Singapore Airlines Provides Premium Passengers with Free Unlimited Wi-Fi

Singapore Airlines is providing premium passengers with free unlimited Wi-Fi. With free, unrestricted Wi-Fi now available in business class on Singapore Airlines flights, customers can stay in touch with their loved ones on the ground while flying at 35,000 feet. Customers in first-class cabins, A380 Suites, PPS Club members, and PPS Club supplemental card holders are all eligible for this perk. Additionally, when flying in premium economy or economy, KrisFlyer members will automatically receive free three-hour Wi-Fi plans and free two-hour Wi-Fi plans.

Except for Boeing 737-800NGs on regional routes, almost every SIA aircraft type can provide the service. Customers can choose among SIA’s new, more straightforward Wi-Fi pricing plans if they are not KrisFlyer members or have used up their complimentary quotas. These start at US$3.99 (about S$5.25) for an hour and go up to US$8.99 (S$11.80) for three hours before ending at US$15.99 (S$21.00) for the entire flight. The airline claims that these modifications were made in response to customer comments.

Business-class passengers and PPS Club members used to be eligible for 100 MB of free in-flight Wi-Fi. Premium economy and economy class KrisFlyer members were given a complimentary two-hour inflight Wi-Fi plan designed for text-only messaging services.

With the exception of seven of its aircraft, all Singapore Airlines’ aircraft are Wi-Fi enabled. Yeoh Phee Teik, senior vice president of customer experience for the airline, praised the decision, adding,

“Keeping in touch has become crucial to the travel experience, even at 35,000 feet in the air.”

Customers of SIA may communicate with loved ones, upload content to social media, and stay informed of current events thanks to its improved Wi-Fi offerings. These adjustments are made in response to customer input and are a part of SIA’s ongoing investment strategy to enhance customers’ travel experiences and keep our top spot.

It’s important to note that the seven Boeing 737-800NGs flown by SIA and scheduled to be in service till the end of 2025 lack Wi-Fi capabilities. This means that for the time being, travellers on some regional flights to places like Da Nang, Darwin, and Medan won’t be able to utilize the free Wi-Fi service.

As the first airline in the Asia-Pacific region to provide free, unrestricted inflight Wi-Fi, Singapore Airlines may set a precedent for other airlines in the region and worldwide.

How does inflight Wi-Fi operate?

Things have changed now. Airlines are ordering aircraft with installed Wi-Fi networks and retrofitting these systems onto their older aircraft. Even though in-flight Wi-Fi is now standard across commercial aircraft, relatively few passengers even pause to consider how it operates. Let’s talk about how travellers can stay connected even when they are 35,000 feet in the air.

Aircraft antenna

Nearly all modern aircraft have an antenna, which is frequently attached to the aircraft’s belly. Information is sent to the ground using the antenna. Initially, airlines only used this antenna to transmit data between airborne aircraft and ground-based offices. They later understood the advantages of providing in-flight connectivity, though. Airlines invested in installing Wi-Fi networks aboard their plane to become more competitive, particularly on busy routes.

ATG and satellite technologies

Most airlines use a hybrid Wi-Fi operating system that switches between ATG Wi-Fi and satellite Wi-Fi depending on the aircraft’s location. The aircraft acts as a hotspot to which passengers connect in an Air-to-Ground (ATG) Wi-Fi network. The signal is sent from cell towers on the ground to aircraft in the sky and vice versa. This allows passengers to send emails and texts and browse the internet while in the air. The system’s main disadvantage is its lack of connectivity over water. Because the ATF network is dependent on cell towers, it cannot provide a reliable Wi-Fi network on transatlantic or transpacific routes.

So, what do you think about in-flight Wi-Fi? Let us know what you think of this story in the comments!