Top five ways private jet passengers use in-flight Wi-Fi

How executives can make the most of their time while in the air

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To some, Wi-Fi on a private jet may sound like a luxury. But for those who use private aircraft, fast and reliable internet is all about saving money.

That’s because business jet travelers always have one resource that no amount of technology can create: time. By one measure, a top-level CEO’s time is worth about $80 per minute. Few executives can afford to disappear for hours while flying to their next meeting.

But with top-notch in-flight connectivity like Viasat’s, private jet users can work from the moment they come aboard until they disembark. Here are the top five ways private jet passengers leverage airborne Wi-Fi to stay present and productive while in transit:

Email and text communications: Anyone in business knows that neglecting email is a recipe for trouble. Keeping the inbox online is one of the most basic, crucial jobs of in-flight Wi-Fi. It enables executives to stay connected to their team to keep work and collaboration moving.

Web browsing and social media: While study after study has shown that taking a break can actually improve professionals’ work, it’s a challenge to find work-life balance. A fast, reliable internet connection helps traveling professionals (averaging 50+ hour work weeks) find time to improve work-life balance by letting them take a break and unwind with personal web browsing, entertainment and social media.

Streaming media: From college dorms to corporate boardrooms, everyone is streaming more media these days. No executive wants to invest in a Wi-Fi system for a multimillion-dollar private jet, only to discover that the service struggles to stream video. Viasat in-flight connectivity has the capacity to stream video to every device on the plane, simultaneously and at all stages of flight.

Voice/VoIP communications: With the FCC holding steady on its ban of cellphone use on all aircraft, Wi-Fi-based voice and VoIP solutions remain essential for private jet passengers. To ensure high-quality voice communications, a strong and reliable internet signal is required. Because sometimes, “I’ll call you when we land” isn’t an option.

File sharing: Few things are more frustrating than settling in to get some work done, only to realize you can’t access the file you’re supposed to be working on. Some 39 percent of corporate data lives in the cloud, which means that if your in-flight connection bogs down with file-sharing, you’re not fully connected. That directly impacts overall productivity and collaboration. A good in-flight Wi-Fi solution lets business travelers edit, share, and download important files in real time.

Private air travel is supposed to make professionals more agile and available, not lock them inside a box. That’s why great in-flight Wi-Fi is a natural extension of the investment in a private jet. It allows passengers to get the most out their most valuable asset – their time.

James Person is director of Business Development and Strategy for Viasat’s Business Aviation division