WiFi Odds
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Inflight WiFi equipment

Compare equipment, throughput, and latency.

Airlines use the same WiFi label for aircraft with low-orbit satellites, geostationary satellites, or older air-to-ground equipment. Each system supports a different level of streaming, downloads, and interactive work.

Technology map · 28 Jul 2026
Use it while booking

See the system before you pick the flight.

The Chrome extension brings WiFi Odds into supported booking pages, and never touches checkout or payment. Every state it can show you, and why it shows it →

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01 / The three tiers

Compare passenger tasks across three equipment tiers.

These tiers compare passenger tasks by system class. Aircraft assignments and cabin demand affect service. The meters show relative task support; they do not report measured throughput.

Next-gen · low-orbit satellite

Low-orbit satellite for streaming, downloads, and interactive work.

Starlink is the low-orbit system flying in passenger service today. Amazon Leo is the other low-orbit network carriers have signed for. The shorter signal path supports streaming, large downloads, and interactive work with less delay.

Starlinkflying nowAmazon Leosigned, not yet flying
Typical task support
Messages
Instant
Stream a movie
Plays on the first tap
Download a big file
Fast
Online game
Responsive
Reported · carrier and provider announcements · Jul 2026 · Amazon Leo has no passenger measurement yet
Streaming-class · modern geostationary

Geostationary satellite with streaming throughput and more delay.

A modern geostationary system can move enough data for video and work. The longer signal path adds delay to games, calls, and other tasks that require frequent round trips.

ViasatIntelsatPanasonicexamples
Typical task support
Messages
Instant
Stream a movie
Buffers, then plays
Download a big file
Slow but steady
Online game
The lag shows
Reported · carrier system disclosures and product records · Jul 2026 · named systems are examples, not a full list
Gen 1 · legacy air-to-ground and early satellite

Older equipment for messages, email, and light browsing.

Legacy air-to-ground and early satellite systems share limited capacity across the cabin. They can support messages, email, and light browsing, while streaming and large downloads may fail under demand.

Air-to-ground (ATG)Early Ku-bandexamples
Typical task support
Messages
Usually works
Stream a movie
Struggles to start
Download a big file
Do not count on it
Online game
Poor fit
Reported · carrier fleet disclosures and current system ledgers · Jul 2026
02 / Equipment behind the label

One booking label covers three equipment tiers.

Booking pages use “WiFi available” without equipment details. Drag the divider to compare the equipment and task support behind that label.

Booking pageWiFi available
Booking pageWiFi available
Booking pageWiFi available
Next-gen · low-orbit

Starlink & Amazon Leo

Low-orbit satellite systems support streaming, large downloads, and interactive work with less delay.

Stream a movie Plays right away
Starts without buffering.
Streaming-class · satellite

Modern satellite

Modern geostationary systems support streaming and steady file transfers. Their longer signal path adds delay to interactive tasks.

Streaming-class WiFi uses modern geostationary equipment. Next-gen low-orbit systems provide less delay.

Stream a movie Buffers, then plays
Playback continues after buffering.
Legacy · older hardware

Older air-to-ground or early satellite

Older equipment has limited shared capacity. Messages may work while streaming struggles under cabin demand.

Stream a movie Struggles to start
Playback may not start.
Grab & drag

Drag the divider, or use this slider and the arrow keys. The full comparison is readable without any of it.

Tip: the ↔ handle is grabbable. Drag it left and right.

Reported classification · system capabilities and carrier service descriptions compiled Jul 2026 · no row is a per-flight promise

03 / Experience map

Pick the tier for the thing you need to do.

Each bar shows how far a task gets on each system, from not practical, through often workable, to a first-class experience. The scale is relative, not a measured speed.

Messages and email

The lightest everyday task

Next-gen
Instant
Streaming-class
Instant
Legacy
Its best use

Stream a movie

Needs a sustained connection

Next-gen
Plays right away
Streaming-class
Buffers, then plays
Legacy
Will not hold up

Online game

Every round trip is felt

Next-gen
Feels first class
Streaming-class
Lag you will notice
Legacy
Not practical

Move a large file

Progress has to stay steady

Next-gen
Fast
Streaming-class
Slow but steady
Legacy
Do not count on it

Reported classification · system capabilities and carrier service descriptions compiled Jul 2026 · no row is a per-flight promise

04 / Orbit and latency

Low-orbit satellite links have less delay.

A low-orbit satellite passes closer to the aircraft than a geostationary one. The shorter path reduces the time required for each request and response. Starlink and Amazon Leo both use low-orbit satellites.

Modern geostationary systems can provide enough throughput for streaming. Their longer path adds a pause to each round trip.

Routers, capacity, cabin load, and ground networks also affect service. Airlines choose onboard equipment, purchased capacity, and traffic-shaping rules.
Technology principle · orbit-class definitions and provider architecture · reviewed 28 Jul 2026 · the diagram is conceptual and makes no distance claim
05 / Published limits

Published evidence does not support one speed for each tier.

We publish ranges backed by named sources and label unsupported figures unknown.

Four limits remain unpublished or unmeasured.

Amazon Leo has no passenger measurement because no carrier is flying it in passenger service yet. Airlines do not publish cabin demand. Booking pages omit the router on the assigned aircraft. These limits prevent one technology label from predicting a specific flight.

Amazon Leo in-cabin performance Not measured in passenger service as of 28 Jul 2026.
Your assigned aircraft Can change up to departure. Fleet odds are not a seat guarantee.
Cabin demand No airline publishes a flight-level load test for the connection you will share.
One headline speed Not published here. A best case cannot cover three eras, several routers, and a moving aircraft.
Evidence state · public carrier, tracker, and provider records reviewed 28 Jul 2026 · see Methodology for source labels and denominator rules