Whether you travel in first, business, or economy class, having Wi-Fi access on your flight can make it more enjoyable. This can be particularly important on transcontinental flights and long international flights.
Some passengers just want to be able to talk with friends or browse the web, while others are traveling for work; either way, having Wi-Fi inflight could make their lives much easier.
Whether you’re looking for some entertainment or trying to finish a project, Gogo inflight Wi-Fi could be an important part of your flying experience.
What Is Gogo?
Gogo is an inflight broadband Wi-Fi provider that serves around 20 airlines and is installed on thousands of aircraft.
The Gogo inflight network allows travelers to access the internet to respond to send messages, email, browse, and stream.
What Airlines Use Gogo?
Airlines from around the world utilize Gogo to provide Wi-Fi access for their passengers. Wi-Fi is a wireless networking technology that uses radio waves to provide wireless high-speed Internet access. A common misconception is that the term Wi-Fi is short for “wireless fidelity,” however Wi-Fi is a trademarked phrase that refers to IEEE 802.11x standards. Here is a list of Airlines from around the world utilize Gogo to provide Wi-Fi access for their passengers.
- Aeromexico
- Air Canada (and Rouge)
- Air France
- Alaska Airlines
- American Airlines
- British Airways
- Cathay Pacific
- Delta Air Lines
- GOL Airlines
- Iberia
- Japan Airlines
- JTA
- KLM
- LATAM
- Level
- Qatar Airways
- United Airlines
- Virgin Atlantic
- Virgin Australia
How Reliable Is Gogo Wi-Fi?
Gogo 2K satellite service. Image Credit: Gogo
Since its inception on commercial aircraft over a decade ago, the Gogo in-flight network has evolved substantially.
However, Wi-Fi speeds remain unpredictable since some planes still have air-to-ground (ATG) systems. This is noticeably slower than Gogo’s more recent satellite technology.
Load rates on older ATG systems might become excruciatingly slow if the majority of passengers on your aircraft choose to use Wi-Fi. Because T-Mobile collaborates with Gogo to supply its Magenta plan users with 1 hour of free Wi-Fi, this can cause a traffic jam on the in-flight network.
Passengers should enjoy up to 20 times more bandwidth than before when Gogo launches its newest product, a satellite system known as 2Ku.
Gogo’s older system does not cover the entire globe, and when on a long-haul flight, there’s a good chance you’ll cross through a dead zone at some point and lose Wi-Fi.
With Gogo 2Ku satellite Wi-Fi, the network will be vastly improved, covering much of the world, as you can see from the map above.
Gogo 5G
Gogo announced that it will be launching its 5G network in 2021 for regional and mainline commercial jets flying within the contiguous U.S. and Canada. The 5G network will provide passengers with fast and uninterrupted connectivity when flying over urban and non-urban areas.
Can You Stream Video Inflight?
Unfortunately, video streaming is not possible if your flight uses the ATG system. But there is some good news! Video is supported via the newer 2Ku satellite system.
How Much Does Gogo Cost?
For participating airlines, Gogo allows you to purchase hourly and day internet passes and plans prior to flights. If you forget to do so before your flight, you can still purchase a pass inflight (although it may be more expensive).
Gogo Day passes. Image Credit: Gogo
Currently, 4 of Gogo’s airline partners participate in these passes: Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines.
| Gogo Passes | Valid Airlines | |
| 1-Hour Pass | $7 | Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines |
| All-Day Pass | $19 | Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines |
| Delta Global Day Pass | $28 | Delta Air Lines |
If you travel regularly, you might be better off purchasing one of its 4 subscription plans.
Gogo subscription plans. Image Credit: Gogo
| Gogo Subscription Plans | Valid Airlines | |
| Monthly Airline Plan | $49.95 per month | Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines |
| 2-Device Plan | $59.95 per month | Delta Air Lines |
| Global Delta Plan | $69.95 per month | Delta Air Lines |
| Annual Airline Plan | $599 per year | Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines |
Make sure to read the fine print on each plan to verify it meets your requirements. If you have a lot of domestic travel coming up, a global plan may not be necessary. However, if you intend to go worldwide, a global plan is essential.
How Do I Get Free Wi-Fi When Flying?
Inflight Wi-Fi is not inexpensive, as evidenced by Gogo’s price tiers above. Fortunately, a few credit cards include Gogo Wi-Fi passes as part of their rewards, which are available on both local and international flights.
| Credit Card | Number of Free Gogo Passes | Credit Card Annual Fee |
| UBS Visa Infinite Credit Card | 12 | $495 |
| Crystal® Visa Infinite® Credit Card | 12 | $400 |
Even if you will need more Gogo Wi-Fi passes, knocking out some of the cost is a great benefit from these cards!
Also Read: Airplane Wi-Fi: How It Works, Availability on Airlines, Fees, and More
Is Gogo Inflight Wi-Fi Worth It?
Whether purchasing Gogo’s inflight Wi-Fi is worth it to you will be determined by several factors.
Business travelers with tight deadlines might find internet access a must on all flights. However, leisure travelers on short flights might see the price and decide they’d be happy to read a book instead.
Final Thoughts
At this point, almost all travelers expect access to an inflight Wi-Fi network. Gogo continues to roll out a better product, but it’s not cheap.
However, staying connected to the world outside of their plane can be valuable to travelers of all sorts.
The information regarding the U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card, UBS Visa Infinite Credit Card, Crystal® Via Infinite® Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
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