Booking a Flight? More Americans are Searching for Wi-Fi Before Seats

Have you ever booked a flight and realized in mid-air that there is no Wi-Fi? More Americans are checking for onboard internet before even choosing their seat.

Inflight WiFi is now a standard feature on many major airlines, with both free and paid options becoming more widespread. The majority of international flights now offer onboard internet, and while domestic flights have traditionally lagged behind, we’re now starting to see more regional airlines install WiFi technology in their aircraft.

With this, ST Engineering iDirect researched consumer trends over the last two years to uncover a 27% surge in flyers researching whether or not their flight will have an onboard internet offering. This signals a shift in traveller expectations – Wi-Fi at 35,000 feet is no longer a bonus but a fundamental part of the flight experience.

The rise in inflight WiFi demand

Flyers are increasingly turning to Google to search for flights with onboard WiFi. Search queries related to inflight Wi-Fi have been rising steadily, with significant spikes around peak travel periods. Across all relevant search terms, there has been a 27% uplift in Google searches for inflight wifi queries.

This data clearly shows that inflight Wi-Fi is becoming a key factor in airline selection. Travellers are actively researching which airlines offer the best connectivity before booking flights—especially business travellers and digital nomads who need seamless access to the internet while in the air.

Which airlines have the most Wi-Fi searches?

In the US, Delta Airlines attracts the most WiFi queries, with 135,000 annual searches from passengers seeking to find out whether their flight has an internet connection.

Passengers flying with Delta can enjoy WiFi speeds upwards of 50mbps, all for free, if they have a SkyMiles membership, which is also free to sign up for.

United and Southwest Airlines both have 74,000 annual searches for Wi-Fi-related queries. Southwest charges $8 per day per device for internet access, whereas United charges $8 for MileagePlus members or $10 for non-members.

On most US domestic flights, WiFi is available from takeoff to landing, depending on the aircraft and onboard technology.

How inflight WiFi works

WiFi onboard an aircraft uses two primary technologies to provide an internet connection: air-to-ground and satellite-based systems. The type of service a passenger experiences largely depends on the route—whether it’s a domestic or a long-haul international flight over large bodies of water.

Some airlines use air-to-ground (ATG) technology, which connects to ground-based cell towers. The aircraft is equipped with an antenna that communicates with these towers, allowing passengers to access the internet. While effective over land, ATG connections can struggle with bandwidth limitations and may experience slower speeds, especially in high-traffic areas. However, satellite-based systems are more common for transoceanic routes, where ground towers are unavailable.

For long-haul international flights, satellite-based WiFi is the primary solution. Aircraft use antennas to connect with satellites orbiting the Earth. These satellites then connect to ground stations, ensuring internet access even when flying over oceans or remote regions.

Traditionally, geostationary satellites (GEO) have been used to provide in-flight connectivity, offering wide coverage over specific regions. More recently, Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites have gained traction for their ability to deliver lower latency and faster speeds. However, all types of satellite constellations can support in-flight coverage. This is why the satellite industry is increasingly focused on developing multi-orbit solutions that can deliver consistent, high-performance connectivity regardless of the aircraft’s location.

What’s next for inflight WiFi?

With consumers demanding better, faster, and cheaper Wi-Fi, airlines must adapt. But before this can happen, the technology both onboard aircraft, in space, and on the ground must continue to evolve.

To create an entirely seamless experience, future inflight connectivity may combine satellite networks with next-generation 5G ground stations in a hybrid approach that negates connection dropouts while maintaining peak performance.

Chris Insall, Head of Mobility Business Development at ST Engineering iDirect said: “The growing number of consumers researching inflight WiFi reflects the ever-changing shift in expectations for seamless connectivity, even at 35,000 feet. The surge in online searches proves that internet in the air is no longer a luxury – it’s an expectation.

“For the satellite industry, this means accelerating innovation in capacity, coverage, and efficiency to meet evolving passenger needs. Staying ahead of consumer expectations allows us to showcase the power behind our technology while allowing partner airlines to meet the high connectivity standards that travellers now anticipate as they board their flights.

“Airlines and service providers must adapt to ensure connectivity is not just an add-on but a fundamental part of the travel experience.”

Conclusion

With a 27% increase in searches for inflight connectivity, passengers are actively choosing airlines based on their internet offerings. Hundreds of thousands of annual searches for inflight Wi-Fi-related queries, alongside the rising demand for free and fast connectivity, underscore the growing pressure on airlines to enhance their digital services.

For airlines, the message is clear: investing in faster, more reliable Wi-Fi isn’t just an added perk – it’s now a competitive necessity.

Methodology

ST Engineering iDirect analysed data from Google Search Console across the past two years to uncover consumer trends. This approach focuses on identifying search trends, volume fluctuations, and emerging queries related to inflight WiFi that can better inform future strategies in the satellite connectivity sector.