Finally! Qantas rolls out free WiFi on international flights

Better late than never: Fast and free WiFi is coming to (some) international Qantas flights. Here’s what you need to know.

Qantas has switched on international flight WiFi, meaning passengers flying between Australia and Singapore, Bali, Jakarta and Manila can finally access fast and free connection.

Qantas first began rolling out free WiFi on their domestic Boeing 737 and Airbus A330 flights back in 2017. Finally, after much delay, the Red Roo has rolled out connection on some overseas, with more on the horizon once the Airbus A350s take flight in 2025.

While some people enjoy the thought of leaving the world on the ground and finally picking up that book, it’s nice to have the option to be connected 35,000 feet up in the air.

In the past, I’ve taken seven domestic Qantas flights over a 48 hour period on a Qantas status run, and not one offered inflight connectivity. Nowadays we see inflight WiFi on the entire Qantas domestic fleet (except for the older regional Qantas Link jets).

Work your way through that long list of emails, update your social media and work online all while streaming movies and music up in the air with Qantas WiFi.

Read on to discover how you can enjoy Qantas WiFi on your next flight, and find out the answers to questions that we commonly get from our readers.

Qantas WiFi on international routes

Select international routes are among the first to offer connection following the Red Roo’s expansion of its domestic WiFi program.

The following routes will offer coverage during the parts of the flight that are over Australia (and within coverage of the Sky Muster satellite, which currently powers Qantas’ connection):

• Sydney-Singapore
• Sydney-Denpasar (Bali)
• Sydney-Jakarta 
• Sydney-Manila
• Melbourne-Singapore 
• Melbourne-Denpasar (Bali)
• Brisbane-Singapore 
• Brisbane-Port Moresby
• Perth-Singapore

As such, passengers will have fast and free WiFi connection for the majority of these flights, as a large portion of the flight time is in Australia.

What’s next?

Qantas has already announced that more international WiFi connection is on the horizon for overseas travellers, suggesting that this is the first step to global connection.

Come the end of 2025, the Qantas Airbus A350 will offer fast and free high-speed WiFi, with partner Viasat following the completion of key satellite launches covering the Qantas international network.

A trio of ViaSat-3 satellites are set to be in orbit from 2023, and once this happens, Qantas is expected to add international WiFi to its Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleets, as well as the Project Sunrise Airbus A350 jets in 2025.

Thanks to the improved technology, all passengers from first class to economy will have free access to fast broadband-grade connection on overseas flights.

At the time of writing, however, it is only currently possible for travellers to access inflight WiFi on the abovementioned international routes, as well as Qantas domestic routes operated by Qantas 737 and A330 aircraft – even the short-range Boeing 737 services to New Zealand, Fiji and Noumea still can’t enable WiFi outside of Australia.

We’d love to see more WiFi coverage rolled out internationally sooner than 2025, especially on long-haul flights. We’ll be reporting any news once available.

How to check if your next flight is Qantas WiFi enabled

It used to be quite difficult to check if your next flight is enabled. Fortunately, there’s no longer any need to delve into Flight Radar data or check for a WiFi dome on the plane itself.

A good way to be sure if your domestic Qantas flight has WiFi is to look out for the WiFi symbol upon booking online. If the WiFi icon appears as grey with a strike through it, it means you won’t have a connection on your flight.

Once you get to the airport, you can simply look at the departure board to see if your next Qantas flight is displaying a WiFi signal:

We understand WiFi can make or break a flight, so to cover all bases, we’ve drawn up a table below to show which Qantas aircraft are currently equipped with WiFi:

How do I connect my device to Qantas WiFi once onboard?

Once you’ve boarded the plane and taken your seat, check the seat pocket. If your flight is indeed WiFi enabled, you should find a Qantas WiFi instruction sheet tucked in behind the safety card.

Sit back and be sure to activate your device to flight mode. Once you’re at cruising altitude, you can connect your device to Qantas inflight WiFi in three simple steps, as follows:

• Step 1: Select the Qantas Free WiFi network (you’ll need to wait until the flight is in the air to do this. It isn’t possible to connect to the network on the ground)
• Step 2: Navigate to wifi.qantas.com in your browser
• Step 3: Enter your details (your name and Qantas flight seat number), accept the terms and conditions, and start browsing!

Which devices can be connected to inflight WiFi?

You can access the service with any device which has a WiFi connection and a browser. This includes laptops, smartphones and tablets. Remember that you’ll only be able to access your laptop once the seatbelt sign has been switched off.

Are there restrictions on how Qantas WiFi can be used?

Yes, there are several restrictions that users need to take into consideration when using Qantas inflight Wifi. These are as follows:

• You’ll need to ensure you keep flight mode activated on your device throughout the flight
• For the courtesy of others in the cabin, no voice and video calls are allowed. You’re also asked to switch your device to silent
• It’s important to note that coverage and speed may be limited on some routes

In saying that, Qantas WiFi uses the NBN Sky Master satellite service, which I have found to be quite fast. A nationwide footprint paired with a satellite antenna fitted to each Qantas WiFi enables aircraft and several WiFi hotspots in the cabin make for a streamlined service.

Is Qantas inflight WiFi free in 2022?

Yes. Unlike some other carriers, Qantas does not currently charge for the use of inflight WiFi. Whether a charge is levied in the future remains to be seen. Some airlines, like Air New Zealand, operate free domestic inflight WiFi service but levy a charge for international usage.

Can I stream content for free?

Yes. Qantas has partnered with Foxtel, Stan, Netflix, and Spotify to allow customers to stream content for free while inflight. We’ve tested out streaming in flight, and found that speeds are generally good.

Terms and conditions apply to these offers, and they are only available to users logged into Qantas inflight WiFi.

How does Qantas WiFi actually work?

Qantas has partnered with global broadband services provider ViaSat to use the NBN Sky Muster satellite service to deliver inflight WiFi.

The service works by utilising capacity in the spot beams of the two NBN Sky Muster satellites, which were placed in orbit by Arianespace. Primarily the satellites work in tandem to provide internet access across regional and rural Australia, but spare capacity is used to deliver Qantas services. As a Qantas plane flies through each of the fixed footprint spot beams of the satellite, the service is able to seamlessly transfer from one spot beam to another without impacting the user experience.

Will your next Qantas airplane offer inflight WiFi? We’ll cross our fingers for you!

FAQ – Qantas WiFi

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