on the MAX 8’s and 800’s vs. their 700’s. YMMV.
AS has been testing Starlink at some of it’s stations – but not in the air for mainline AS aircraft. As the relationship between AS and Amazon unfolds, possibly AS deploys Amazon’s Wi-Fi product if applicable to commercial aviation?
Flying Southwest three times to Hawaii, the wifi was only worked on one flight, horrible, they should be doing a better job at making a vacation experience Way better, Not Good at all.
For most of the flying public to Hawaii, I don’t think Wi-Fi is a priority or worth paying for. I doubt they are even considering airlines that may or may not have it. Playing games, reading, listening to music or sleeping is all I need to pass time.
Some people “think” they need to be connected all the time, but in reality they don’t.
Aloha from American #271 form LAX to OGG. I’ve been a regular on this flight for years. Today, for the first time since February, I decided to try to access WiFi…and it worked! The flight attendant said it was added last month. It was $25 or 31k miles, but it’s working great so far. As a comparison, because of some cancelled flights last week, I ended up on a Southwest flight from OGG and they offered very good WiFi for $8. Regardless, I am happy to be able to access great working WiFi on my American flight at any cost.