Key takeaways
Some airlines fit their planes with an onboard mobile network, so your phone can use mobile data at cruising altitude like it would on the ground. Roamix Omni works on these networks with 18 airlines including Emirates, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines and Cathay Pacific, billed at $140.40 per GB from the same balance you use on land. In-flight data is satellite data, so it suits messages and email, not video.
- Roamix Omni connects on selected aircraft with 18 airlines, mostly on long-haul wide-body jets.
- The onboard network switches on at cruising altitude and off before landing, under the crew's control.
- In-flight data costs $140.40 per GB on Omni, so a day of messages costs cents, but video costs dollars.
- Turn off data roaming on your home SIM before take-off, so your carrier can't bill you for the plane's network.
- When your Omni balance runs out, data pauses. You are never charged more than you loaded.
How in-flight mobile data works
A plane with onboard mobile service carries a small cell, a picocell, that your phone sees as just another network. Traffic goes from the cell to a satellite and down to the internet.
- The crew switches the network on once the plane reaches cruising altitude, usually 10 to 20 minutes after take-off, and off again before descent.
- Your phone has to be out of airplane mode, or have mobile data turned back on, to connect. Follow the crew's instructions.
- Service depends on the aircraft, not the route. Two flights on the same route can differ if the aircraft type changes.
- Your phone shows the onboard network under a name like AeroMobile. Omni roams onto it automatically.
Which airlines work with Roamix Omni?
Omni connects on selected aircraft with 18 airlines. Service depends on the aircraft, so check yours when you book.
- Aer Lingus (Airbus A330)
- Scheduled transatlantic routes between Ireland and Orlando, Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, Washington DC, Newark, Los Angeles, Miami, Seattle, New York, and Toronto.
- Asiana Airlines (Airbus A350)
- Flights from the Seoul hub to China, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, and the United States.
- Biman Bangladesh Airlines (Boeing 787)
- Selected flights to global destinations from the Dhaka hub.
- Cathay Pacific (Airbus A350)
- Flights from the Hong Kong hub to destinations including Bangkok, Singapore, Osaka, and other long-haul routes.
- EgyptAir (Boeing 787)
- Selected flights to Europe, the USA, Canada, South Africa, and Asia.
- Emirates (Boeing 777)
- More than 300 connected flights every day to and from Dubai.
- Etihad Airways (Airbus A350, Boeing 777, Boeing 787)
- Flights to and from Abu Dhabi.
- EVA Air (Boeing 777)
- Flights to and from Taipei, New York, Los Angeles, and Vietnam.
- ITA Airways (Airbus A330)
- International flights, including New York from Rome Fiumicino and Milan Linate.
- Kuwait Airways (Boeing 777)
- Flights from Kuwait International Airport to long-haul destinations.
- Lufthansa (Airbus A330, Airbus A340, Airbus A350, Airbus A380, Boeing 747)
- Worldwide routes from the Munich and Frankfurt hubs.
- Malaysia Airlines (Airbus A350)
- Airbus A350 flights to and from London Heathrow, Narita, and Hong Kong from Kuala Lumpur.
- SAS Scandinavian Airlines (Airbus A330)
- Domestic Scandinavian routes and long-haul flights to the USA, Hong Kong, China, and Japan.
- Singapore Airlines (Airbus A350, Boeing 777, Boeing 787)
- Routes to and from Singapore including London Heathrow, Hong Kong, Australia, and Tokyo.
- SWISS (Airbus A330, Airbus A340, Boeing 777)
- Selected SWISS flights with AeroMobile-equipped wide-body aircraft.
- TAP Air Portugal (Airbus A330)
- Scheduled routes to South and Central America, including Brazil, El Salvador, and Mexico.
- Turkish Airlines (Airbus A330, Airbus A350, Boeing 777, Boeing 787)
- Flights from the Istanbul hub to various long-haul destinations.
- Uzbekistan Airways (Boeing 787)
- Selected flights to destinations including Europe, Asia, and the USA.
What does in-flight data cost?
Roamix Omni charges $140.40 per GB in flight, about $0.14 per MB, from your normal Omni balance. Here's what everyday things cost.
- 100 WhatsApp or iMessage texts (1 to 2 MB)
- $0.14 to $0.27
- 20 emails without attachments (1 to 2 MB)
- $0.14 to $0.27
- A 5 minute WhatsApp voice call (3 to 5 MB)
- $0.41 to $0.69
- Sending 10 photos (20 to 40 MB)
- $2.74 to $5.48
- 10 minutes of Instagram (50 to 100 MB)
- $6.86 to $13.71
- A 10 minute video call (50 to 150 MB)
- $6.86 to $20.57
Rates come from the live Omni rate card and can change. You can see every network's rate on the Omni page.
How to set it up
Do this at home, before you travel.
- 1Install Omni before you flyLoad $10 or more and install Roamix Omni over Wi-Fi at home.
- 2Turn off roaming on your home SIMThis stops your carrier billing you for the plane's network.
- 3Set Omni for mobile dataChoose Omni as your mobile data line and turn on data roaming for Omni only.
- 4Turn on Low Data ModeOn iPhone use Low Data Mode, on Android use Data Saver. Pause photo backups.
- 5Wait for the crewOnce the crew says phones can be used, leave airplane mode and Omni connects.
The single most important step is turning off data roaming on your home SIM before take-off. Onboard networks sit outside most carriers' roaming deals.
Omni or airline Wi-Fi?
Use Roamix Omni to stay reachable on long-haul flights, for messages, email and confirming your pickup. Buy the airline's Wi-Fi if you need to work online or stream.
| Option | Best for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Roamix OmniRecommended | Best for: Messages and email | Pay per MB from your normal balance, no package to buy. |
| Airline Wi-Fi package | Best for: Working online or streaming | Better value for heavy use, priced per flight or per hour. |
| Home carrier roaming | Best for: Avoid | Onboard networks are often billed at premium rates outside travel passes. |
| Stay offline | Best for: Short flights | Download films and maps before boarding. |
How to keep onboard data cheap
- Send, don't scroll. Messaging costs cents, social feeds cost dollars.
- Turn mobile data off between bursts of messages on long flights.
- Set app updates and photo backups to Wi-Fi only before boarding.
- Turn on Auto Top-Up, or keep a few dollars on your balance, before a long trip.
More detail in our article on mobile data on flights and cruises.
