Staying connected is an important part of life, and some people believe that free Wi-Fi should be available just about everywhere. But that’s still not quite the case when it comes to air travel.
JetBlue was the first U.S. airline to offer free Wi-Fi in 2017, and it continues to do so today. You might have thought back then that other domestic airlines would quickly follow suit, but that hasn’t turned out to be the case.
Delta Air Lines, for example, didn’t start offering free Wi-Fi to SkyMiles members until 2023, after trials the previous year. Meanwhile, other domestic airlines have also recently ramped up free Wi-Fi availability, with United Airlines and Southwest Airlines launching free service for loyalty members this year. Meanwhile, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines will follow suit in 2026.
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Globally, many major airlines still only offer paid Wi-Fi, while some still don’t even have Wi-Fi-equipped airplanes. Other airlines limit their free Wi-Fi offering to just a few minutes or have strict data allowances — just enough to quickly check your email or update your social media status. If you want web browsing for your entire flight, you’ll still need to pay up.
Previously, the broad consensus among airlines seemed to be that free Wi-Fi was a premium benefit and thus only provided to passengers with elite status or those flying in business or first class. While that remains the case for many carriers, an increasing number of airlines worldwide are launching unlimited free Wi-Fi for all passengers — a trend we hope to see continue.
Airlines with free Wi-Fi
We’ve reviewed the Wi-Fi offerings on the world’s major airlines and put together this comprehensive guide on which airlines offer free Wi-Fi — whether it’s unlimited or has a data cap, and whether it is free to all or only for certain passengers.
Many of the included airlines also have paid plans — but here, we’re only focusing on how to connect for free.
Additionally, in this guide, we’re only outlining airlines with free Wi-Fi for internet browsing. This is not the same as airlines that offer unlimited free inflight messaging via apps such as WhatsApp, iMessage and Facebook Messenger, but require a paid plan for web browsing.
Also, keep in mind that just because an airline has free Wi-Fi, it does not necessarily mean Wi-Fi is available on all flights. If a particular plane is not equipped with Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi will not be available — paid or free.
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Aegean Airlines
Wi-Fi is free for those with a Miles+Bonus membership or business-class passengers (only available on European routes, on aircraft equipped with Wi-Fi technology).
You’ll need to log in with your Miles+Bonus credentials or booking reference number if you have a business-class ticket (this applies to trips from or to Greece) and activate the available free internet bundle.
Aer Lingus
Wi-Fi is complimentary for business-class passengers and AerClub Concierge members.
Aeromexico
Passengers who have purchased a Premier One fare receive a voucher for two hours of complimentary internet.
Air Canada
Air Canada Boeing 777 taking off from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) in British Columbia during sunset. ALVIN MAN/GETTY IMAGES
Air Canada offers fast, free Wi-Fi to Aeroplan members and all business-class passengers on flights within North America and to the Caribbean. Free Wi-Fi on long-haul international routes is expected to roll out in 2026.
Air France
Air France is in the process of equipping all its aircraft with Starlink internet service. Wi-Fi will be free of charge in all cabins to members of the Flying Blue loyalty program.
Air India
Air India announced in January that it had rolled out Wi-Fi internet connectivity on board select aircraft and that it would be complimentary for a limited time. No end date for free Wi-Fi has been announced.
Air New Zealand
Wi-Fi is free for all passengers on any aircraft equipped with it.
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines has announced plans to equip all its planes with Starlink connectivity and provide free Wi-Fi to all Atmos Rewards members. Starlink installations are expected to begin in 2026, with the rollout continuing into 2027.
Until planes are Starlink-equipped, you can currently receive free Wi-Fi if you are an eligible T-Mobile customer. Depending on your plan, you’ll either get unlimited free sessions, or four free full-flight sessions and unlimited 60-minute sessions on domestic Alaska Airlines flights.
The Atmos Rewards program also offers Wi-Fi passes as one of the milestone perks you can choose as you earn status points. Wi-Fi passes are available as an option at the following milestones or status tiers:
- 10K milestone (10,000 status points): One complimentary Wi-Fi pass
- 30K milestone (30,000 status points): Four Wi-Fi passes
- Atmos Titanium (100,000 status points): Unlimited Wi-Fi sessions
If you have the Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Credit Card, you can use one of the quarterly Wi-Fi passes that are included as a cardholder benefit. Cardholders receive eight Alaska Airlines single-use flight Wi-Fi passes annually (two per calendar quarter). Passes are credited to the primary cardholder’s Atmos Rewards account Jan. 1, April 1, July 1 and Oct. 1, and are valid through the end of the quarter in which they are issued.
All Nippon Airways
ANA recently launched free Viasat high-speed Wi-Fi for passengers in all cabins on its international flights. The initial rollout includes select B767-300ER aircraft, with continued expansion expected to bring free Wi-Fi to more than 80% of its international fleet by the end of 2030.
Wi-Fi is free for all passengers on Japanese domestic flights. For international travel on non-Viasat-equipped planes — including the A380, B787 and B777 — free Wi-Fi is only available for first- and business-class passengers who register their email addresses. A voucher code (one code per person) will be sent via email at least two hours before departure.
American Airlines
After years of lagging behind some of its domestic competitors in offering free Wi-Fi, American Airlines will offer free high-speed Wi-Fi to AAdvantage loyalty program members beginning in January 2026. The free Wi-Fi service on Viasat- and Intelsat-equipped aircraft is expected to be available on roughly 90% of American’s fleet.
Unfortunately, the airline’s long-haul fleet with Panasonic connectivity will be excluded from the free Wi-Fi and will continue to offer paid internet service. Future wide-body aircraft deliveries will be equipped with Viasat.
Until the January rollout, eligible T-Mobile customers can get free Wi-Fi on domestic American Airlines flights. Also, some American flights offer a 15- or 20-minute free Wi-Fi pass after you watch a short advertisement.
Travelers with select American Airlines credit cards can receive statement credits for Wi-Fi. The AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard® offers up to $25 back as statement credits on inflight Wi-Fi purchases each anniversary year on American Airlines-operated flights, while the AAdvantage® Aviator® Silver World Elite Mastercard® has up to $50 back in statement credits on Wi-Fi. The Citi® / AAdvantage® Globe™ Mastercard® (see rates and fees) includes up to $100 in statement credits every calendar year on eligible inflight purchases, such as food, beverages and Wi-Fi.
Barclays Aviator cards are no longer available for new sign-ups, as Citi is now the exclusive American Airlines credit card partner. Existing Aviator cardholders will be transitioned to Citi in 2026.
The information for the AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard and AAdvantage Aviator Silver Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
British Airways
Free Starlink Wi-Fi is also coming to British Airways for passengers in all cabins beginning in 2026.
Currently, free Wi-Fi is available for eligible first-class customers, including those who purchased a first-class ticket, those who upgraded to first class on the ground before the flight closed, and those who paid for an upgrade to first class or were involuntarily upgraded before boarding.
Passengers who move to a first-class seat during the flight are not eligible for free Wi-Fi. Similarly, if the first-class seat was sold as a Club World or Club Europe seat, it is also not eligible for free Wi-Fi.
Cathay Pacific
Wi-Fi is complimentary for Cathay Gold and Diamond members, as well as passengers in first- and business-class cabins. Cathay Pacific also plans to roll out complimentary Wi-Fi to all Cathay members traveling in premium economy by the end of 2025.
Croatia Airlines
Business-class passengers traveling on an Airbus A220 aircraft receive complimentary Wi-Fi. Passengers using web check-in will find a Wi-Fi code on their boarding pass, while passengers who check in at the airport can receive the code on board from the cabin crew. The code must be entered into the airline’s Wi-Fi portal by selecting the SkyPremium service plan.
China Eastern Airlines
China Eastern offers a free Wi-Fi trial to the first 100 passengers per flight, available on a first-come, first-served basis. You can apply up to 30 days in advance through China Eastern’s website or mobile app or during your flight.
Delta Air Lines
DELTA AIR LINES
Free Wi-Fi is available on most domestic and international flights for Delta SkyMiles members. The airline is continuing to roll out free high-speed Wi-Fi on additional international and regional flights.
El Al
El Al’s “Business” Wi-Fi plan is free for business-class passengers traveling to or from North America, Europe and the Middle East, as well as Matmid Club members with Top Platinum status in any cabin when flying to destinations on planes where the service is offered.
Emirates
Emirates is in the process of launching free high-speed Starlink Wi-Fi for passengers in all cabins. The free Wi-Fi will be available with simple one-click access — no payment or Skywards membership required.
The airline plans an accelerated fleetwide rollout of Starlink Wi-Fi, having already equipped its first aircraft, a Boeing 777-300ER set to fly Nov. 23. The airline expects to outfit approximately 14 aircraft per month with Starlink, with installation on the Airbus A380 fleet completed by February 2026 and fleetwide by mid-2027.
If your aircraft has not yet been equipped with Starlink service, free Wi-Fi will be available based on your cabin class or elite status tier with Emirates Skywards. The following passengers receive free Wi-Fi:
- Emirates Skywards members traveling in business or first class
- Platinum members traveling in any cabin class
Etihad Airways
Platinum and Emerald tier members of Etihad Guest and passengers seated in first class receive complimentary access to the “Surf” Wi-Fi package for the duration of the flight.
Ethiopian Airlines
Wi-Fi is free for business-class travelers. Platinum ShebaMiles members receive a complimentary one-hour Wi-Fi package.
EVA Air
Through Dec. 31, all passengers can receive complimentary “Unlimited Web Browsing” on EVA Air’s Boeing 787, 777-300ER and Airbus A330-300 as part of a special limited-time promotion.
Beginning Jan. 1, free Wi-Fi will be based on your cabin class or elite status tier with EVA’s Infinity MileageLands loyalty program. The following passengers will receive free Wi-Fi:
- All business-class passengers
- Premium economy passengers who are Infinity MileageLands members
- Economy passengers with Diamond or Gold status
Fiji Airways
Business-class passengers receive complimentary Wi-Fi access for the duration of the flight when on board connected aircraft.
Finnair
The availability of free Wi-Fi is based on your Finnair Plus elite status tier, cabin class and ticket type.
On long-haul flights, Wi-Fi is free for one hour for business-class passengers with a Classic or Flex ticket and Finnair Plus Gold members, and is free for the whole flight for Finnair Plus Platinum and Finnair Plus Platinum Lumo members.
On short-haul flights, Wi-Fi is free for 30 minutes for business-class passengers with a Classic or Flex ticket and Gold and Platinum members, and is free for the whole flight for Platinum Lumo members.
Hawaiian Airlines
Starlink internet is available on all of Hawaiian Airlines‘ Airbus A330 and A321neo aircraft, providing all passengers with free high-speed Wi-Fi on flights between Hawaii and the continental U.S. or international destinations.
Iberia
Iberia is upgrading to free Starlink Wi-Fi for passengers in all cabins and on all flights, with implementation set to begin in 2026. Currently, only paid Wi-Fi plans are available.
Icelandair
The availability of free Wi-Fi on select aircraft is based on either your Icelandair elite status or cabin class and fare type. Passengers who purchase a Saga Premium or Saga Premium Flex fare receive complimentary Wi-Fi access for two devices; Icelandair Saga Gold members also receive free Wi-Fi for two devices. Wi-Fi is not available on domestic flights and flights to Greenland.
Japan Airlines
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
Japan Airlines offers unlimited free Wi-Fi in all cabins on its domestic flights. For international travel, first- and business-class passengers receive free Wi-Fi for the entire flight, while premium economy and economy passengers get up to one hour of complimentary Wi-Fi.
JetBlue
All of JetBlue’s planes are equipped with FlyFi, the carrier’s free high-speed Wi-Fi for all passengers. However, some flights traveling to destinations outside the continental U.S. — with the exception of Europe and the United Kingdom — may not have service available.
La Compagnie
Free, unlimited high-speed Wi-Fi is available to all passengers for the duration of the flight on the all-business-class airline.
KLM
KLM Flying Blue members can use the airline’s free Wi-Fi Pass on all European flights with Wi-Fi connectivity. The free Wi-Fi Pass is available for the duration of the flight.
LATAM
Elite LATAM Pass members — Gold, Gold Plus, Platinum, Black and Black Signature — enjoy free unlimited Wi-Fi on flights within South America on the airline’s narrow-body (single-aisle) aircraft.
Lufthansa
Wi-Fi is free for first-class passengers.
Malaysia Airlines
Malaysia Airlines provides unlimited complimentary Wi-Fi service to all passengers traveling on select wide-body aircraft, regardless of cabin class or loyalty tier.
Norwegian Air Shuttle
Passengers can select the “Surf” plan to get 15 minutes of free Wi-Fi with limited internet speed on Wi-Fi-equipped aircraft.
Oman Air
Business Studio passengers receive free Wi-Fi for three hours with up to 40MB data allowance (only on board a Boeing 787 aircraft).
Philippine Airlines
Business-class passengers and Mabuhay Miles Million Milers (regardless of class) each receive a code for a free 100MB Wi-Fi plan. The airline also offers a free 10MB data plan to all passengers. Wi-Fi is only available on select international flights and aircraft types.
Qantas
Free Wi-Fi is available on select Qantas domestic and international flights in Australian airspace. The airline has partnered with Viasat and is working to roll out free Wi-Fi for full international journeys on both retrofitted and new Wi-Fi-enabled aircraft.
Qatar Airways
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Qatar has free Starlink internet service on select aircraft, available on flights to or from more than 32 destinations, including Chicago, New York, Toronto and London. The airline’s entire Boeing 777 fleet is equipped with Starlink, and installation on the A350 fleet is expected to be completed in 2026.
If your aircraft is not equipped with Starlink, you can receive one hour of free Wi-Fi on board as a Qatar Privilege Club member or unlimited Wi-Fi as a Student Club member.
Royal Jordanian Airlines
Royal Jordanian’s new E190-E2 and E195-E2 models and its neo variants of Airbus A320s jets are equipped with Wi-Fi, and it is complimentary for business-class passengers and Platinum Hawk and Gold Sparrow Royal Club members.
Saudia
Saudia is rolling out free, high-speed Wi-Fi for all passengers. The airline’s Wi-Fi is currently in a pilot phase to test the service and gather feedback from passengers. Twenty aircraft are equipped with the new internet service, and the airline expects to expand the service to cover the entire existing Saudia fleet, plus new aircraft.
Scandinavian Airlines
SAS is expected to begin a phased rollout of Starlink Wi-Fi on its entire fleet at the end of 2025. The service will be free for all EuroBonus program members.
Singapore Airlines
Unlimited complimentary Wi-Fi is available to Suites, first-class and business-class passengers, plus PPS Club members, supplementary cardholders and Singapore KrisFlyer members in premium economy and economy class.
Southwest Airlines
Wi-Fi is free for all Southwest Rapid Rewards members.
Spirit Airlines
Free Spirit Gold members and passengers who purchase a Spirit First fare receive free Wi-Fi.
Starlux Airlines
Passengers traveling in first class, business class and premium economy receive complimentary Wi-Fi service throughout the flight.
Swiss
Swiss first-class passengers and HON Circle members have complimentary access to the “Wi-Fi Premium” package with internet service for the entire flight.
Thai Airways
Free Wi-Fi through Thai Sky Connect is available on select aircraft and is based on either your cabin class or elite status with Thai Airways’ Royal Orchid Plus program. Be sure to sign up for a Royal Orchid Plus membership at least 24 hours before your flight to activate the complimentary Wi-Fi service and receive a Wi-Fi code on your boarding pass when you check in.
The following passengers receive free Wi-Fi with the following limits:
- Royal First Class passengers and Royal Orchid Plus Platinum members: Unlimited free Wi-Fi
- Royal Silk Class passengers and Royal Orchid Plus Gold members: 60 minutes of free Wi-Fi
- Royal Orchid Plus Silver and Basic members: 30 minutes of free Wi-Fi
Turkish Airlines
KYLE OLSEN/THE POINTS GUY
The availability of free Wi-Fi is based on your cabin class and elite status with Miles&Smiles. The following passengers receive free Wi-Fi on international Turkish flights with the following data limits:
- Business-class passengers with Miles&Smiles Elite or Elite Plus status: Unlimited internet
- Business-class passengers: 1GB
- Miles&Smiles Elite or Elite Plus members: 400MB
- Miles&Smiles Classic Plus members: 250MB
United Airlines
Free Starlink Wi-Fi is now available for all United MileagePlus members on more than half of United’s regional fleet, and United also recently flew its first mainline Boeing 737-800 aircraft equipped with free Starlink service. The airline expects to install Starlink on up to 15 mainline 737-800 planes each month and is working to certify an additional aircraft type.
Virgin Atlantic
Currently, all passengers receive 20 minutes of free Wi-Fi when flying on an Airbus A330neo. The airline has announced that free Starlink Wi-Fi is being installed fleetwide, with availability on some aircraft expected to begin in the third quarter of 2026 and full installation completed by the end of 2027.
Virgin Australia
Virgin Australia Velocity Platinum and Platinum Plus members, as well as business-class passengers, receive complimentary Wi-Fi.
WestJet
All WestJet Rewards members can enjoy the free, high-speed WestJet Wi-Fi, which is available on more than 100 aircraft across its 737 fleet. Paid Wi-Fi via WestJet Connect is available on flights without the new high-speed offering.
Bottom line
Airlines are increasingly offering free Wi-Fi to passengers. However, many airlines still consider free Wi-Fi a benefit for premium-cabin passengers or those with elite status.
Whether you use inflight Wi-Fi to get some work done or just to help pass the time on a long flight, be sure to check your airline’s Wi-Fi access before you travel to avoid disappointment if your flight is not Wi-Fi-equipped or only has expensive paid plans available.
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