Philippine Airlines now with WiFi and Cellular on board

Last April, Philippine Airlines (PAL) announced that they will start offering in-flight WiFi internet and call/test roaming in some of their regional routes by mid-year. It’s already July and we’ve now seen them putting this service in place.

On board a Boeing 777-300ERs this afternoon, we saw the service work during our 3-hour flight from Bangkok to Manila.

There’s actually a cell signal which your phone registers to when it’s set to automatic. The carrier is labeled OnAir and you get a welcome message once connected. Rates are similar to international roaming (not sure which one but could be from originating country?).

As for the WiFi internet, charges are on time-based billing:

$5PHP 293INR 424EUR 5CNY 36 for 30 minutes
$10PHP 587INR 847EUR 10CNY 73 for 1 hour
$20PHP 1,174INR 1,695EUR 19CNY 146 for 3 hours
$40PHP 2,347INR 3,390EUR 38CNY 291 for entire duration of the flight

If you have multiple devices, you can log in on the web-based system and connect them as well without additional charges.

Of course, the airline will still enforce the turning off of devices during taxi, take-off and landing of the plane. The service will only start working when the plane reaches the 37,000 feet altitude (around 20-30 minutes after take-off) and will be disabled upon descent.

Abe Olandres

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.

https://www.yugatech.com

26 Comments

red says:

11 years ago

SURE! great idea, this is big help lalo na urgent maka connect sa internet… :) please lang yung ibang hindi maka afford sa rates huwag ng mag comment or yung hindi man lang makaafford sumakay ng eroplano, huwag ng mag comment! hahaha baka sasabihin na naman ng ibang hamak, mahal daw. hello? hehehe
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iFrit says:

11 years ago

tahaha ang mahal naman,,,
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Reader says:

11 years ago

inb4 people who would comment that mahal daw pero wala naman palang perang pangsakay sa eroplano, much more to buy a smartphone, nyahahaha~!
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Whey says:

11 years ago

I have a smartphone and money to pay for the airplane ticket and to pay for the charges, but I still think those Internet charges and phone signal fees should be made available to all passengers for free.

And even those who do not have enough to spend for these luxuries (others call it essentials) have the right to speak out sensibly about this issue. Please don’t discriminate them just because you can afford. For all you know, some of the poorest are even richer than you are.
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sasori says:

11 years ago

I still don’t like PAL, I had a bad flight experience with them plus they should get rid some of those old hag snobbish foreigner pleaser cabin crews. -_-
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konan says:

11 years ago

reasons why i hate and will never fly with PAL again!

1. Bad in flight service.
2. Cabin crew is full of good for nothing old hag’s.
3. Snobbish at times.
4.. Does not have a fair service knowing that you are a fellow countrymen, they always tend to please foreigners.

BTW I always travel by plane….
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Ping says:

11 years ago

kasama na kaya to pag business o first class ka na?
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Justin says:

11 years ago

Is having an inernet connection such a dire NEED that people would actually spend this much just to be online while in-flight? Personally, I’d rather do my surfing while at the airport (departure and arrival) where you’ll likely find an open hotspot, or just purchase a cup of coffee and ask for the cafe’s wifi password. Much sensible in my opinion.
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jayron says:

11 years ago

What for? One hour lang naman Mindanao to Manila. Download na lang ako ng movie beforehand. And I don’t exactly look Pinoy, but I still won’t fly PAL. Sorry, Lucio. I prefer not to contribute to your coffers.
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ampz says:

11 years ago

the big question is mabilis ba ang internet nila? kasi baka sayang lang ang ibabayad natin if mag avail tayo ng net sa PAL.
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mckenzee says:

11 years ago

wifi and mobile services are not always available for the entire duration of flight because there are certain countries that do not permit using wifi & mobile services when you are flying above their country for example china, etc.,
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Jason says:

11 years ago

Para siguro ito sa mga businessmen na in need ng internet connection. Not fof typical person na magchechekin lang sa facebook. Bottomline, this in not for you!
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cranky says:

11 years ago

at least PAL’s customer service is better than Cebu Pacific’s crap.
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Jose says:

8 years ago

Service is meant for anyone NOT just bussiness people! What makes ppl think they have a say in others money. 40.00 for a fucking 21 hours flight its needed ???? #stopthehatePalWifi #julyhereicome
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Florin says:

6 years ago

I think that $40 for a 13 hours flight is ok as a price. Also they have usb charger for phones in their airbus 350. Whatsapp with friends and time goes faster. I think is could be cheaper, but is not their choice, having in mind that services are provided by a third party. They set the prices and customers accept or not.
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