Review: Finnair Inflight Internet Connection
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We have tested Finnair's Wi-Fi with an internet connection on European flights. It's functional, though not speedy. Read the article to know more.
Covered in the Article
Onboard Wi-Fi with Internet Connectivity
Almost every airline has an in-flight Wi-Fi with internet connectivity. One of them is Finland's national carrier, Finnair, which provides an internet connection through Nordic Sky Portal. You can connect to the portal with any Wi-Fi-enabled device, and the portal offers free entertainment services and paid internet connection.
Finnair's Aircraft with Wi-Fi
Finnair's long-haul aircraft, like Airbus A350, have been equipped with Wi-Fi already for a long time. Later, Finnair introduced Wi-Fi to the narrowbody Airbus fleet, and now Wi-Fi is available on almost every Finnair European flight.
Wi-Fi is free, but the internet connection costs for Economy Class passengers. Business Class passengers and Finnair Plus Gold and Platinum members get free internet access for 30 minutes on European Flights. Only Finnair Plus Platinum Lumo members get free internet for the entire flight.
On long-haul flights, the prices and free internet limits are slightly different.
Internet on European Routes
We have tested Finnair's internet connection on many intra-European flights between 2019 and 2025. The aircraft have offered three different internet packages: Message, Browse and Stream.
The Browse Package is no longer available on narrowbody aircraft, but Message and Stream Packages are still active. In early 2025, they had the following price tags.
- Message: free for Finnair Plus members
- Stream: €9.95 for the whole flight
Message Package
Message Package is a super light version of internet connectivity. It is suitable only for using the most common instant messaging services like WhatsApp, Viber and iMessage. The connection speed is irrelevant, but the delivery delay of the messages is more important. According to our experience, the message delivery delay is small, and sending photos on WhatsApp works well.
It is impossible to purchase the Message Package, but Finnair Plus members get it free.
Stream Package
According to Finnair, the Stream Package is the best for browsing, streaming video or music, and opening VPN connections is also possible. Technically, this means no firewall rules block these activities. We guess the network also prioritises the connections in the Stream Package when the network gets congested. Finnair promises the maximum speed of 15 Mbit/s which should be enough for basic internet activity.
Steps to Connect to the Internet
You can connect to Finnair´s Wi-Fi with any device supporting Wi-Fi. After successfully connecting, your device redirects you to a login page. However, if nothing happens, you can browse manually to the Nordic Sky Portal, for example, by reading the QR code on the seat.
The Nordic Sky Portal provides free entertainment. You can purchase internet connectivity through the portal if the free services are insufficient. First, choose your desired connection type and pay using a credit card or Avios points. When paying with points, you must log in to your Finnair Plus account using your username and password. Please note that resetting your login credentials during the flight is not possible. To access the free Message Package, you'll also need to log in to your Finnair Plus Account.
The portal shows the number of passengers currently using the internet, giving you an idea of potential network congestion. Typically, only a small percentage of passengers purchase inflight internet access.
Quality of Internet Connection
We made technical measurements of the connections during our flight.
Speed
We used the Browse Package that, according to Finnair, is suitable for basic web browsing. Currently, this plan is available only on long-haul flights. The promised maximum speed was 15 Mbit/s. Our speed tests confirmed that the download speed was almost as high as promised. Finnair's marketing claim seemed to be true.
It is good to understand that there were most likely only a few concurrent users during our tests. Since the internet service is not free, the number of simultaneous users stays low.
Connection Delay
The speed of an internet connection is not the whole truth. Also, the connection delay affects the user experience. The internet feels slow when the delay stays high because web pages respond to users' actions slowly. The long delay also causes complicated web pages to load slowly.
Our measurement showed that the connection delay to Finnish servers was about 0,7 seconds (home connections typically have 0,02s). This long delay would never be normal at home, but a smaller delay is difficult to achieve because, in an aircraft, the plane's internet goes via satellites. The long delay is just something you must accept. High connection delay affects, especially on interactive applications, but sending emails, instant messaging, and web surfing should not be problematic.
Jitter
Jitter means the variation of the connection delay. High jitter is a sign that the network is congested or otherwise low-quality. According to our measurements, the jitter was small, so the network was not congested.
Upstream Speed
Internet service providers usually tell you only the downstream speed. On our flights, we also tested the speed from the user to the internet, which is called upstream speed. The result was only 1 Mbit/s instead of 15 Mbit/s. Typically, the upstream speed is limited if the total bandwidth is low. Regular users need only a little upstream data; a low upstream bandwidth barely affects the user experience. It will only be noticeable while uploading large files.
Onboard Internet User Experience
Our measurements confirmed that Finnair's Airbus aircraft offer internet speeds as advertised. However, strong technical performance doesn't always translate to a positive user experience. Ultimately, user feedback provides the most accurate measure of satisfaction.
We conducted a real-world test by writing a blog post for our website during a Finnair flight. This hands-on experience demonstrated a smooth and effortless Wi-Fi and internet usage process, resulting in an excellent overall user experience.
What Needs to Be Improved?
We also identified areas for improvement. On the Helsinki-Madeira flight, internet connectivity took nearly an hour to establish, and we encountered brief interruptions. However, the system helpfully displayed areas with potential connectivity issues before purchase. On the other hand, the internet was immediately available on the Paris flight and remained uninterrupted.
While faster speeds are desirable, they are technically challenging and expensive. A slight reduction in pricing would also be welcome.
Nordic Sky Portal - Free Entertainment
The Nordic Sky Portal is not just an internet connection. You don't need an internet package to use it. You can connect to the portal free of charge to enjoy free games, read digital magazines, or track the flight's progress. Paid services are available, but they are not mandatory.
The Nordic Sky Portal is the entertainment system on your device. Offering magazines digitally through the portal is more environmentally friendly than providing printed copies at each seat.
Common Questions
- How much does Finnair's internet connection cost on European flights?
- Wi-Fi is free, but internet connection costs. Stream Package costs 9.95 euros for the whole duration of the flight.
- What can you use the Browse Package for?
- Browse Package is suitable for browsing the internet, sending emails and using social media.
- What can you use the Stream Package for?
- Stream Package suits everything you can do with the Browse Package. In addition, you can stream music and video.
- How fast is Finnair's internet connection via Wi-Fi?
- The speed is 15 Mbit/s, a good value for an aeroplane.
- Is Finnair´s in-flight internet congested?
- According to our experience, the Wi-Fi and the internet connection are not congested.
- Is the user experience of Finnair's onboard internet smooth?
- On Finnair's European flights, the user experience of onboard onboard internet is smooth.
- Is Finnair's onboard internet connection suitable for remote working?
- Stream Package is suitable for remote working. We have not tested VPN connections, but Finnair promises they will work.
Bottom Line
We have purchased an onboard internet connection a few times and used it for a few hours. The Wi-Fi and the internet connection have been working well, and there has been no congestion. We also think the price is affordable for a well-working aeroplane´s internet. We are delighted with the service quality even though it is not on the same level as at home. We feel that we have got value for our money.
Have you tried Finnair's onboard Wi-Fi? Comment below!
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