Image Source: American Airlines
Starting in January 2026, AAdvantage members aboard roughly 90% of the airline’s fleet will get access to free wi-fi as they travel.
American Airlines is the latest carrier to announce they will offer travelers free wi-fi as a benefit of being a loyalty member.
The airline announced the free wi-fi will begin in January 2026 on roughly 90% of their fleet.
Free Wi-Fi Will Be Avialable on Viasat, Intelsat Equipped Flights
According to the airline, free wi-fi will be accessible to American AAdvanrtage members on flights equipped with either Viasat or Intelsat high-speed satellite internet connectivity. In addition, American says they plan on outfitting over 500 regional aircraft with wi-fi equipment, which would also be complimentary for loyalty members, regardless of status.
The free wi-fi is the result of a partnership with AT&T, who is sponsoring the program. While AT&T is not providing any part of the connectivity, American noted they have been a long standing business customer of the telecommunications giant.
To ensure everything would work correctly, the carrier tested their plans for free wi-fi aboard select flights. The company said their tests “surpassed performance expectations” with multiple connections onboard.
“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.”
With the move, American is the last of the “legacy three” to offer free wi-fi to their loyalty members. Delta Air Lines introduced the benefit for flyers aboard mainline flights in 2023, while United Airlines followed suit aboard Starlink-equipped flights earlier in 2025.
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