American Airlines Will Offer Free Wi-fi On Most Flights. Here’s When It Starts.

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• American Airlines will offer free Wi-Fi on most domestic flights starting in 2026.
• The free Wi-Fi will be sponsored by AT&T and available to members of American's AAdvantage loyalty program.
• The amenity will be available on approximately 90% of American's fleet, including most regional jets.

American Airlines announced Tuesday it will provide free high-speed Wi-Fi on most flights starting in 2026. 

According to the airline, the complimentary internet access will be sponsored by AT&T and will be available to most passengers, including those traveling on regional jets. 

“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,” Heather Garboden, Chief Customer Officer at American Airlines, said in a statement. “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.” 

In order to access the amenity, passengers will have to enroll in American’s AAdvantage loyalty program. Delta Air Lines, which was the first legacy U.S. carrier to roll out free internet access on most flights, has a similar requirement.

American’s onboard internet will be provided by Viasat or Intelsat, depending on the aircraft’s equipment, but all the complimentary access is sponsored by AT&T. Internet providers at other airlines include Viasat, Hughes, Panasonic, Thales, Anuvu and Starlink, depending on the carrier and aircraft type. 

Currently, American charges for most onboard internet service, with access starting at around $10 on most flights, and multi-use plans starting at $49.95 per month or $599 annually. Onboard internet is also currently available on most flights for eligible T-Mobile customers. 

According to the airline, complimentary internet access will be available on about 90% of its fleet, translating to around 2 million flights, starting in January 2026. The airline plans to install high-speed internet equipment on most of its regional jets by the end of 2025 to expand availability across its network. 

Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com.