Maintain connection The ground in flight is extremely important to many of us. Without consistent functional Wi-Fi on six-hour transcontinental flights and 12-hour international stretches in the air, it would be nearly impossible to get the job done.
Even if you want to post on social media in the air, in-flight access is valuable and more common. Many airlines currently offer free Wi-Fi, some have begun implementing it From gate to gate It has connectivity so you can always get online.
Fortunately, there is Travel Reward Card This allows you to stay connected even in 30,000 feet of air. Free Wi-Fi keys may already be in your wallet, depending on the credit card you have. This is what you need to know.
Inflight Wi-Fi Pass or credit card that offers discounts
Some Cobrand airline cards We offer statement credits and discounts on Wi-Fi purchases on each airline.
*Business card information for Aadvantage Aviator Red World Elite, Aadvantage Aviator Silver World Elite, Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier and United Club was collected independently by Point Guy. The card details on this page are not reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Alaska Airlines has adopted a credit card
For Alaska Airlines flyers, Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Credit Card and Alaska Airlines Visa Name Card Both offer 20% on-board purchases of Alaska Airlines, including Wi-Fi.
American Airlines has adopted a credit card
For American Airlines passengers, there is $99 per year Aadvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard It offers Up to $25 Statement Credit for Wi-Fi Purchases AA flights and Aadvantage Aviator Silver World Elite MasterCard (Currently not available to new applicants) We offer statement credits of up to $50 per year.
Another option is 25% of the statement credits for Wi-Fi purchases made at CITI® / AADVantage Business™ World EliteMasterCard®.
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Southwest Airlines has adopted a credit card
For the Internet on Southwest Airlines flights, Southwest Rapid rewards performance business credit cardsthe $199 annual fee includes refunds for up to 365 in-flight Wi-Fi purchases in the Southwest each year. Southwest charges $8 for a Wi-Fi pass all day, so this card offers free Wi-Fi, free of charge, on Southwest every day. Simply pay your pass with your card and your account will automatically be charged.
However, if you don’t have that particular Southwest Card, you can receive 25% on your INFLIGHT purchase (including Wi-Fi). Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card, Southwest Rapid Rewards and Credit Cards, Southwest Rapid Rewards Premium Credit Cards or Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business Credit Card.
Related: Southwest Rapid rewards performance business credit card reviews
United Airlines has adopted a credit card
United Airlines offers a similar 25% discount on Wi-Fi (and other onboard purchases) Mileage Plus Credit Cardpublished by Chase.
Specific American Express and Bank of America Cards
That’s also worth noting Airline Fee Credit With specific American Express cards like American Express Platinum Card (Statement credits of up to $200 each year, registration is required) and Bank of America Card Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card It usually does not cover in-flight Wi-Fi purchases on the airline of your choice. but, It’s changing with some of the new Wi-Fi systems on the plane.
You will need to register in advance and choose the preferred airline for your American Express card. In the case of Bank of America, credits apply to US-based airlines only on flights departing from the US.
The perfect card to use for purchasing Wi-Fi on-board
If you are flying on an airline that does not offer free in-flight Wi-Fi, these cards will help you maximize your revenue from your Wi-Fi purchases. Many in-flight Wi-Fi purchases are not coded as travel purchases, so we recommend choosing a 2% cashback or catch-all card Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Cardall purchases or City Double Cash® Card (look Fees and fees) Earn 2% cashback on all purchases (1% on purchase, 1% payable).
Airlines with free in-flight Wi-Fi
Like most of the technology world, In-flight Wi-Fi status is fluid. It is becoming more common for airlines to provide some type of internet access, but finding free connections is difficult for some carriers.
Fortunately, T-Mobile customers may be eligible for free Wi-Fi Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines.
Some carriers that offer free internet connections are as follows (assuming your plane is equipped with Wi-Fi):
- aer lingus: Business class passengers and Aerclub concierge members are free, but Wi-Fi is only available on A330 aircraft (Wi-Fi, text messages, data) and A321Neolr aircraft (Wi-Fi only).
- Air Baltotic: free.
- Air New Zealand: free.
- British Airways: First class is free.
- Eastern China: Free Wi-Fi worth 258 yuan (approx. $37); you must apply in advance.
- delta: Free for all Skymiles members on most domestic flights.
- El Al: Business class passengers flying top platinum passengers in all service classes between North America and all business class passengers are free.
- Emirates: Free access to messaging apps for business class Skywards members or Gold members traveling with any class. From Emirates Skyward Blue Member onward, Platinum members travelling First Class or Emirates Skyward Gold or Silver members in Business or First Class and traveling in class will have access to web browsing without being restricted to messaging apps.
- Etihad: Platinum and first class members are free. Free in-flight messages for all passengers.
- Finnare: On long-haul flights, Wi-Fi is free for business class passengers and Finnair Plus Gold members for one hour. Finnair Plus Platinum and Finnair Plus Platinum Lumo members are free of charge. On short-distance flights, Wi-Fi is free for business class passengers, Gold members and Plus Platinum members for 30 minutes. All Finnair Plus members receive free messages on short flights.
- Kainan: A free trial worth 298 yuan (approximately $43) for a Boeing 787-9 aircraft.
- Hawaiian: Free StarLink Wi-Fi throughout the Airbus Fleet. Currently, StarLink is installed on Boeing 787 aircraft.
- Iberia: Free access to business-class passengers and Iberia as well as messaging apps for members on long-haul flights.
- Iceland Air: Saga Premium and Saga Premium Flex passengers and Saga Gold members get free Wi-Fi on two devices.
- JetBlue: free.
- Jet Suite X: free.
- NOK: free.
- Norwegian: free.
- Philippine Airlines: All business class passengers receive 100MB of free data. There is also a 10MB plan that is free to passengers on all Philippine airlines.
- Qantas: Free; Currently, you only choose international flights to Asia on domestic flights (but only while flying through Australia). Deployment to all international flights expected by mid-2025.
- Qatar: Free up to 1 hour on some flights. Most flights offer free messaging, but access periods vary. Free Wi-Fi has arrived for installation for all passengers starlink future.
- SAS: SAS Business and Plus Passengers and Eurobonas Gold and Diamond members are free.
- Singapore Airlines: Free unlimited Wi-Fi for Suite and First Class and Business Class passengers and PPS Club and Krisflyer members
- Switzerland: Top passengers and members of Hon Circle are free. All passengers receive a free message regardless of class.
- Turkish Airlines: Free for business class passengers (up to 1GB), Miles & Smiles Elite/Elite Plus members (up to 400MB and free messaging), and Miles & Smiles Classic Plus members (up to 250MB and free messaging). Classic members of Miles & Smiles receive free messages. Business class passengers who are elite or elite plus members of Miles & Smile have unlimited internet usage.
- United Airlines: In the process of unfolding for free starlink Wi-Fi throughout the two-cabin fleet.
- Virgin Australia: Guests at Virgin Australia Beyond, Velocity Platinum and Business Class enjoy free access.
- Xiamen Air: It’s free, but you need to register before you fly.
Additionally, the following airlines offer Free in-flight message Through database services such as iMessage, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and more:
- Aeromexico
- Air France
- Alaska
- delta
- Etihad
- Iberia
- KLM
- Saudian
- Southwest
- Switzerland
- Tap Air Portugal
- United
Related: Fast, free Wi-Fi coming to Delta’s International Jet with the latest upgrades
Conclusion
You may not want to apply for a credit card with just Wi-Fi perks, but if you are a US-based traveler, it is a great perk.
Free access to free internet, or at least messaging apps, is becoming more common. You can also get free or discounted Wi-Fi at Alaska, American Airlines and unite with Cobrand’s credit cards.