Should I Use A VPN On A Private Jet?

Flying privately can remove a lot of stress and worry associated with the traveling process, but one thing that many people don't consider is how safe their in-flight internet connection is. 

For business professionals, flying privately offers a distraction-free space to conduct meetings or communicate with their teams back on the ground. For leisure travelers, a chartered flight can mark the perfect beginning and end to a vacation, complete with their own in-flight entertainment. 

If you’re at all concerned with privacy or the security of a private jet’s Wi-Fi network, you may consider using a VPN to protect your internet activity. 

Covid-19 Is Driving Travelers To Private Flights

The risk of contracting Covid-19 isn’t going away any time soon, and as a result, many travelers are turning to chartered flights in lieu of commercial airlines. 

In July, the L.A. Times reported that demand for commercial flights had sunk to as low as 10% of pre-pandemic levels, but private jet companies were booking about 80% as many hours in the air as they had before the pandemic struck the U.S.

Fewer passengers and a smaller amount of shared areas mean that the potential touch connections with other people decreases from about 270 on a commercial plane to 20 on a private jet.

For those who have to travel for business or want to feel safe while on vacation with their family, chartered flights have become the preferred option.

Who Is Targeting Your Online Activity?

If you're flying on a private jet, hackers, especially those who specialize in identity theft, see you as a prime target. Why? Because private jets aren’t cheap — and hackers may assume that stealing your sensitive information would be a fruitful endeavor. They also know that airline passengers often aren’t as concerned with internet security.

However, it's not just hackers and cyberthieves who can be targeting your internet activity. If you're traveling internationally, you need to be aware of countries with internet censorship and laws regulating content access. Attempting to access websites in certain countries may unknowingly put you in legal trouble or open you up to investigation.

Using A VPN While Flying: A New Concept

It’s fairly common to use a VPN while at home, in the office or telecommuting, but using a mobile VPN service while flying may not occur to everyone. There are a few really good reasons for using a VPN on a private jet, but there are also some factors you should take into consideration.

The Benefits Of Using A VPN In The Air

• Security and peace of mind: The most obvious reason that you'd want to use a VPN while flying — whether it's commercial or a chartered flight — is security. Just like public Wi-Fi hot spots, airline connections are rarely secure networks and make for easy targets for cybercriminals.

Whether you’re conducting business on a laptop or checking bank information on your phone, protecting the data you access online is the single best reason to use a VPN on a private jet.

• Set it and forget it: The best VPN services have user-friendly apps with an on/off switch for nearly every device. Before you leave home, simply set your VPN to "on" on each of your devices, and travel knowing that everything you do online is protected.

Potential Drawbacks

Due to the added security, a VPN typically causes a small slowdown in internet connection speed. On fast networks, the decrease is barely noticeable, but users on slower Wi-Fi networks may see media buffering and longer load times.

Some VPN services are also inherently faster than others. Don’t ever sacrifice security for speed, but you’ll want to make sure your preferred VPN can support speeds high enough for your needs.

Make Sure You Choose The Right VPN For You

Using the right VPN for you is just as crucial as using a VPN at all. There are thousands of service providers that specialize in hundreds of different use cases. Be sure to always conduct due diligence when choosing a VPN and to consult the professionals when necessary.

Regardless of whether you’re at home, in the office or on a private jet, it’s never worth having your online data compromised. I always recommend considering a VPN for peace of mind so you know that your data is secure every time you connect to the internet.

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