Inexpensive new WiFi On tap For Hawaii flights. Or, do you choose to remain unplugged?
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34 thoughts on “Updated: Is There WiFi on Flights To Hawaii? Free + Cheap Options”
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Inexpensive new WiFi On tap For Hawaii flights. Or, do you choose to remain unplugged?
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
Comments are closed.
Second home owner in Kauai and i Book my travel based on internet availability due to work and a child with medical needs.
The only internet wifi which works over the Pacific from the US to Hawaii is Panasonic.
Southwest employs Panasonic.
United Airlines used to have fleets with Panasonic. They have not lately and do not announce their planes (meaning if they have Panasonic) up until 72 hours before the departure date.
I have received mixed feedback on American flights with and without Panasonic wifi.
I had no luck with delta.
I previously said it was $8 for wifi on Southwest OHG to PHX.
It is actually good until midnite so your $8 includes connecting planes until midnite. Pretty cool. It worked great.
I’m happy to be offline for 5+ hours. It’s a relief actually. And I think the $8 fee on Alaska is ridiculous. I’m happy with downloaded movies and my Kindle.
Have traveled on WN, UA & AA all had excellent Wi-Fi
I flew back from San Francisco at the end of January 2022. At the end of boarding, the pilot announce NOT to purchase WiFi as within 10 minutes of departing the coast, you would lose connectivity and it wouldn’t return until we were about 10 minutes outside of Kona.
This was United Airlines. Sadly, the plane did not have in seat entertainment.
I have found the United WiFi availability and service over the Pacific to be weak at best irregardless of the price. To be fair to them I have only gone back to the big Island once since the pandemic and I know firsthand their mainland service has gotten way better over the last 20 months. I would gladly pay $8-12 for a flights worth of good Wifi to HI. Keeping caught up on the plane means more beach time when I land! Mahalo for this great update!
Hi Yachtscott.
Thanks for feedback on UAL’s Hawaii wi-fi.
Aloha.
I would love wifi to Hawaii and would gladly pay $8. NOT $28. I cannot believe the airlines dont offer it yet. They need to get into the 21st century.
Aloha – We used SWA’s $8 wifi while flying HNL to SJC last May. It was a bit spotty but nice to have while it was up. The content was much more extensive that HA’s preloaded content on the A-330 flying PHX to HNL earlier the same month.
BOE,
Unless it’s extra urgent, $28 is way too much. For that, I can wait until we land or even wait until getting to the room.
On the other hand, $8 is fair. But if it’s crappy service, again, I can wait.
Hi Rod.
If you need to work, then maybe $28. Otherwise, concur with you on that. Ancillary fees throughout the tourism sector are problematic.
Aloha.
BOE,
Yes, the costs for all facets of travel, for vacation or work, are going crazy.
Except there seem to be some good airfare deals to Hawaii. Unfortunately, they are “basic” fares. How can there be such a thing as “basic” to Hawaii? Vacation or work – we all need a seat – that’s extra; we all need to bring changes of clothes, yet baggage is extra, it’s a five-hour flight- we all need to eat – that’s extra. In the hotel business “resort fees” are criminal and “basic” airfare is nearly as bad.
BOE, I’m not exaggerating when I tell you I’m online at least 8 hours a day, every day. But, when I get on a flight from here (CA) to HLN or JFK or LHR I never buy the Internet. Never even think about it. I watch movies and sleep.
Reading what I just wrote, if that’s true, maybe I can drop online on the weekend.
Take care,
Rod
Hi Rod.
True that. There’s a lot to be said for unplugging. That having been said, there are times when running out the door, things just need to be tidied up before getting away.
Aloha.
My problem – if I get online, I’m not getting off.
Besides, I’m a good sleeper. My first or second trip to Korea, I went to sleep as soon as we hit altitude and didn’t wake up until we began the descent. It’s the same when I go to Europe and Hawaii.
Aloha,
Rod
I wish Hawaiian airlines would offer WiFi. I fly with them exclusively and 5 to 6 time a year. It is the only complaint I have about them.
Hawaiian has always had one of the worst IFE (inflight entertainment) experiences of any airline. It’s a shame they haven’t gotten WiFi. Southwest even offers live TV with their satellite system and it’s FREE! Even the horrible mainland airline Spirit Airlines, is getting WiFi equipped and it’s actually lightening fast for only $5! WiFi on flights is a necessity with kids. “Unplugging” on the flight over is not an option with a 7-yr old. And there’s only so many times you can watch “The Ride”!
I used to work for an airline in the 90’s to early 2000 and flew to Hawaii many times. I would travel with my sons; 10 and 7. I found ways to entertain them without any electronics….a tennis ball to play catch; paper triangle for “table football”; coloring books; books for reading.
Yes, a 5 hour flight was tough for me to keep them occupied as a single dad. But my son’s didn’t yell or scream on the flight. Other parents were amused even some attendants would play with them.
Not for me. Dallas flight on American has flat beds so it is a nice flight to sleep on. No emails, no calls… Bliss.
Aloha guys!
Fwiw, Southwest wifi is a flat $8 rate for your entire day of travel – even with a connection.
Mahalo!!
Hi Mark.
Thanks. True that. Always check the fine point. Some charge per flight, other per day or per segment.
Aloha.
I have used Southwest wifi many times to and from Hawaii and it is good. Any satellite wifi will be slow with glitches but as others note it is better than not having it. For $8 it is a great deal. Nice to see finally others, especially Alaska, will reduce their price.
Dittos on Southwest!! Can be glitchy but that’s mostly the website or download quality… hubby had no problems, but he is a tech genius:) unlike me.
No. Southwest has it for $5. It gives you live TV 8 channels and internet.
Live TV, music, messaging and TV shows are all free on Southwest.The internet is $8 and good for your entire day of travel.
Aloha!
Satellite internet access is extremely expensive and often slow. I have used satellite wi-fi on cruise ships, and it is typically around $100 per 4 hours for a rather slow connection. The charge is by the *minute*, not by the data rate. As with airline travel, you’re part of a captive audience, so it’s not like you can hop off and walk to the nearest internet cafe, which is typically connected to wired, ground-based connection–and brings us us back to my point. Satellite internet is expensive to implement and maintain! Someone has to pay for all that cost.
I think $15-$20 per flight for wi-fi is a ripoff, and I would do without it. $5 should be the maximum, and $3-$4 would be fair while giving the airlines a reasonable profit. I’m tired of airline fees (they are almost bait-and-switch since the advertised ticket price doesn’t usually include all the necessities anymore), and I always choose the airline with the fewest fees.
Bruce,
Yes, bait and switch is exactly what it is.
But hotel “Resort Fees” really anger me. If I MUST pay it, it should be listed as part of the room rate not something separate. And unless a hotel has an on-site swimming pool, large gym and 18-hole golf course, “Resort Fees” should be outlawed.
WiFi for 10-20$ – I think the price is fine, I am a consultant and need the service, I will choose an airline that has it over an airline that does not. ( I make choices on who I fly on based on WiFi access.) Please provide the service, so I can travel to Hawaii more often.
-M
I would not pay anymore for any service regarding airlines!! As it is, we are already nickel and dimed to death! Just include everything in the price of the airfare…I will venture to say, the airline that becomes all inclusive will thrive over all others.
I cannot live without wi-fi EXCEPT when flying. I enjoy reading, sleeping or watching a movie on the iPad.
I love your site and email updates!
Mahalo Barney!
It is unfortunate that all airlines seem to go with the trend to focus so much on profit rather than service, so that everything that is offered is a way for them to make just a little more money from their customers. Their actions have tainted their reputation so most people see flying as a negative experience. Contrast that to my experience this week with Apple computer, who paid for a six months out of warranty logic board repair of around $700 just because I brought it to their attention. The tech support’s comment? “No one has a spare $700 to spend at this Holiday Season.”
Happy Holidays Beat of Hawaii. Thanks for the work you are doing.
Hi David.
Thanks and happy holidays to you!
Aloha.