If you’re not using Airplane Mode on a plane, your phone can still connect to an onboard mobile roaming network and use chargeable data, even if you think you’re “only using Wi-Fi”. That’s how unexpected roaming charges happen on long-haul flights.
Below is what “On Airways” means, why it can be expensive, what “OnAir vs On Airways” really refers to, and the practical steps to stop in-flight charges.
What happens if I don’t use Airplane Mode on a flight?
When your phone is switched on, and flight mode on the plane is not enabled, the device will keep looking for a mobile signal. Some aircraft provide an onboard cellular service (a small base station inside the cabin, with satellite backhaul). If your phone connects, any data use is billed as roaming by your UK network. AeroMobile (one of the common in-flight roaming providers) states that international roaming rates apply, and pricing is set by your mobile network operator.
This is why the safest rule is simple:
Keep Aeroplane Mode on, then turn Wi-Fi on if you want internet.
What is “On Airways”?
“On Airways” is usually a billing category used in roaming rate cards and price guides for in-flight usage (often grouped with maritime and airways roaming). It’s not always the network name you’ll see on your handset. In some wholesale price guides, “On Airways and Maritime” is treated as chargeable roaming and can be priced in line with higher Rest of World zones.
OnAir vs On Airways: what’s the difference?
OnAir is a network/operator brand associated with in-flight mobile roaming (separate from the airline’s Wi-Fi).
On Airways is a category label on many tariffs/rate cards that groups “in-flight roaming” charges.
What you may see on your phone is typically one of these network names:
- AeroMobile (MCC/MNC 901-14)
- OnAir / Mobile OnAir (historically linked to 901-15)
So, in practice:
- Phone shows: AeroMobile / OnAir
- Bill or rate card groups it as: “On Airways” (and sometimes alongside Maritime)
Why On Airways data charges can be expensive
In-flight and maritime data is often charged at a premium because it relies on satellite backhaul and sits outside everyday roaming bundles.
For O2 Business, O2’s small business roaming guide states that data outside the Europe Zone is charged at £6 per MB.
“But I have a roaming contract”. Does that solve it?
Not always.
Many roaming bundles focus on Europe (or specific destinations). In-flight and maritime services can be treated differently, and some guides warn that daily roaming services may be unavailable for roaming events such as “On Airways and Maritime”, meaning your usual passes may not apply.
Also, in-flight mobile roaming providers note that your home operator bills you, and the cost is set by your operator’s roaming rates.
How charges happen “without you using the phone”
You don’t need to be streaming video for a chargeable session to start. Common triggers include:
- Email sync and push notifications
- App background refresh (Teams/Slack/WhatsApp)
- Photo backups
- System services “checking in”
- Apps refreshing in the background the moment the phone finds a data route
Some rate cards even warn that a device can “ping” the network during boot-up before settings fully apply, which is why network-level controls are often recommended for business fleets.
The Wi-Fi trap on long-haul flights
If your phone is not in aeroplane mode and you connect to the aircraft’s Wi-Fi, your mobile radio remains active. If the onboard Wi-Fi drops or becomes unstable, your phone may look for an alternative route and can latch onto the onboard mobile roaming network if it’s available.
That’s why the best setup for in-flight internet is:
- Airplane Mode on a flight
- Wi-Fi on
- (Optional) Bluetooth on for headphones
With that setup, you can use onboard Wi-Fi while keeping cellular roaming blocked.
How to avoid “On Airways” roaming charges
Do this before take-off (60 seconds)
- Turn on “Airplane Mode” on plan
- Turn Wi-Fi on (only if you plan to use onboard Wi-Fi)
- Keep Mobile Data off (or ensure it’s blocked by policy)
If you must use roaming after you land
- Wait until you’re on the ground, then choose your roaming plan (or travel eSIM) and deliberately switch settings back on.
Spend cap roaming and data cap roaming: what helps (and what doesn’t)
Spend cap (helps you controlling bill shock)
O2 explains that Spend Cap can be set to specific values (including £10-£50 ranges and higher), with options that can go higher depending on the account type.
A spending cap can stop you from overspending, but it won’t stop your phone from trying to connect. It just limits how much you can be charged if data gets through.
Data cap (sets a hard limit on your device)
On Android, use “Data warning & limit” and turn on “Set data limit”.
Samsung Galaxy: the equivalent is found under “Billing cycle and data warning”, where you can set a data limit for the billing cycle.
iPhone: iOS does not offer the same built-in hard “stop data at X MB” switch. The most practical controls are:
- Low Data Mode (cuts background usage, but does not hard-cap)
- Turn off Data Roaming
- Turn Mobile Data off (or restrict data per app)
- Check your data use in Settings and reset the stats at the start of each billing period
FAQ
Will Airplane Mode stop On Airways roaming?
Yes. Airplane Mode turns off the cellular radio, which prevents in-flight mobile roaming networks from connecting.
What network name should I look out for?
Common in-flight network identifiers include AeroMobile and OnAir/Mobile OnAir.
Can I still use Wi-Fi in Airplane Mode?
Yes. Enable Airplane Mode first, then turn Wi-Fi on.
Is Zone 4 covered during the contract?
It depends on your tariff and roaming add-ons. Some guidance documents treat On Airways and Maritime as RoW Zone 4 (high-cost roaming), which is why it’s often excluded from everyday roaming bundles.
How much can this cost?
On some O2 Business rate plans, out-of-Europe data is charged at £6 per MB without a qualifying roaming offer, which is why in-flight data can escalate quickly.