Play Mahjong with Friends on a Plane
Real 4-player Hong Kong Mahjong with the friends sitting next to you, over Bluetooth and peer-to-peer Wi-Fi between your devices. No airline Wi-Fi, no backend, no internet at any point during play. Works on iPhone, iPad and Mac — on any airline.
How it works without internet
Play with Friends Nearby uses Apple's Multipeer Connectivity framework. Devices discover each other directly over Bluetooth and peer-to-peer Wi-Fi (AWDL) — the same short-range tech AirDrop uses. One device hosts the game and runs the engine; other devices join as guests, receive per-player game state from the host over the local connection, and send their moves back the same way. No data leaves your group of devices. No servers, no backend, no internet.
The first time you use the feature, iOS asks for Local Network permission — that's what allows the app to discover other devices nearby. Tap Allow and you're set.
Works on any airline, on any iOS device
- Any airline. The feature does not use the airline's network at all — it doesn't matter whether your airline offers onboard Wi-Fi, and you don't need to buy any Wi-Fi pass.
- iPhone, iPad and Mac. Mahjong runs on all three. If one of you brought a MacBook, they can play from the Mac as long as the app is installed locally.
- Stay in airplane mode. Your iPhone can stay in airplane mode the entire flight. Bluetooth and peer-to-peer Wi-Fi discovery work independently of cellular and internet Wi-Fi.
What each player needs
We want you to know exactly what to expect before the flight, not at the gate.
- Their own iPhone, iPad or Mac with the Hong Kong Mahjong app installed. Each person plays from their own device — this is networked multiplayer, not pass-and-play.
- Their own Airplane Mode entitlement. Both the host and every guest need an active Flight Pass (24 hours) or Frequent Flyer Pass (monthly). Plan to buy these before the flight while you still have internet — the purchase itself needs a connection.
- Physical proximity. The devices need to be within Bluetooth and peer-to-peer Wi-Fi range. Same row on a plane, same dinner table at home, same booth in a café — all fine.
Beginner and Advanced modes
Beginner: 10-second turn and claim timer, no minimum faan required to win, simplified tile artwork to help new players read the table faster.
Advanced: 7-second timer, 3-faan minimum required to win, standard Hong Kong tile artwork.
The host picks the mode when opening the lobby — everyone at the table plays that mode.
Table layouts — each player picks their own
Accessible list view is a classic scrollable interface, easier to read on smaller screens. The Mahjong table viewis a bird's-eye 5×5 grid that puts all four players on screen at once, like sitting at a real table.
Each player chooses their own layout — the host picks one for themselves when opening the lobby, every guest picks their own when joining. You can play the same game with different views on each device.
Authentic Hong Kong rules and faan scoring
Nearby games use the same engine as the online game and solo Airplane Mode — authentic Hong Kong Mahjong with pung, kong, chow, eyes, faan scoring, prevailing wind, seat wind and dealer hold. Bots and human players can both pursue all the special hands: Seven Pairs, Thirteen Orphans, Nine Gates, the dragon hands (Pearl, Jade, Ruby), and Small/Great Winds and Small/Great Dragons. This is real Mahjong, not solitaire tile-matching.
Single hand or full 4-round match
Single hand: roughly 8–15 minutes. Good for a short hop — Hong Kong to Taipei, London to Paris, Zurich to Munich.
Full 4-round match: roughly 60–90+ minutes. Four rounds named after the prevailing winds (East, South, West, North), a minimum of 16 hands, with the dealer holding the deal after every dealer win. Covers a long-haul leg — Hong Kong to London, San Francisco to Tokyo, Zurich to Hong Kong.
The host picks the length when opening the lobby.
AI bots fill any empty seats
Two, three or four humans can play together over Nearby. If you're a trio, one AI bot fills the fourth seat. If it's just you and one friend, two bots fill in. The bots use the same engine as solo Airplane Mode — they claim, build melds, and pursue special hands like human players.
How to set up — step by step
Everyone installs the app and buys an Airplane Mode pass — Flight Pass for a single trip, or Frequent Flyer Pass for a month. Both need internet, so do this before you board.
One person taps Host Nearby on the home screen, picks the game mode, table layout, game length and a name, then opens the lobby. A 4-digit code appears.
Each friend taps Join Nearby, enters a name, picks their layout, finds the host in the list of nearby games, and taps to join. When iOS asks for Local Network permission, tap Allow.
When everyone is in, the host starts the game. If the lobby expires before the host starts manually, the game auto-starts with whoever has joined — AI bots fill the rest of the seats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it really work without WiFi on a plane?
Yes. Play with Friends Nearby uses Apple's Multipeer Connectivity framework — Bluetooth and peer-to-peer Wi-Fi (AWDL) directly between devices. No data leaves the local connection. No backend, no internet. Your phone can stay in airplane mode the entire flight.
Does it work on every airline?
Yes. The feature does not use the airline's network at all, so it works on any flight — whether the airline offers onboard Wi-Fi or not, and regardless of whether you buy it.
What devices does it work on?
iPhone, iPad and Mac (with the Hong Kong Mahjong app installed locally). Each player needs their own device — this is networked multiplayer, not pass-and-play on a single device.
Do my friends need to buy something too?
Yes. Play with Friends Nearby is gated by the Airplane Mode entitlement — a 24-hour Flight Pass or a monthly Frequent Flyer Pass. Both the host and every guest need their own active entitlement. Buy your passes before the flight while you still have internet.
Can I play if my friend hasn't installed the app yet?
They need to install the app and unlock an Airplane Mode pass before takeoff — both require internet. Once installed and entitled, no internet is needed during play.
Is it real Hong Kong Mahjong with proper rules?
Yes. Same engine as the online game and solo Airplane Mode — authentic Hong Kong rules, pung, kong, chow, eyes, faan scoring, prevailing wind, seat wind, dealer hold, and special hands including Seven Pairs, Thirteen Orphans, Nine Gates, the dragon hands (Pearl, Jade, Ruby) and Small/Great Winds and Dragons.
How long does a Mahjong game take on a flight?
A single hand takes roughly 8–15 minutes — good for a short hop. A full 4-round match runs roughly 60–90+ minutes, covering a long-haul leg.
What if only two of us want to play?
Mahjong needs four seats. Two or three humans can play together over Nearby and AI bots fill the remaining seats, using the same engine and special-hand pursuit as solo Airplane Mode.
Got a flight coming up with friends?
Download the app, unlock an Airplane Mode pass before takeoff, and you're ready for real 4-player Mahjong at 35,000 feet.