American Airlines Is Adding a New Free In-flight Perk in 2026

• American Airlines is adding free Wi-Fi to 90 percent of its fleet.
• Passengers must be members of the AAdvantage loyalty program to get the connectivity for free.
• The airline will launch the new amenity early next year.

Get ready to get connected in the sky next year if you’re flying with American Airlines.

American just announced it will offer complimentary Wi-Fi to AAdvantage loyalty program members beginning in January 2026, sponsored by AT&T. About 90 percent of its fleet will be compatible with the offered in-flight connectivity, with nearly 500 regional aircraft set to be equipped with onboard Wi-Fi by the end of 2025.

“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 of American Airlines, said in a statement shared with Travel + Leisure. “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.”

The offer will be available on aircraft equipped with Viasat and Intelsat. American Airlines is currently offering free Wi-Fi on a limited number of flights to test the service before rolling it out fully at the beginning of 2026.

“We are proud to partner with American Airlines to connect people to what matters most to them—even in the sky,” Jenifer Robertson, EVP & GM mass markets at AT&T, said in a statement shared with T+L.

Other domestic airlines that offer complimentary in-flight Wi-Fi are Delta, which has it available on most flights for Delta SkyMiles members, Hawaiian Airlines, and JetBlue.