Singapore Airlines unlocks free WiFi for all passengers

KrisFlyer members can soon scroll to their heart’s content as unlimited Internet takes off on almost every flight.

By Chris Ashton, May 31 2023
Singapore Airlines unlocks free WiFi for all passengers

Inflight WiFi is fast becoming the new aerial battleground for global carriers, with Emirates and Etihad both rolling out free access to messaging apps in recent months. However, Singapore Airlines is going one better and serving up unlimited free WiFi for every traveller.

Rather than simply providing complimentary access for an hour or two, or limiting WiFi to chat apps like WhatsApp, from July 1 the Star Alliance member will allow KrisFlyer members in all classes – yes, including economy – to surf uncapped.

This will be available on almost the entire Singapore Airlines global fleet too, save for seven Boeing 737-800 jets, which are not equipped with WiFi.

To access the free WiFi service passengers just need to enter their KrisFlyer membership details either at the point of booking or during check-in. Non-members can also sign up online (it's free, after all) or even on board their flight via the SIA digital content portal.

Singapore Airlines’ WiFi speeds typically average around 5Mbps download, which is certainly enough for emails, browsing and social media – especially when you don’t need to keep your eye on either the clock or the data cap.

If you choose not to become a KrisFlyer member, be prepared to pay for the privilege of scrolling among the clouds: one hour online costs US$3.99 (AUD$6), a three-hour blocks sells for US$8.99 (AUD$14), while US$15.99 (AUD$25) lets you stay connected for the duration of the flight.

Yeoh Phee Teik, Senior Vice President Customer Experience, Singapore Airlines, describes high-speed WiFi as “one of the most important requirements for our customers.”

“Giving them access to free unlimited wifi is yet another milestone in SIA’s continuous effort to offer an exceptional end-to-end travel experience.”

Singapore Airlines has been tinkering with its Internet policies for a while now, first offering free WiFi to first class passengers and members of its elite PPS Club, followed by those seated in business class, with the latter enjoying this privilege since January.

In Australia, Qantas will soon take-off with free WiFi on select international routes including Singapore, Bali and Manila, though only while the aircraft is above the Australian mainland.

05 Apr 2017

Total posts 19

Suggestion:  Please change the headline: "Singapore Airlines unlocks free WiFi for all passengers".  It appears to only  be the case for KF pax.

12 Jul 2019

Total posts 10

You can't be bothered signing up to Krisflyer whilst onboard?  I guess that means the free wifi at the airport isn't free wifi after all because you have to sign up to the airport and agree with their conditions.

12 Jul 2019

Total posts 10

Ive used the Wifi on a couple of SQ Business Class international flights now... No problems with it at all and it is great to have....I'm finding the movies selections etc to be very stale.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

16 Mar 2020

Total posts 23

how will this work under VA partnership, if crediting points and status to Velocity?

XWu
XWu

09 May 2020

Total posts 564

Obviously SQ WIfi product will not be as good what QF would like it to be, since QF is “still looking” for that elusive ideal and not compromise, while in the real world the cost of other “lesser” internet service has come down so much that it allowed a major competitor to provide it to all classes of pax free of charge

Seriously QF’s claims of no suitable products out there is pretty smashed to its by SIA’s announcement

Really, mate, does everything have to become an anti-Qantas rant?

"Seriously QF’s claims of no suitable products out there is pretty smashed to its by SIA’s announcement." Nonsense. SQ WiFi is as mentioned in the article around 5Mbps and plenty of times I've been on it, it's slower and not reliable at all. QF chose to wait for the ViaSat 3 system which will be many times faster, so if they installed an existing system like SQ it would cost them a lot more to remove and ditch all this equipment and replace it for the ViaSat 3 upgrade.

XWu
XWu

09 May 2020

Total posts 564

Thank you for your response but I disagree you assertion of “anti-qantas rant”

If an airline claims that they are not investing on internet access on international route because there may not be a product up to their high standards, while most other airlines plying similar route are offering internet access for the last four years, with NZ air offering free service since 2019, either these airlines don’t know what they are doing by offering a substandard product, for the last 4-5 years either free or as part of premium or paid service, or this airline high standard meant no investment until all the 3 satellites are launched and troubleshooted in 2024, then the airline will pay to install them on mostly new aircrafts , which the new purchases will only start to arrive in the next few years. So my bet is fewer than 10% international flights will be wifi ready all the way to their destination overseas by 2026. 

And this airline in question happens to be Qantas. If other airlines use the same excuse for not investing in these services for the last 5 years, I will call them out too. Except I am not aware of any other airlines who treat their pax, including those pay premium fees, like clots. 

It’s like someone saying I wouldn’t subscribe to ADSL services because I prefer NBN speed so I will wait for the NBN to come to my area

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

06 Sep 2012

Total posts 235

Any information on whether the wifi will be based on the Ka bandwith / Viasat 3 service? If not, I'm just wondering whether SQ are going to rip out all of their current systems and upgrade it to the new system? Otherwise wouldn't the existing Wifi be as fast/reliable?

SQ uses a mix of Ku-band (Panasonic) and Ka-band (Global Xpress) depending on the aircraft. The first ViaSat 3 satellite was only launched last month and won't be in commercial operation until after it undergoes months of testing, and this is just the North American satellite, there are two more ViaSat 3 satellites to come before the network is truly global and that won't be until late 2024 I think. Who knows what SQ will do then, that's up to them.

SCM
SCM

28 Sep 2022

Total posts 15

I've used the internet extensively from SYD to FRA and back, and it works really well and fast - I only hope there's enough bandwidth for all customers.

Just another reason why SQ is the best, sad to see the sorry state of free wifi for J (or lack thereof) on ME3.

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

20 Jun 2015

Total posts 3

So, if I have my VA number attached to the booking, does that mean I wouldn't earn VA points/SC since it's KF?

SCM
SCM

28 Sep 2022

Total posts 15

I don't see what this has to do with your booking, you would just enter you KF number somewhere (likely in the monitor console of your seat), and get wifi access.

04 Jun 2023

Total posts 1

Unless they have changed the setup now, that did not work on a previous SG flight for me (linked to VA for status/poInts). Wouldn’t accept my KF number

SCM
SCM

28 Sep 2022

Total posts 15

That's really interesting, keen to hear more experiences people have had with this.

16 Dec 2016

Total posts 19

I can confirm what liamf said above. I was flying Singapore Airlines in Business Class, though crediting points for the flight to another Star Alliance account. As my other Star Alliance account was linked to my boarding pass, I couldn't access the free Business Class internet when entering my seat number and surname. So in effect, in order to receive the free internet, you must not only be a KrisFlyer member, but also be crediting the flight to that same KrisFlyer account.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

23 Sep 2013

Total posts 12

Inflight is the last bastion of serenity so I hope SQ ban flyers from making WhatsApp calls inflight with noisy kids/pets/adults yelling into the phone 

05 Apr 2017

Total posts 19

I think it is safe to conclude that this project has been a successful recruitment drive by the KrisFlyer marketing  team.  


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