Last Updated: May 2025 | Reading Time: 4 minutes | Author: Amazing Miles Editorial Team

When it comes to in-flight internet performance, Spirit Airlines may not be the first carrier that comes to mind. However, recent testing reveals that the budget carrier actually offers some of the fastest Wi-Fi speeds among U.S. airlines, outpacing legacy competitors and delivering a level of connectivity that challenges conventional assumptions about ultra-low-cost carriers.

The Surprising Results from Ookla Testing

Speed testing firm Ookla recently evaluated in-flight Wi-Fi performance across 30 airlines worldwide, measuring both download and upload speeds as well as latency. The results placed Spirit Airlines third globally for internet performance, trailing only Hawaiian Airlines and Qatar Airways. Both of those leading carriers rely on Starlink satellite technology, which has set a new benchmark for airborne connectivity.

What makes Spirit’s performance noteworthy is that the airline achieved these speeds without using Starlink. Among all carriers not using the advanced satellite service, Spirit registered the highest median internet speed. For travelers accustomed to sluggish or unreliable in-flight Wi-Fi, this represents a meaningful step forward in connectivity quality.

How Spirit Compares to Legacy U.S. Carriers

Spirit’s performance is particularly impressive when compared to the big three legacy U.S. carriers. In Ookla’s testing, Spirit outperformed Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines in that order. Delta took the top spot among the legacy carriers, followed by American, with United trailing as the slowest of the three.

Air Canada ranked fourth worldwide among non-Starlink carriers, placing above Delta and ahead of ultra-low-cost-carrier Breeze Airlines. This competitive landscape suggests that airline business model and ticket price are not necessarily reliable predictors of in-flight Wi-Fi quality.

The Starlink Advantage

Hawaiian Airlines and Qatar Airways distinguished themselves by leveraging Starlink technology, which delivers significantly higher median download and upload speeds compared to traditional satellite or ground-to-air systems. Starlink’s low-earth-orbit satellite constellation provides lower latency and faster throughput, creating a connectivity experience closer to what travelers expect on the ground.

The success of these early adopters has prompted several other carriers to pursue Starlink installations. United Airlines has announced plans to equip its fleet with Starlink by the end of 2025, which could dramatically improve its current 11th-place ranking. Air France and SAS are also in the process of rolling out Starlink across their aircraft.

Air New Zealand, which ranked among the bottom six carriers in the study, is taking a more cautious approach by installing Starlink on two aircraft as a trial before committing to a fleet-wide upgrade.

The Slowest Performers

At the other end of the spectrum, German flag carrier Lufthansa ranked last in the testing. The airline’s poor showing is attributed to its reliance on the Deutsche Telekom LTE ground-to-air network, which limits bandwidth and speed. While Lufthansa may offer alternative connectivity options on some aircraft, a significant portion of passengers still connect via this lower-performing service.

Other carriers near the bottom of the rankings included Cathay Pacific, Turkish Airlines, Zipair Tokyo, and Japan Airlines. These results are somewhat surprising given the premium brand positioning of several of these airlines. Ookla noted that carriers like Japan Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and Cathay Pacific likely offer better-performing connectivity on certain aircraft, but the median experience across their fleets remains below industry leaders.

What This Means for Travelers

For road warriors and frequent travelers who depend on reliable connectivity for work or staying in touch during flights, these findings offer useful guidance. Spirit Airlines, despite its budget positioning, delivers competitive Wi-Fi performance that can support video calls, streaming, and productivity tasks more effectively than many full-service carriers.

As Starlink adoption expands across the industry, the gap between top and bottom performers is likely to widen further. Carriers that delay upgrades risk falling further behind in an area that increasingly influences booking decisions, particularly among business travelers and digital nomads.

It’s worth noting that Wi-Fi performance can vary based on aircraft type, route, and network congestion. The Ookla study provides median performance data, which offers a reasonable expectation but doesn’t guarantee identical results on every flight.

FAQ

Q: Which airlines currently offer Starlink Wi-Fi?

A: Hawaiian Airlines and Qatar Airways currently lead in Starlink deployment. United Airlines plans to complete its Starlink rollout by the end of 2025, while Air France and SAS are actively installing the technology across their fleets. Air New Zealand is testing Starlink on two aircraft before making a broader commitment.

Q: Does Spirit Airlines charge for Wi-Fi access?

A: Yes, Spirit Airlines typically charges for Wi-Fi access as part of its unbundled pricing model. Fees and packages vary depending on flight duration and data needs. Despite the cost, the performance quality now rivals or exceeds what many legacy carriers offer.

Q: Why did some premium carriers rank poorly in Wi-Fi speed tests?

A: Several factors contribute to slower speeds on premium carriers. Lufthansa’s reliance on ground-to-air LTE networks limits performance, while carriers like Japan Airlines and Cathay Pacific may still be operating older connectivity systems on portions of their fleet. The median speed reflects the overall fleet experience rather than best-case scenarios on newer aircraft.

AmazingMiles Verdict

Spirit Airlines’ strong showing in independent Wi-Fi speed testing challenges assumptions about the relationship between ticket price and service quality. While Hawaiian Airlines and Qatar Airways lead the pack with Starlink technology, Spirit’s performance among non-Starlink carriers demonstrates that even budget airlines can deliver competitive connectivity. As more carriers adopt advanced satellite systems over the next year, the competitive landscape will continue to shift. For now, travelers seeking reliable in-flight internet have more options than conventional wisdom might suggest, and Spirit deserves recognition for outperforming several legacy competitors in this increasingly important amenity.