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In-flight Wi-Fi can make a big difference when you’re trying to stay connected, catch up on work, or stream entertainment while flying. American Airlines currently offers Wi-Fi on nearly all mainline aircraft and select regional jets — and starting in January 2026, AAdvantage members will be able to stay connected for free.
Thanks to a new partnership with AT&T, American will offer complimentary Wi-Fi on all aircraft equipped with Viasat or Intelsat connectivity, which will cover about 90% of the fleet at launch. Here’s what to know about the current and future state of Wi-Fi on American Airlines.
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Free Wi-Fi on American Airlines Flights Coming in January 2026
American Airlines just announced that it will begin offering complimentary Wi-Fi starting in January 2026. The new service will be available on all aircraft equipped with high-speed satellite internet from Viasat or Intelsat — covering the majority of domestic and international routes and about 90% of American’s fleet.
The service will be sponsored by AT&T, but you aren't required to be an AT&T customer to take advantage of the free Wi-Fi.
In its press release, American also noted that it's “on pace to outfit more than 500 regional aircraft with high-speed Wi-Fi by the end of 2025.” So, this is an active and ongoing installation project.
That said, 2026 is still a ways away. And for now, AA Wi-Fi isn’t free (well, outside of a 20-minute window if you’re willing to watch an advertisement or two). Here’s a look at which planes are currently equipped and how you can still get online without paying before the changes take effect.
Will all of American Airlines' planes offer free Wi-Fi?
The most interesting part of this announcement is that free Wi-Fi is only coming to planes with Viasat or Intelsat connectivity. American Airlines equips many of its long-haul aircraft with Panasonic, so based on this alone, it’s unlikely that planes like the Boeing 777 (200ER and 300ER) and 787 (-8 and -9) will offer complimentary Wi-Fi.
Long-term, it’s unclear whether these aircraft will get a new provider or if AA will continue charging for Wi-Fi on the jets that operate its longest routes.
Which American Airlines Aircraft Have Wi-Fi Now?
The majority of American Airlines’ planes are currently outfitted with Wi-Fi — it’s just not free (yet). Most of the mainline fleet offers inflight connectivity, while the smallest regional jets operated by subsidiaries typically do not.
And, as of the time of writing, there are two main ways to check if your flight has Wi-Fi. First, look for the Wi-Fi icon on your itinerary during booking, like in the example below:
Keep in mind that if American swaps aircraft or changes your flight, you could end up on a plane without Wi-Fi. Inflight connectivity isn’t always guaranteed — and even when it’s available, it doesn’t always work. Your mileage may vary.
You might also see that third-party booking sites like Expedia and Priceline sometimes indicate whether a flight has Wi-Fi, but take those results with a grain of salt. They’re not always accurate.
Second, you can always check the type of aircraft scheduled for your flight. American publishes a list of plane types that are Wi-Fi equipped:
| Type of Airplane | Inflight Wi-Fi? |
|---|---|
| Airbus A319 | Yes |
| Airbus A320 | Yes |
| Airbus A321 | Yes |
| Airbus A321 Transcon | Yes |
| Airbus A321neo | Yes |
| Boeing 737-800 and 737 MAX | Yes |
| Boeing 777-200 | Yes |
| Boeing 777-300ER | Yes |
| Boeing 787-8 | Yes |
| Boeing 787-9 | Yes |
| CRJ-200 | No |
| CRJ-700 | Yes |
| CRJ-900 | Yes |
| ERJ-145 | No |
| ERJ-170 | No |
| ERJ-175 | Yes |
How Much Is Wi-Fi on American Airlines?
If you're flying American Airlines between now and the end of 2025, the cost of Wi-Fi will depend on a few factors — like the duration of your flight and whether you opt for an hourly pass or one that covers the entire flight.
You can also purchase a subscription plan for a higher upfront cost, which might make sense if you fly frequently enough. That said, with free Wi-Fi less than a year away, an annual plan probably isn’t worth it.
Right now, American Airlines advertises that Wi-Fi starts at $10 per flight. But as many AA flyers know, prices are often much higher than that. Here are a few data points courtesy of AwardWallet's J.T. Genter:
| Origin | Destination | Airplane | Hourly Wi-Fi Cost | Cost for the Entire Flight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEN | ORD | Boeing 737-800 | $15 | $19 |
| MIA | ATL | Airbus A321 | N/A | $12 |
| ATL | MIA | Boeing 737-MAX | N/A | $12 |
| MIA | SVD | Boeing 737-800 | N/A | $9 |
| SVD | MIA | Airbus A319 | N/A | $9 |
| PHL | CHS | CRJ-900 | N/A | $13 |
| MAD | PHL | Boeing 787-8 | $29 for 2 hours | $35 |
| AUS | JFK | Airbus A319 | $15 | $19 |
| CHS | ORD | ERJ-175 | $13 | $17 |
| LHR | MIA | Boeing 777-300ER | N/A | $35 |
| JFK | ORD | Boeing 737-800 | $15 | $19 |
Subscription plans are also available and can be used on up to two devices. American currently offers monthly and annual plans at the following price points:
- Monthly plan
- One device: $49.95
- Two devices: $59.95
- Annual plan
- One device: $599
- Two devices: $699
To subscribe, you’ll need to be an AAdvantage member and have both an email address and a credit card linked to your account. These subscriptions are valid on most domestic flights, as well as flights between the U.S. and Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, and Central America. Long-haul flights typically use Panasonic Wi-Fi, which isn’t covered by AA’s subscription plans.
How to Get American Airlines Wi-Fi for Free in 2025
While American Airlines won’t make Wi-Fi free until 2026, there are still ways to get it without paying in the meantime. The key to saving on inflight Wi-Fi purchases is carrying an American Airlines co-branded credit card.
At present, two Barclays-issued cards offer perks to defray the cost of Wi-Fi: the AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® and the AAdvantage® Aviator® Silver Mastercard®.
Every year, the $99-annual-fee Aviator Red offers up to $25 in statement credits towards inflight Wi-Fi purchases. Or, if you hold the more premium $199-a-year Aviator Silver (not open to new applicants), you can get up to $50 back in statement credits for Wi-Fi purchases in your cardmember year.
Small businesses that outfit their wallets with the Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard® can also save on inflight Wi-Fi purchases, courtesy of one of the card's staple benefits. When buying Wi-Fi on an American Airlines flight or subscribing to a monthly or annual pass, you'll receive 25% back as a statement credit.
Free Wi-Fi for ConciergeKey elites
Starting May 1, 2025, AAdvantage ConciergeKey elites — AA's invite-only elite status — get complimentary Wi-Fi on all American Airlines flights. Just log into the Wi-Fi with your account to unlock this access.
Redeem AAdvantage miles to pay for Wi-Fi
If you’ve got a bunch of AAdvantage miles, American will let you use them to pay for inflight Wi-Fi. But this is a redemption you’ll probably want to avoid. In most cases, you’ll get less than 1 cent per mile, which is a poor return compared to the value you can get from using miles on award flights.
Related: Do American Airlines AAdvantage Miles Expire?
Complimentary Wi-Fi for T-Mobile customers
T-Mobile customers can text and stream on most domestic flights, courtesy of the cell phone carrier. To take advantage of this perk, you'll need to pay for an eligible rate plan and go through a few pre-flight steps to ensure you can connect while in the air.
Can I use the Amex Airline Fee Credit for AA Wi-Fi purchases?
If you carry The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, you might have wondered if AA Wi-Fi counts towards your card's $200 Airline Fee Credit. Unfortunately, the answer is more than likely “no.”
Traditionally, American Airlines doesn't sell you Wi-Fi access — the provider does. So, if Panasonic, Intelsat, or Viasat bills you for your inflight Wi-Fi purchase, and you pay with your Amex Platinum, there's a good chance you won't receive reimbursement since you weren't charged directly by AA.
Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
However, some credit cards offering travel credits do list inflight entertainment as an option for using your credit. These could be viable options.
Final Thoughts
Finally. Free Wi-Fi is coming to American Airlines.
While it's exciting that AA is bringing complimentary Wi-Fi to most of its fleet in 2026, the move felt all but inevitable. Other U.S. airlines like Delta, United, and even Hawaiian Airlines embarked on similar projects a while ago. Why now felt like the right time for AA is anyone's guess. But we're glad it's happening.
That said, 2026 is still a ways off. Thankfully, there are still plenty of ways to save on American Airlines Wi-Fi in the meantime.
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