I usually travel on a budget airline. You can get in-flight Internet, but you need to pay for it. I never do.
If the Internet were free, I would likely spend the entire time answering emails and working on various on-line documents. Most of the time this is an obligation, and not particularly enjoyable.
So instead, since I am off the grid for a few hours, I program, which is something I really love to do. I usually end up creating something cool and fun, and also productive, in that uninterrupted alone time.
What I save by taking a budget airline cannot be counted in dollars. Having time free from obligations is in many ways more valuable than money.
As Thoreau said, “The world is too much with us.” And he didn’t even have the Internet.