Working while soaring above the clouds might not be everyone’s ideal scenario, but when you’re traveling for business or pleasure, every minute matters. Several carriers in the U.S. are making it simpler than ever to stay online whether you’re cruising at altitude or waiting to touch down.
For many years, passengers typically had to pay by the minute or hour to use an airline’s Wi-Fi on most domestic routes. For those who relied on inflight connectivity to get work done, those charges could add up quickly.
Don’t flip your phone into airplane mode just yet — a number of national and international airlines are rolling out Wi-Fi across their fleets. While voice calls remain off-limits in-flight, here are the carriers that include connectivity with your fare.
Domestic and Global Airlines That Provide Complimentary In-Flight Wi-Fi
Want to use your airborne hours to clear email or make progress in that mobile game? These airlines incorporate free Wi-Fi into the onboard experience.
Domestic Carriers Offering Free Wi-Fi
Delta Air Lines
Delta is the most recent major carrier to equip its entire fleet with Wi-Fi. In collaboration with T-Mobile, Delta introduced free onboard Wi-Fi to all passengers on domestic flights in February. CEO Ed Bastian has pledged that by the close of 2024, the full fleet — regional and international included — will offer free unlimited Wi-Fi.
There is one small caveat. To use the service, Delta asks passengers to create a free Delta SkyMiles account. If you’d rather not sign up, you can still buy Wi-Fi access for $10 per device.
JetBlue
JetBlue has long branded its complimentary internet as Fly-Fi, a perk it popularized in 2017. For a time, it was the only U.S. carrier that provided unlimited high-speed Wi-Fi to all passengers as part of the ticket.
JetBlue also partners with Amazon, so you can earn extra TrueBlue points — JetBlue’s rewards currency — when shopping onboard. You’ll also get access to Amazon Prime’s content library for streaming video, music, audiobooks and more.
Additional Domestic Airlines With Complimentary Wi-Fi
While JetBlue and Delta are the two national carriers that currently give all passengers free Wi-Fi, several other airlines are trialing similar offers or perks on selected domestic services.
American Airlines has flights where passengers can watch a sponsored ad in exchange for 30 minutes of Wi-Fi. United allows MileagePlus members to redeem miles instead of paying for internet access. Alaska Airlines and Southwest enable free texting and messaging via iMessage and WhatsApp on many flights.
International Carriers That Provide Free Wi-Fi
Domestic carriers aren’t the only options for free in-flight internet. Several international airlines also offer complimentary connectivity, sometimes with minimal conditions.
Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand supplies free Wi-Fi on all domestic routes and extends complimentary service on international aircraft that are equipped for Wi-Fi.
Nok Air
Nok Air, a budget airline from Thailand, provides free Wi-Fi across its Boeing 737 fleet — a notable onboard benefit for a low-cost carrier.
Qantas
Qantas offers free high-speed internet on board certain B737-800 and A330-200 flights through its partnership with Viasat.
Japan Airlines
Japan Airlines grants passengers complimentary Wi-Fi on most domestic flights, with a few aircraft still pending equipment upgrades.
Other International Airlines With Complimentary Wi-Fi Options
There are additional international carriers that provide free Wi-Fi, but often with limits.
Qatar Airways, for example, provides 15 minutes or 10 MB of sponsored free Wi-Fi. Norwegian gives 15 minutes of complimentary access on select services, and Philippine Airlines supplies a free 3 MB chat package.
China Eastern Airlines and Shanghai Airlines offer a first-come, first-served arrangement: the first 100 passengers who register 30 days ahead of departure receive free Wi-Fi.
Alternative Ways to Score Free In-Flight Wi-Fi
If your carrier doesn’t include free internet, you may still be able to access it at little or no cost. Consider these strategies.
Use Credit Card Benefits
Certain airline credit cards let you redeem points or receive reimbursements for in-flight Wi-Fi charges. Cards tied to Southwest, American, United and Alaska can offer such reimbursements in some cases.
Attain Elite or Premium Status
Many airlines grant complimentary Wi-Fi to premium or elite-tier members. This benefit appears on carriers both domestic and international, including Southwest, Emirates, Finnair, Icelandair, Singapore Airlines and Turkish Airlines.
Book Business or First Class
Upgrading to business or first class usually brings more than extra comfort — several airlines extend free Wi-Fi to passengers in premium cabins.
- Aer Lingus
- Emirates (Emirates Skywards members only)
- Icelandair
- Philippine Airlines (100 MB cap)
- SAS (Scandinavian Airlines)
- Singapore Airlines (First class free, Business class 100 MB cap)
- Turkish Airlines (1 GB cap)
- Alitalia (Magnifica members only, 50 MB voucher)
- Finnair (one hour on intercontinental flights)
- Swiss Airlines (50 MB voucher)
Be mindful of the fine print, since many of these offers include restrictions on usage.
Tap Into T-Mobile and Sprint Offers
Customers of T-Mobile can access in-flight Wi-Fi on Alaska, American and Delta flights through their mobile provider. T-Mobile and Sprint Unlimited, Sprint ONE and Sprint Max members receive free messaging via iMessage, Google Hangouts and WhatsApp, along with an hour of complimentary data.
Additional In-Flight Perks Worth Exploring
If you’d prefer to relax instead of streaming, airlines offer a variety of other onboard perks, from complimentary drinks to free checked baggage.
Complimentary Alcohol Onboard
Enjoy a beer or glass of wine en route to Canada courtesy of Porter Airlines, which serves regional brews and vintages. Air Canada offers similar alcoholic options on routes such as Toronto to Montreal. Even low-cost carrier WestJet provides a complimentary beer or wine on regional flights.
Horizon Air serves Northwestern wines and craft beers, and Alaska’s promotion lets you check a case of wine for free from 32 West Coast cities on Alaska, Horizon and SkyWest flights via their wine flies free program. Long-haul Air France flights typically include a complimentary glass of sparkling wine or wine.
Free Stopovers With Icelandair
A layover can be a bonus when it’s in Iceland. Icelandair invites travelers to book a free stopover lasting one to seven days — inbound, outbound or both — so you can sample the country en route.
Family-Friendly Perks
Traveling with little ones? Some airlines help make flights easier. British Airways serves children first on all flights, easing mealtime stress. Other carriers provide unique support, such as Gulf Air’s sky nannies who assist and entertain young passengers.
Asiana Airlines in South Korea prioritizes expectant mothers with front-row access to lavatories and supplies like baby slings and nursing blankets for infants.
Waived Checked Baggage Fees
Traveling with a lot of luggage? Many airlines offer ways to avoid baggage charges. Cardholders of certain programs like Delta SkyMiles, United Explorer and Alaska Airlines Visa receive free checked bags for themselves and sometimes for companions. Southwest always includes two free checked bags with every ticket.
Priority Boarding
If being first to file onto the plane is your goal — whether to grab a window seat or secure overhead space — elite status, premium tickets and some airline credit cards grant priority boarding on major carriers such as American, United and Southwest.
Next time you need Wi-Fi while cruising at altitude and you’re not on a JetBlue or Delta flight, use these tactics to dodge extra connection fees. Time is money up there, so connect and stream smartly.
Alex Rowan is a senior staff writer at Savinly covering personal finance and travel. Over the past decade, Alex has written on topics ranging from budgeting and savings to technology and lifestyle.
