For an increasingly connected world, access to Wi-Fi is often vital for those who wish to stay productive or entertained on their travels. With this in mind, Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) has created a guide comparing Wi-Fi and connection offerings on board airlines to help travellers plan ahead. The research can be found in the Know Before You Go section of the APH website at www.aph.com/airlinewifi.

The research compares 23 airlines including American Airlines, Emirates and Virgin Atlantic and looks at the availability of Wi-Fi on flights, incurred costs and whether other connectivity options are available for passengers, such as entertainment streaming and mobile network.

Of the 23 airlines researched, 12 provide Wi-Fi, including Aer Lingus, KLM and Norwegian Air Shuttle. Passengers should keep in mind that for safety reasons, Wi-Fi is activated once the aircraft is 10,000 feet in the air and that Wi-Fi is not yet available when flying on board select aircraft, including the Airbus A330 with Emirates and all international long-haul flights with Norwegian Air Shuttle.   

The cost for accessing a plane's Wi-Fi varies, from £4 for one hour of access with Air Canada and Finnair to £15 for flight duration access when travelling internationally with American Airlines. Of the 12 airlines offering Wi-Fi on board, three charge passengers according to the quantity of data used, including Virgin Atlantic, which charges £14.99 for 150MB of data, and KLM, which charges £8 for 40MB or £17 for 120MB. Conversely, JetBlue and Norwegian Air Shuttle are two airlines offering complimentary Wi-Fi for all passengers on selected flights, while three airlines provide complimentary Wi-Fi access for passengers travelling in Business and First Class cabins, including those in the Saga Class cabin on board Icelandair flights.

For frequent flyers, three of the airlines researched offer monthly or annual Wi-Fi subscription plans, with the cost varying from £38 per month with Delta Air Lines, to £535 per year with Air Canada. Passengers should keep in mind that the subscription plan will automatically renew at the end of each period, regardless of whether the Wi-Fi is accessed, until the contract is terminated.

To avoid disturbing fellow passengers with loud phone calls, two of the airlines researched do not permit access to voice services through the on board Wi-Fi, and passengers travelling with Qatar Airways are reminded to keep their electronic devices in vibrate or silent modes.

Although 11 of the airlines researched, including British Airways, Ryanair and EasyJet, do not yet provide Wi-Fi access in the air, two carriers do provide apps to allow passengers to live stream in-flight entertainment to their personal device. These apps include the MPlayer app with Monarch for £3.99 and the Qantas Entertainment app. Similarly, four airlines, including Qatar Airways and Emirates, give passengers the option to connect to a mobile network, should they wish to send texts, make calls and access the internet on board at standard roaming charges.

For travellers looking to work online, browse the web or stream entertainment through Wi-Fi prior to departure, Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) has also put together a guide comparing Wi-Fi facilities at the UK's major airports, including London Heathrow, Manchester and Edinburgh. The guide can be accessed at: http://www.aph.com/community/holidays/wi-fi-free-time-costs-uk-airports-like-gatwick-heathrow-and-manchester/.

For further information on Airport Parking and Hotels (APH),
Visit www.aph.com or call 01342 859515.

ENDS

About Airport Parking and Hotels (APH)
Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) is an award winning airport parking operator and retailer, after winning the Best Airport Parking Company for a sixth year running at British Travel Awards 2015. This year APH also celebrated its 36th year as a retailer and operator of pre-booked airport parking and travel extras. APH offers parking at all major UK airports as well as airport hotels and airport lounges. As well as supporting the World Land Trust through the purchase of more than 1,000 acres of endangered rainforest, APH is also a proud corporate sponsor of the University of Southampton Centre for Cancer Immunology, where the world's most eminent experts come together in the quest to find new and innovative treatments.

Media Enquiries
Fiona Anderson / Libby Hughes / McCluskey International / 020 8747 2170 / aph@mccluskey.co.uk