After dragging their feet for years, major U.S. airlines suddenly seem to be in a rush to give passengers free Wi-Fi.
This week American Airlines announced that free high-speed Wi-Fi would become available on most of the carrier’s flights starting in January 2026.
Sponsored by AT&T, the complimentary connectivity will be offered on all aircraft equipped with Viasat and Intelsat high-speed satellite systems. According to American, that accounts for roughly 90% of its fleet and will apply to customers on more than 2 million flights a year.
The company reports that recent tests of its Wi-Fi systems surpassed expectations, and around 500 more regional American aircraft are expected to be equipped with the necessary technology by the end of the year, in time for the perk’s 2026 debut.
To connect to American’s complimentary in-flight Wi-Fi, passengers will need to be members of the airline’s AAdvantage loyalty program. Fortunately, that’s free to join.
Currently, paying for American’s in-flight Wi-Fi can cost upward of $20 per flight, as CNBC points out.
Previously, the airline’s one piddling free Wi-Fi option was a half-hour sample that required watching an ad first.
Other U.S. Airlines with Free In-Flight Wi-Fi
For many years, JetBlue was the only U.S. carrier that offered free Wi-Fi on every flight, full stop.
It wasn’t until 2023 that Delta Air Lines began introducing complimentary internet access on domestic flights, with the rollout to international flights expected to be complete by the end of this year.
Then, in the fall of 2024, United Airlines announced a plan to outfit its fleet with satellite Wi-Fi via SpaceX’s Starlink service so that the carrier can start making free in-flight connectivity available sometime this year.
And so, at long last, complimentary high-speed internet on flights appears destined to become an industry standard. Why now?
The Wall Street Journal speculates airlines are trying to woo passengers with the perk as a way of “grappling with the potential fallout from an economic downturn, with uncertain consumers delaying travel bookings.”
Okay, but how come they never try to woo us with lower baggage fees?