Hello folks!

Hoping for some wisdom from those of you with experience on CX inflight wifi. For context, I am based in the UK.

I have used their inflight wifi a couple of times before, and paid whatever provider they used. I think it was ~$15-$20 for full-flight wifi on each leg if I remember correctly, and it was fairly reliable (I was able to watch YouTube videos without too much struggle on both their 777 and A350, it was also excellent for work). Each time I flew, it was a connection from LHR via HKG, so I only bought wifi on the LHR-HKG legs and not the shorter hops as that would've been around $80 for wifi each round trip.

I was wondering if there are other cost-efficient ways of getting wifi?

I understand that T-Mobile and Boingo are roaming partners.

• T-Mobile appears to be only applicable if you have a mobile data plan with this benefit in the US.
• Boingo appears to only provide access if you hold a mastercard with this benefit. I sent a query to their Customer Services regarding their 'Boingo Unlimited Plan', and they confirmed it is NOT valid for in-flight wifi (which begs the question - who actually pays for this when free wifi is pretty much everywhere these days?!).

Query to Boingo regarding their 'Unlimited Plan'

I suspect that the only way (if not purchasing through the official channel) is to hold a mastercard with the benefit. Are there any other ways of getting the wifi a little cheaper when travelling frequently?

For UK-based travelers, what mastercards are available with this benefit? I keep seeing conflicting information - e.g. World Elite does but not necessarily. It looks like the only cards that provide access are:

• Virgin Atlantic Credit Card
• HSBC Premier World Elite Credit Card
• Santander World Elite

I have a Monzo/Curve and was wondering if their 'metal' versions are issued on World Elite, which in turns provides access.

Are there any free ones out there?

Thanks to anyone who spends the time reading this!

CX wifi is so hit and miss and when you do get connected it usually borders on useless. I have done a few flights with China Airlines this year in biz and its free and works really well. Dont unuderstand how CX cant get something basic right and cream their premium customers to use it.

Agreed. Outrageous that they are charging, particularly in premium cabins and for DMs.My experience also mixed. Was very good HKG-MEL this week and non-existent HKG-BOM a week earlier.

TMo US does not cover CX wifi (from this disappointed TMo customer figuring it out mid flight two days ago). That's Deutsche Telekom if I'm remembering it correctly.