Wi-Fi, as we know it, was released in 1997 and was available commercially by 1999 (that’s when Apple used it for their iBook series of laptops).
Over the next (gulp) 25 years, Wi-Fi has become seemingly omnipresent. It can be found in scores of public places and although you sometimes have to pay for the Wi-Fi these places offer, it’s often free more frequently.
Airlines’ Wi-Fi access
That same trend has been happening with airlines ever since they started offering Wi-Fi. Nearly all eventually began offering it, but you had to pay for the privilege. However, over the years, more airlines offering Wi-Fi have been offering it for free. Here’s where they stand right now:
- Alaska Airlines: $8 on most flights
- Allegiant Air: No Wi-Fi available
- American Airlines: $10 on select domestic flights. American flyers on mainline aircraft can also receive 20 minutes of free ad-sponsored Wi-Fi per flight. The airline also provides free Wi-Fi to T-Mobile customers who have eligible plans. But that’s IF the plane has Wi-Fi available.
- Delta: Free for SkyMiles members, $10 for nonmembers
- Frontier Airlines: No Wi-Fi available
- Hawaiian Airlines: Free Wi-Fi for all
- jetBlue: Free Wi-Fi for all
- Southwest: $8 per device
- Spirit Airlines: $6 to browse, $8 to stream
- United: currently $8 (or 800 miles) for MileagePlus members, $10 for nonmembers, but will be free starting in 2025
By the way, BEST news title ever:
Anyway, of the legacy airlines, Delta already offers free Wi-Fi to its SkyMiles members (and you can become a SkyMiles member for free – here’s how) and United plans to start offering it next year.
What about American Airlines?
American is so far behind everyone who offers Wi-Fi that they don’t even offer it on all their planes yet. Not even domestically. From CNET:
American Airlines touts the availability of “upgraded, high-speed Wi-Fi” on its travel info site, but only on select domestic flights. You’ll need to check your flight status to see if Wi-Fi is included with your trip. If it is, you’ll be able to pay a fee to connect and browse the web, check emails and send messages, or stream video from services like Netflix, Hulu and HBO Max.
That fee can vary from flight to flight, but American writes that it’s available on most routes starting at $10. AAdvantage members can also purchase a Wi-Fi subscription plan that costs $50 per month for a single device or $60 per month for two devices.
What do they have to say about that?
Apparently, they’re not ready to commit to free Wi-Fi yet, but they’re at least considering building a more robust system.
“Ultimately, we want to ensure that as we’re building out the foundation, we make sure we build this right,” Kim Cisek, American’s VP of customer experience and product management said during an interview at American’s corporate headquarters in Dallas. “At the end of the day, we will continue down this path, and I’ll have more to share with you soon as we look to innovate in this space.”
Cisek noted that American has installed high-speed satellite Wi-Fi on the bulk of its narrowbody mainline fleet. Gate-to-gate installations on the carrier’s regional fleet are underway and are expected to be completed by the end of 2025. American is bringing gate-to-gate Wi-Fi capabilities to its widebody aircraft with new deliveries and as it retrofits widebody interiors.
Cisek said that making sure American has reliable, high-speed WiFi across is fleet is a priority.
“We’re taking a phased approach to this,” she said.
So I guess free Wi-Fi on American will eventually happen, but don’t hold your breath cuz you’ll pass out before it finally happens. Long before it happens.
Sigh.
Want to comment on this post? Great! Read this first to help ensure it gets approved.
Want to sponsor a post, write something for Your Mileage May Vary, or put ads on our site? Click here for more info.
Like this post? Please share it! We have plenty more just like it and would love it if you decided to hang around and sign up to get emailed notifications of when we post.
Whether you’ve read our articles before or this is the first time you’re stopping by, we’re really glad you’re here and hope you come back to visit again!
This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
