Smart Google Messages: AI Use During Flights!

Discover This Smart Google Messages Trick: Use AI During Flights Without Wi-Fi Costs!

13 May 2025 at 06: 01

Reading time: 2 minutes

In-flight Wi-Fi can be expensive and unreliable. But there's a clever solution to this frustration, with an Android phone, Google Messages and the built-in Gemini AI. During a flight with Air France from Paris In Budapest I discovered how to apply this technique.

I often opt for the free messaging plan, which allows me to chat on apps like WhatsApp and Google Messages via RCS without paying a cent. This time, however, I needed a quick enquiry line, which required some connectivity. Many airlines offer Wi-Fi for a fee, but also offer free messaging via RCS, although the quality can vary. RCS is essential, as SMS messages cannot be sent once airplane mode is turned on before take-off.

Still, I was able to chat with the AI during the flight thanks to RCS. Rich Communication Services is a messaging protocol introduced in 2008 by the GSM Association, and it replaces SMS and MMS with capabilities like media sharing, typing indicators, and real-time messaging over data or Wi-Fi. After connecting to the airline’s free messaging service, I opened Google Messages and pressed the Gemini AI button. I asked the assistant for the top 10 Android and Google tech stories of the day. Gemini responded with current Android and Google news items, like the launch of the NotebookLM app and three-way conversation on Google Voice.

The trick worked because Gemini runs inside Google Messages. If RCS messaging is allowed, replies come in like regular chats. Whereas for me, using Gemini with free access was like peering through a window into the entire internet without actually opening a browser. And yes, Gemini can even generate images, but the connection in the air was too slow to open links and I had to delete previous conversations to see the proper formatting, like underlines and blank lines. It was all a nice, streamlined experience, like chatting with the greatest nerd ever via text.

We can’t predict whether these tricks will still work on iOS or how long this hack will be around, especially as airlines continue to monitor the situation. For now, though, it’s a clever way to avoid the high cost of Wi-Fi at 30.000 feet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is RCS important for in-flight messaging?
RCS is crucial because text messages cannot be sent when airplane mode is turned on. It allows users to send free messages during the flight without having to pay for Wi-Fi.

Can I also connect to Gemini AI on an iPhone?
It's not clear whether this technique will also work on iOS, so it remains to be seen whether iPhone users will be able to do the same.

How long will this hack remain accessible?
It’s hard to say how long this hack will be around, especially if airlines respond. For now, it’s a convenient way to connect without fees.

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