American Airlines to Offer Free Inflight Wi-Fi for AAdvantage Members by 2026

Competition among airlines in the United States means that when one company changes its operations, the others are usually close behind. Take, for example, the pressure to add pared-down budget options where everything from bags to picking a seat is paid for à la carte. Recently, adoption of free inflight Wi-Fi has seen the same pattern. United Airlines announced it was rolling out limited free Wi-Fi to flights by the end of 2025, and Delta moved to offer free service to all international flights shortly after.

Now American Airlines is onboard after a trial in March, and will have free inflight Wi-Fi to all AAdvantage loyalty program members starting January 2026.

The new service, sponsored by AT&T, will be available on roughly 90 percent of American’s mainline aircraft outfitted with Viasat and Intelsat satellite connectivity, according to the airline. The rollout follows months of performance testing on select routes, with American stating the system exceeded internal benchmarks. The initiative also includes plans to retrofit over 500 regional jets with high-speed Wi-Fi by the end of 2025.

“Our customers greatly value staying connected while in the air,” Heather Garboden, chief customer officer at American Airlines, said in a press release. “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.”

The move brings American in line with a growing industry standard. Delta began offering free Wi-Fi to SkyMiles members on most domestic flights in 2023. United Airlines, meanwhile, is deploying free inflight internet powered by SpaceX’s Starlink satellite system. JetBlue has long provided free connectivity on all flights, regardless of loyalty status.

American was one of the few US carriers to charge passengers for Wi-Fi access. By linking the service to AAdvantage membership, the airline not only enhances the onboard experience but also incentivizes signups to its loyalty program, which is free to join.

The partnership with AT&T — described by the airline as a union between “two iconic American brands” — allows American to offer the service without passing costs to customers, at least for now. While pricing details for non-members remain unconfirmed, the airline emphasized that the initiative is exclusive to AAdvantage participants.

Installation and service management will depend on satellite providers Viasat and Intelsat, whose high-speed systems currently power the majority of American’s Wi-Fi-enabled fleet. According to the airline, the network will eventually deliver more complimentary internet access than any other US carrier.