Starting in January 2026, American Airlines will begin offering complimentary inflight Wi-Fi to AAdvantage members on most of its flights, thanks to a new partnership with AT&T. The airline says the move will make it the largest U.S. carrier to offer free Wi-Fi access across such a broad portion of its fleet.
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To access the service, passengers will need to be members of the AAdvantage loyalty program. No elite status will be required—just a free membership.
The complimentary Wi-Fi will be available on aircraft equipped with high-speed satellite internet from Viasat and Intelsat, which currently account for about 90% of American’s mainline fleet. Regional jets are also being upgraded, with over 500 expected to be outfitted with high-speed connectivity by the end of 2025.
American tested the service on select flights and reported that the performance exceeded expectations. Once fully rolled out, passengers will be able to use the Wi-Fi to message, browse, stream, and stay connected gate to gate—at no cost.
This isn’t the first time American has leaned into tech partnerships to enhance the onboard experience, but it’s one of the more significant moves in recent years. The announcement comes shortly after Heather Garboden took on the role of Chief Customer Officer, with a renewed focus on digital connectivity and customer service throughout the travel journey.
AT&T is sponsoring the service, bringing two Texas-based companies together in a move both say was a natural fit. According to AT&T, the goal is to make connectivity seamless no matter where customers are—even at 35,000 feet.
For frequent flyers, this is another reason to sign up for AAdvantage if you haven’t already. The loyalty program has undergone a lot of changes recently, and this new Wi-Fi benefit adds even more value, especially for those who fly American regularly but may not have elite status.
Analysis
American will be joining Delta and United in offering free Wi-Fi to airline loyalty members in 2026—and honestly, it’s about time.
American is following Delta’s lead by partnering with a cellular company (AT&T) and using existing Intelsat technology. In contrast, United is taking a different approach by working with Starlink from SpaceX. In the U.S., airlines often copy each other to stay competitive, so it’s not surprising that American eventually joined in with complimentary Wi-Fi. I’m especially glad to see this benefit extending to their regional fleet.
Most of American’s widebody aircraft currently use Panasonic-based systems, so it remains unclear whether those planes will be outfitted with Intelsat connectivity as well. I certainly hope so—Delta offers free Wi-Fi on the majority of its fleet, including widebodies, and it would be great to see American match that consistency.
Right now, American’s Wi-Fi pricing feels all over the place—what I like to call “random Wi-Fi pricing”—with rates ranging anywhere from $12 to $25 per segment. With free Wi-Fi on the way, I’ll definitely need to come up with a new service metric for my flight reviews.
One new issue that could come up as Wi-Fi becomes more widely available is enforcement around video conferencing and phone calls, which most airlines technically prohibit. In practice, enforcement is lax. I was recently on a flight where the passenger next to me whispered into her phone for a good chunk of the flight. It wasn’t disruptive, so I didn’t report and the flight attendants didn’t seem to notice either while doing their service rounds.
Still, I’m excited to see American stepping up its inflight connectivity game, especially since most of their aircraft don’t have seatback screens. Free Wi-Fi can go a long way in making the onboard experience more enjoyable
