Netflix Users to Get Free Wi-Fi on Virgin America Flights

Virgin has installed ViaSat WiFi in 10 new A320 aircraft that will be rolling out through the spring of 2016, and are clearly marked with the #NetflixOnboard hashtag on the side of the planes.

The companies announced a partnership Tuesday to provide complimentary in-flight streaming of Netflix shows.

“As WiFi becomes more ubiquitous, it’s going to be increasingly possible for members to enjoy Netflix wherever they want”, Bill Holmes, Netflix’s global head of business development, said in a statement.

Virgin America, which markets itself as a low-priced but upscale carrier, is using the Netflix partnership to tout its Wi-Fi upgrades.

House of Cards’ Michael Kelly (Doug Stamper) took to the skies in character between San Francisco and Washington DC to mark the Netflix tie-up in a specially-painted aircraft, with passengers naturally treated to morally-ambiguous political advice. To me, though, both deals are great because I’ve been on far too many flights where wi-fi wasn’t available at all, and honestly, it’s pretty miserable when there’s stuff I could be doing, like watching Netflix or Amazon Video! Virgin America has one of the youngest fleets in the industry, with custom-designed, mood-lit cabins, comfortable leather seating and a personal seatback entertainment platform that offers every guest their own seatback touch-screen with movies, live TV, interactive maps, videogames, a 3,000 song library and an on-demand menu, which allows flyers to order a cocktail or snack from their seatback any time during a flight. Earlier this summer, the airline announced a connectivity partnership with satellite operator ViaSat to provide Internet speeds on par with wireline broadband.

Netflix and other streaming services are typically blocked on in-flight wireless networks because of the data connection speed and bandwidth required to handle them. Because most in-flight entertainment sucks.

Virgin and Netflix will offer the free WiFi until March 2, 2016.