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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 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
Complimentary Wi-Fi for AAdvantage members is coming in January 2026 and will be available on aircraft equipped with high-speed satellite internet from Viasat or Intelsat. This covers the majority of American’s domestic and international routes and roughly 90% of its fleet.
The free Wi-Fi will be sponsored by AT&T and powered by Viasat, though you won’t need to be an AT&T customer to take advantage of it.
In its original press release, American noted that it’s “on pace to outfit more than 500 regional aircraft with high-speed Wi-Fi by the end of 2025,” making this very much an ongoing installation project rather than one the airline will kick off in 2026.
For now, though, AA Wi-Fi isn’t free, aside from a 20-minute session if you’re willing to watch an ad or happen to be on a flight where American is trialing complimentary access.
Below, we’ll break down which aircraft 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?
Free Wi-Fi will only be available on aircraft with Viasat or Intelsat connectivity. Since American equips many of its long-haul aircraft with Panasonic, planes like the Boeing 777-200ER, 777-300ER, and 787-8 and 787-9 will not offer complimentary Wi-Fi — at least initially.
Long term, it’s unclear whether these aircraft will transition to a new provider or if American will continue charging for Wi-Fi on these jets. But the former makes a lot more sense than the latter.
Which American Airlines Aircraft Have Wi-Fi Now?
The majority of American Airlines’ aircraft are already outfitted with Wi-Fi. It's just not free (yet). Most mainline aircraft offer in-flight connectivity, while the smallest regional jets operated by subsidiaries typically do not.
As of the time of writing, there are two main ways to check whether 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. In-flight connectivity isn’t guaranteed, and even when it’s available, it doesn’t always work.
You might also notice 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 aren’t 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 |
| Airbus A321XLR | 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-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, including your flight length and whether you choose an hourly pass or one that covers the entire flight.
You can also purchase a subscription plan for a higher upfront cost, which can make sense if you fly often. That said, with free Wi-Fi less than a month away, an annual plan likely isn’t worth it for most travelers.
American advertises that Wi-Fi starts at $10 per flight, but as many AA flyers know, prices are often much higher. Here are a few real-world examples, 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 |
| YYZ | ORD | Embraer E170STD | N/A | $10 |
| ORD | ATL | Embraer E170SE | N/A | $13 |
| ATL | DFW | Boeing 737-800 | $15 | $20 |
| YYZ | MIA | Airbus A319-100 | $15 | $20 |
| MIA | BHM | Embraer E175LR | $15 | $20 |
| BHM | DFW | Airbus A320-200 | N/A | $12 |
| ATL | DFW | Airbus A321-200 | $15 | $20 |
| MEX | DFW | Boeing 737-800 | $15 | $20 |
| DFW | YYZ | Boeing 737-800 | $18 | $24 |
| YYZ | ORD | Embraer E175LR | N/A | $12 |
| ORD | HSV | CRJ-701ER | N/A | $13 |
| YYZ | JFK | Embraer E175LR | N/A | $12 |
| JFK | LHR | Boeing 777-300ER | $29 for 2 hours | $35 |
| LHR | JFK | Boeing 777-300ER | $29 for 2 hours | $35 |
| JFK | YYZ | Embraer E175LR | N/A | $12 |
| YYZ | CLT | CRJ-900LR | N/A | $13 |
| CLT | LHR | Boeing 777-200ER | $29 for 2 hours | $35 |
| YYZ | CLT | CRJ-900LR | N/A | $13 |
| CHS | PHL | CRJ-900LR | N/A | $12 |
Subscription plans are also available and can be used on up to two devices. American currently offers monthly and annual plans at the following prices:
- 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 with an email address and credit card linked to your account. These subscriptions are valid on most domestic flights, as well as routes between the U.S. and Mexico, Canada, the Caribbean, and Central America. Long-haul flights typically rely on Panasonic Wi-Fi, which isn’t covered by American’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 full price in the meantime.
Pay with a co-branded credit card
The key to saving on in-flight Wi-Fi purchases is carrying an American Airlines co-branded credit card.
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®. However, neither card is open to new applicants.
Every year, the $99-annual-fee Aviator Red offers up to $25 in statement credits towards in-flight Wi-Fi purchases. Or, if you hold the more premium $199-a-year Aviator Silver, you can get up to $50 back in statement credits for Wi-Fi purchases in your cardmember year.
You can also save by using one of the following cards to purchase onboard Wi-Fi:
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard®: Every calendar year, earn up to $100 in statement credits on in-flight purchases when you use your card on American Airlines flights.
- Citi® / AAdvantage Business™ World Elite Mastercard®: Get 25% savings on in-flight Wi-Fi, food and beverage purchases on American Airlines flights when you use your credit card.
Free Wi-Fi for ConciergeKey elites
As of 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 in-flight 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 American Express Platinum Card® 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 in-flight Wi-Fi purchase, and you pay with your Platinum Card®, 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 list in-flight entertainment as an option for using your credit. These could be viable options.
Final Thoughts
Finally. Free Wi-Fi is coming to American Airlines. And 2026 is just around the corner.
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.
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