BEST PRACTICES FOR KEEPING CONNECTED

Stay safe. Whenever you connect to public Wi-Fi, you run the risk of exposing sensitive data to your fellow travelers — some of whom may not have the best intentions. “We always recommend that anyone sending sensitive information over any public Wi-Fi network, including Gogo, take steps to secure and protect their data,” Boynton said. “Passengers can recognize if the site is secure by looking at the HTTPS designation in the URL or looking for the lock icon near the address.”

Save your money. Purchasing access passes to airport and in-flight Wi-Fi before your trip can help you trim the connection costs. Boingo offers multiple pricing tiers; when you enter a Boingo hotspot, your carrier will likely offload you to the company’s free public Wi-Fi automatically. If you sign up for a higher tier plan ahead of time, you will automatically have access to better quality Internet. It’s “frictionless access to wireless,” Ewalt said.

Watch for value. The cost for in-flight Wi-Fi is around $13 per session on average, but prices can be significantly higher on longer flights, especially transcontinental itineraries. However, passengers can purchase a 24-hour pass for $19 prior to taking off. Monthly plans are available for frequent fliers for $50.

Speed up. If you’re flying on a plane that’s not equipped with satellite technology, you may encounter service interruptions and difficulty performing tasks that require a higher bandwidth (such as video streaming). “When you sign up to connect to our network, it will say that live streaming is not supported on this particular aircraft,” Boynton explained. Until Gogo’s ATG system upgrades are complete, there are a few ways to speed things up. “Make sure your phone is not trying to update any applications,” Boynton advised. “In addition, especially for business travelers, sync up your emails before you fly. Big attachments can consume a lot of bandwidth.”