Boarding a plane is a bit like a trip to the cinema – it’s one of those rare occasions that I actually get to switch off and block out real-life distractions.
Yes, there’s still a screen in front of me, but I am not getting hundreds of WhatsApp notifications from the family group chat or endless pings from Instagram telling me a complete stranger has also commented on a video I have interacted with. Nor am I paralysed by endless choice, because there’s a limited selection of music, TV shows and movies at my fingertips. I can simply focus on what’s in front of me and escape to a completely different world.
When it comes to long-haul flights, in particular, it’s as though reality is suspended. Not only am I thousands of feet above the earth, I get to travel across time, landscapes and continents, and dream of the adventures I am about to have – or reflect on the ones I’ve just experienced. And if nothing else, it’s an excuse for me to catch up on my sleep and decompress after prolonged periods of work and stress, or simply read that book I started a year ago.
In short: it’s magical and one of the few remnants of analogue life I – and many others – have left.
It’s why, when I heard that airlines were introducing complimentary WiFi onboard flights both long and short, no matter which cabin passengers are travelling in, I shuddered at the thought. That's not to say I don't understand the appeal – those travelling for business will no doubt welcome the new service with open arms. Just the other day, I was chatting to my friend Bobby who was relishing the free internet access he had on an Emirates flight. “It’s superior to other airlines,” he wrote to me from 40,000 feet, as he caught up with emails and work calls.
But even that seems like a dangerous boundary to cross, in my opinion. If you’re already travelling for work and expected by your employer to fight off your jet lag to schmooze clients and impress board members overseas, shouldn’t you at least get to enjoy a few hours of peace before you land?
Each to their own, I presume the counter might be, and that's fair enough – my issue with complimentary WiFi is a personal preference, and while I can see the allure for some, I simply am not interested.
While it’s true that BA, for example, currently offers different WiFi packages to flyers – ranging between £4.99 and £21.99 – the airline has announced that, for the first time, its free option will encompass streaming and downloads, too. The move, according to the airline’s chief executive Sean Doyle, is about “transforming our customer experience”, offering “seamless connectivity from gate to gate” in a way that “feels like home.”
I don’t know about you, but when I go away – whether it’s for a relaxing holiday, a messy hen do or bucket-list experience – the last thing I want to feel like is that I am still in my one-bed flat in rainy old London. I want the excitement, the trepidation and joy. I want to feel as though I am escaping my day-to-day – not taking it with me.
Samantha Morgan*, cabin crew for a major airline, however, disagrees. “I think it’s a brilliant idea as it gives passengers the freedom to pick their own entertainment,” she tells Condé Nast Traveller. “It will be hugely beneficial to those travelling for work, too, as those crucial hours sitting onboard commuting could be productive for them.”
Morgan does concede that access to free WiFi on flights could mean that younger flyers are perhaps more distracted than usual – and may be more susceptible to things like live-streaming. “It’s not that they’ll be less likely to pay attention during safety demonstrations, as usually these services kick in when the plane is at least 10,000 feet above ground,” she says, “but they may be more inclined to record or disturb other passengers.”
As part of BA's new offering, the airline has teamed up with Elon Musk’s company, Starlink, to provide this service. The tech mogul has already criticised the UK government for introducing the Online Safety Act, calling it a “suppression of the people” – and that’s before we even get to existing reports of damaging messaging and dangerous accusations from his AI chatbot, Grok. This partnership will need to heavily rely on Musk's technology, but will also require various levels of safeguarding, especially if minors are using the service.
Speaking on the safety side of things, Dr Jason Nurse, a reader in cybersecurity at the University of Kent, told me that while the security of these systems remains to be seen, there is a certain level of risk associated with such free networks. “The reality is that hackers and scammers are always looking for ways to exploit new technologies and technology offerings,” he says. “Therefore, I’d be concerned about an increase in WiFi scams (ie that target users of these networks, or even impersonate these networks) or other attacks that seek to find vulnerabilities in this new service. We have seen hackers attack airport and train internet networks before.”
I understand why airlines are taking these steps – BA are now just one of several airlines providing similar services. It makes sense to pull different levers to appeal to modern-day flyers and customers.
So, too, is this service optional – it’s not as though I will be forced to use the free WiFi next time I’m flying with them. But I can’t help but feel as though this never-ending need to be online is pulling us away from real-life interactions and experiences, and in the case of travel, especially, may end up tarnishing some of its allure.
Condé Nast Traveller has contacted both British Airways and Starlink for comment.
* Some names have been changed