Whoa: American announces free Wi-Fi coming next year
In a stunning change of events, American Airlines has officially announced that it'll make inflight Wi-Fi connectivity free beginning next year.
The Fort Worth-based carrier is teaming up with AT&T to offer flyers complimentary Wi-Fi on all Viasat- and Intelsat-equipped aircraft. Free Wi-Fi will launch in January, with the airline planning to offer the free connectivity exclusively to AAdvantage loyalty program members.
Free Wi-Fi on 90% of American's jets
American says that free Wi-Fi will be available on jets that offer high-speed internet service, which accounts for roughly 90% of the airline's fleet.
The airline's two-cabin regional jets are currently undergoing a retrofit process to install better satellite connectivity from Intelsat. The airline has more than 100 regional jets already reconfigured, and it's on pace to outfit just over 500 regional aircraft with this upgraded service by the end of 2025.
Perhaps the most notable exception will be the airline's long-haul fleet, much of which is equipped with Panasonic internet satellites that don't have enough bandwidth to enable free Wi-Fi for everyone. These planes will maintain a paid internet option. (New wide-body aircraft deliveries are expected to be equipped with Viasat going forward.)
Trials of free connectivity were successful
American's announcement of free Wi-Fi comes just weeks after the airline launched a limited-time complimentary Wi-Fi test on three select routes, allowing the airline to assess the strength of its network and whether it can support a broader free Wi-Fi rollout. The airline says that the test "surpassed performance expectations."
That outcome isn't necessarily surprising given that Delta Air Lines and JetBlue already offer free fleetwide Wi-Fi across all their jets equipped with Viasat satellites.
But at least American Airlines is finally getting with the times and making Wi-Fi free — a stunning reversal for the carrier, which has consistently charged the most of any major U.S. carrier for internet connectivity even as an increasing number of U.S. airlines made inflight Wi-Fi free.
American's shift to free connectivity comes just weeks after the carrier announced that it would appoint a chief customer officer to renew its focus on the customer experience.
"Our customers greatly value staying connected while in the air, whether communicating with friends, getting work done, checking in on social media or streaming their favorite subscription services. We've been working diligently to outfit our aircraft with best-in-class high-speed Wi-Fi and together with AT&T are proud to offer those services at no cost to our most loyal customers," Heather Garboden, American's new chief customer officer, said in a statement Tuesday.
A longtime free Wi-Fi holdout
American has long been a major holdout on the free (or discounted) Wi-Fi bandwagon. Despite having most of its fleet outfitted with streaming-capable Wi-Fi, the carrier has been the stingiest when it comes to connectivity.
Flight passes routinely go for upward of $20, and the airline's pricing scheme that allows you to redeem miles for a pass is rarely a good deal. (You'll want to compare the redemption rate against TPG's April 2025 valuation of 1.65 cents per AAdvantage mile.)
Just last week, I paid $24 for a full-flight pass on American from Atlanta to Philadelphia. With Delta or JetBlue, connectivity would've been free. With Alaska Airlines, Southwest Airlines or United Airlines, I would've needed to pay $8. But with American, it was a whopping $24 for a 90-minute flight.
In fairness, American has trialed and then introduced time-limited, ad-sponsored Wi-Fi passes, though that connectivity has historically been limited to 15 or 20 minutes of browsing. In fact, back in 2017, American promised free messaging would be coming "soon" — but that day never materialized.
Now, nearly a decade later, the airline will just make Wi-Fi free for all of its loyalty members.
Inflight surfing: American debuts new Wi-Fi redemptions but stops short of making it free
Back in 2017, Delta Air Lines became the first of the Big Three U.S. airlines — American, Delta and United — to offer free messaging to all travelers. This allowed flyers to connect to the internet to use apps such as iMessage and WhatsApp without paying for a full Wi-Fi pass.
American announced the next day that it would match Delta's move "soon" without providing a concrete timeline.
Even Southwest and United, which have much of their fleets outfitted with slower and less reliable Wi-Fi than American's fleet, now offer free messaging.
Playing catch-up
While American will soon make Wi-Fi free, it's playing a game of catch-up. JetBlue has long offered free internet access on board, and Delta is now doing it, too. Alaska, Southwest and United all currently offer $8 Wi-Fi passes on many flights, and United will soon even make its connectivity free once it rolls out Starlink Wi-Fi.
Even though American has officially decided to offer free Wi-Fi, it still won't offer seatback screens across its domestic fleet. So, don't forget to bring your own entertainment device when flying with American.
Related reading:
- Your ultimate guide to American Airlines AAdvantage
- Best credit cards for American Airlines flyers
- American Airlines elite status: What it is and how to earn it
- Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
- The best credit cards to reach elite status
- American Airlines basic economy: What you need to know about bags, seats, boarding and more
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees