Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile
  3. News

These are the apps people use the most on in-flight Wi-Fi

Andrew Martonik
By
A JetBlue airplane at the airport gate.
Andrew Martonik / Digital Trends

At this point, it’s easy to take for granted that we have fast and (mostly) reliable Wi-Fi in airplanes no matter where in the world we’re headed. (Some airlines even offer it for free.) But things have changed a lot since in-flight Wi-Fi was first introduced over two decades ago and became truly widespread just 10 years ago. Just like our habits in using the internet — both Wi-Fi and 5G — have changed on the ground, our demands in the air are strenuous, and we increasingly are unwilling to put up with a drop-off in internet speed just because we’re flying 400 mph some 35,000 feet in the air. Yes really.

JetBlue and its in-flight Wi-Fi provider Viasat recently hit a big anniversary, 10 years of partnership, and for the occasion gave us all a look at just how incredible the demand for in-flight Wi-Fi is, and at how we’re all using it. JetBlue says over 15 million smartphones connected to its in-flight Wi-Fi this year alone, compared to just 2 million laptops — and how are we using that connectivity? There are a couple of surprises.

Recommended Videos

To start, though, no surprise: The heaviest in-flight Wi-Fi use is for streaming video services. YouTube and Netflix have been among the most-used apps since 2017, JetBlue says. But over the last several years, the cohort has changed: Spotify and Apple Music used to be right there with them (surprising considering relatively low data usage of music vs. video), up until 2022 when they dropped off the top list, making it a group of solely video streamers.

Another surprise? This year, Peacock shot right to the top of the ranks of the most-used apps on Fly-Fi, I’m sure due in no small part to JetBlue’s partnership with the streamer offering an improved trial period. In 2023, the top group on Fly-Fi is Peacock, YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video.

A history of JetBlue's partnership with Viasat for in-flight Wi-Fi.
JetBlue

Here’s the breakdown of the most-used apps on Fly-Fi, and how it’s changed since 2017:

  • 2017: YouTube, Spotify, Netflix, Amazon Prime
  • 2018: YouTube, Spotify, Netflix, Amazon Prime
  • 2019: YouTube, Apple Music, Spotify, Netflix
  • 2020: YouTube, Netflix, Apple Music, Spotify
  • 2021: Netflix, YouTube, Apple Music, Spotify
  • 2022: YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime
  • 2023: Peacock, YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime

Now all I want to know is what person has used the most data on JetBlue Fly-Fi this year. Considering how much YouTube I stream on flights, I could be near the top.

Topics
Andrew Martonik
Andrew Martonik
Editor in Chief
Andrew Martonik is the Editor in Chief at Digital Trends, leading a diverse team of authoritative tech journalists.
Samsung may have made a horrible decision with the Galaxy S24
The Samsung Galaxy S24 standing upright next to the Galaxy S24 Plus.

The big Android dogs from Samsung  —the Galaxy S24 series — are out to challenge the smartphone supremacy crown in 2024. There are minor design improvements, a faster chip, a slightly tweaked camera, a big jump in thermal management capacity, and loads of AI hype around them.

Some of those AI features come courtesy of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy silicon, while others are built in-house or with some help from Google. But behind the scenes, Samsung has again employed a controversial two-chip sales formula.

Read more
This is hands-down the best Samsung Galaxy S24 pre-order deal
The multitasking screen on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus.

If you’re looking for all the best Samsung Galaxy S24 phone deals, you’re in luck. We’ve picked them all out with some awesome pre-order deals going on right now. Whether you’re looking for an unlocked Samsung Galaxy S24 pre-order or happy to commit to a carrier, you can save big with these deals. Here’s what you need to know.
The best unlocked Galaxy S24 pre-order deal
Go direct to the source with the Samsung Galaxy S24 and Samsung has a great pre-order deal. Pre-order now and you can benefit from up to $550 off the Samsung Galaxy S24 when you trade in an eligible phone. Additionally, there’s a free storage upgrade with the phone coming with 256GB of space instead of 128GB, while there’s $25 Samsung credit on the standard phone. Upgrade to the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus and you gain $75 Samsung credit and up to $650 through the enhanced trade-in scheme. In both cases, follow the link below and you gain an extra $50 Samsung credit which you can’t get through the site. The Samsung Galaxy S24 offers a 6.2-inch full HD+ screen while the S24 Plus is bigger with a 6.7-inch quad HD+ display. Both offer speedy performance, great cameras, new AI-powered features, and up to 2,600 nits of peak brightness as well as variable 120Hz refresh rates.

The best Galaxy S24 pre-order deals at T-Mobile
Score one of the best Android phones on T-Mobile and the discounts are a little different. Here, you can get up to $800 off the phone via an eligible trade-in. The amount is paid back via 24 monthly bill credits and requires you to sign up to a Go5G Plus or Go5G Next plan. For the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus, the amount increases to up to $1,000. Alternatively, sign up for a ONE, Magenta, or Go5G plan and you can gain up to $500 back depending on which phone you trade in.

Read more
The best Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra pre-order deals today
A person holding the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra showing the screen.

Now that the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra has been officially announced, Samsung is offering some amazing phone deals to help you snap up the latest and likely to be greatest. Right now, when you place a preorder, you can enjoy up to $750 enhanced trade-in, along with $50 additional Samsung credit when you buy through our link. Along with that, there’s Samsung’s favorite memory upgrade offer for early adopters, as well as $100 Samsung credit on top of the $50 you’re gaining from going through us. If you’re a student, a 15% student discount is also available.
The best unlocked Galaxy S24 Ultra pre-order deal
If you want an unlocked Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, Samsung is the place to go. Go direct and you can enjoy up to $750 enhanced trade-in depending on the age of the phone you’re trading in. As well as that, you can benefit from $100 Samsung credit, a storage upgrade that doubles your room, and 15% student discount if you’re eligible. Even better, by going through our link, you can add on an extra $50 Samsung credit bumping the full figure up to $150. The perfect amount for a free pair of earphones or a hefty discount on a new smartwatch.

The best Galaxy S24 Ultra pre-order deals at T-Mobile
If you’d rather sign up with T-Mobile while buying your Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, you still get the double storage bonus. Additionally, there’s up to $1,000 off via trade-in depending on the phone you’re trading in. It’s delivered via 24 monthly bill credits and requires you to sign up to a Go5G Plus or Go5G Next plan. Alternatively, you can gain up to $500 off via a trade-in and signing up for a ONE, Magenta, or Go5G plan.

Read more