Airlines Offering Free Inflight Wi-Fi So You Can Stay Connected In The Sky

The first airline carrier to offer in-flight internet connectivity was Lufthansa back in 2003. Believe it or not, Wi-Fi didn't really become more widely available in the travel industry until 2008, when American Airlines, Delta, and Virgin America began offering it. But now it's pretty much available anytime you fly — although one thing you should know about in-flight WiFi before your trip is that it might come with a fee. However, there are lots of airlines today that have the perk of free Wi-Fi during your flight.

If you're in the U.S. and on a budget, you'll be happy to hear that discount airliner JetBlue (also one of the airlines with the best customer service) offers free Wi-Fi on all flights with no strings attached. However, international flights, except for those to Europe, may not always have service. Hawaiian Airlines now has open Starlink internet access on some planes, with plans to expand the service. Delta also offers free Wi-Fi on most flights, with the caveat that you have to sign up for the SkyMiles loyalty program first (this is also a hack to get priority boarding on Delta).

Remember that coverage and restrictions can vary widely. It's best to check directly with your carrier during booking or ahead of your flight to confirm if complimentary Wi-Fi (or paid access) will be available. Here are some airlines offering free Wi-Fi on board.

For travelers down under, Qantas offers free Wi-Fi on select domestic flights and international flights, with plans to more of the fleet. Passengers on some Air New Zealand flights may also have access to free Wi-Fi — just check for availability via the Air NZ app or on the website. Virgin Airlines offers free access, but only to VIP members and premium classes.

Several carriers in Asia are keeping passengers connected. Malaysia Airlines offers free Wi-Fi on select planes, and Japan Airlines offers it on domestic flights and "partially free" Wi-Fi on international flights (with some restrictions). Thailand's Nok Air has free internet on select flights — specifically 189-passenger Boeing 737s. You can access the internet for free on Philippine Airlines, but you'll have to fork over more for an upgrade plan if you need more than the data cutoff. China's Hainan Airlines has free Wi-Fi with some limitations, as well as China Eastern Airlines — although you must apply for this one and hope you get one of the 100 slots available.

Most Norwegian flights include free Wi-Fi for 15 minutes, with the option to upgrade to high-speed internet for the duration of the flight. If you're flying business class with Aer Lingus, you may have access to free Wi-Fi on select aircraft. Swiss Air has some complimentary Wi-Fi access for VIP travelers only. Emirates, Singapore Airlines, and Qatar Airways flyers can also access free Wi-Fi by signing up for loyalty programs.

It's important to note that many airlines still offer free messaging services in-flight, even if they don't provide free Wi-Fi access. Wi-Fi connectivity is constantly evolving, with carriers adding more Wi-Fi-enabled planes to their fleets and upgrading services. As more and more carriers launch expanded access, we could see other companies follow the trend to stay competitive.

United Airlines is planning to roll out free Wi-Fi via Starlink sometime this spring. Until that service is available, T-Mobile customers get unlimited Wi-Fi connection on United for free. Air Canada will include free Wi-Fi on North America and Sun flights from May 2025, with plans for continued expansion in 2026. Turkish Airlines also has a project underway to implement unlimited, free Wi-Fi on its fleet over the next two years, with access already available on some flights. 

AirBaltic jumped on the bandwagon in February 2025, becoming the first European carrier to offer free Wi-Fi through Starlink. Scandinavian Airlines also announced plans to introduce free Wi-Fi via Starlink beginning at the end of 2025. With providers like Starlink expanding connectivity options, we have our fingers crossed that free Wi-Fi will become a bigger trend throughout the industry in the future.