Emirates wi-fi on board for free for those with status, here's how it works
Emirates has always been at the forefront of in-flight Wi-Fi development and to date has invested more than $300 million in in-flight connectivity.
Emirates
Emirates, as done by so many other carriers around the world, Delta in the first place, has decided to tie the use of free wi-fi on board with membership in the Skywards loyalty program.
Skywards numbers
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Passengers simply need to sign up for Emirates Skywards, a simple and free procedure, to access free Wi-Fi. Interested parties can sign up through emirates.com, flydubai.com, via the official Emirates app or the flydubai app, and directly from the onboard Wi-Fi portal.
Emirates Skywards has more than 30 million members worldwide, offering unparalleled in-flight and ground rewards including airlines, hotels, car rentals, banking, and a multitude of retail and lifestyle options.
How to get free wi-fi
EK's choice is to give, In exchange for passenger data, in-flight connectivity. Compared to the choices of other carriers, however. Dubai's company is definitely cheaper since if you fly economy the only thing you will get for free is messaging, so the ability to use apps like Whatsapp, Messenger, Telegram and the like.
Did you get your flight cancelled, miss your connection, land late?
You could get up to 600€ compensation per person
In addition, first class passengers will have free unlimited Internet access if they are Skywards members, this is a downgrade since they did not have to be members before.
The situation changes, for the better, however, for those with status.
Skywards Silver and Gold members, who travel in business class, get unlimited surfing, while who owns the platinum level, or the highest in Emirates frequent flyer, have free Internet access in all classes.
According to Emirates data, currently nearly 10% of all passengers use free Wi-Fi on board. On routes to the Americas, nearly 20% of passengers connect to Wi-Fi on board, while on European and African routes usage is over 11% of all passengers.
Patrick Brannelly, SVP Retail, IFE & Connectivity commented, "Emirates has consistently worked with our service providers to optimize and improve the connectivity experience. In March, we delivered approximately 55% more data per customer session than in early 2022, despite the number of sessions increasing by 68% over the same period. We will continue to work to invest in upgrades and improvements, and our A350 aircraft will arrive with the next generation of satellite connectivity already equipped."
New connectivity on A350 fleet
Emirates also announced that it will offer new in-flight high-speed broadband powered by Inmarsat's GX Aviation, aboard 50 new Airbus A350 aircraft, scheduled to enter service in 2024.
The new agreement will significantly enhance the passenger experience with improved connectivity and greater global coverage , including on flights over the Arctic. The Airbus A350s will be the first Emirates aircraft to take advantage of Inmarsat's Global Xpress (GX) satellite network, which powers the first and only broadband network available globally, providing passengers with uninterrupted global connectivity, regardless of their destination.
Emirates also confirmed an investment of more than $350 million to equip the A350 fleet with the first smart display on board an aircraft. This new version of the ICE will be the first to offer two Bluetooth connections, allowing passengers to connect multiple devices including phones, tablets, headsets or even game controllers, and will support USB-C charging up to 60 watts to quickly charge personal devices.
