Wi-Fi on a plane: what’s free, what it costs and how to connect

Most US airlines now give Wi-Fi away to loyalty members. Here is who charges, who doesn’t, and how to get online once you board.

Free and paid Wi-Fi by airline

The pattern is the same almost everywhere: join the loyalty program, which costs nothing, and sign in when you connect. Do it before you fly, since signing up over the plane’s Wi-Fi can be slow. For the Starlink rollout airline by airline, see which airlines have Starlink Wi-Fi.

The T-Mobile perk in 2026

T-Mobile still sponsors free Wi-Fi on Delta, Alaska, Hawaiian and Southwest. It works through each airline’s loyalty program, so you get it whatever phone carrier you use. In April 2026 T-Mobile stopped sponsoring American and United. American’s free Wi-Fi is now sponsored by AT&T, and United’s comes with Starlink.

T-Mobile also says that for a limited time, eligible T-Mobile customers on qualifying plans can still get free Wi-Fi on select Alaska flights where the loyalty program doesn’t offer it. If travel perks matter when you choose a carrier, compare T-Mobile with the others in our prepaid vs. postpaid guide.

International airlines

Subscriptions and card perks

Now that American, Delta, Southwest and Alaska are free for members, a Wi-Fi subscription mainly pays off on United planes without Starlink. United sells $49 a month for North and Central America and $69 a month worldwide. Breeze includes Wi-Fi with its Breeze Easy Visa card and its Nicer and Nicest fares. Elite status isn’t needed for free Wi-Fi on the big US airlines.

How to connect

1. Turn on airplane mode, then turn Wi-Fi back on.
2. Join the airline’s network (it’s named after the airline, such as DeltaWiFi or AlaskaWiFi).
3. Wait for the sign-in page. If it doesn’t open, go to the airline’s Wi-Fi address in your browser, such as deltawifi.com, unitedwifi.com or alaskawifi.com, or open the airline’s app.
4. Sign in with your loyalty number to get the free option, or buy a pass.
5. Turn off auto-updates and backups before you connect, so your phone doesn’t use the connection for downloads.

How to check if your flight has Wi-Fi or Starlink

• United: enter your flight number at StarlinkTracker.United.com within three days of departure. Starlink is on more than 635 United planes and nearly half of daily departures; United Express regional jets are the most likely to have it. United also confirms it in pre-flight emails and the app.
• Other airlines: the airline’s app or the flight details at booking usually show a Wi-Fi icon. Aircraft can still be swapped, and assignments are usually only confirmed within 24 hours of departure.
• Seat map sites list the Wi-Fi system by aircraft type, which helps when you’re choosing between flights.

How plane Wi-Fi works

There are three kinds of system. Air-to-ground uses antennas under the plane that talk to cell towers, so it only works over land. Older satellite systems connect to satellites about 22,000 miles up, which works over oceans but adds a noticeable delay. Low-orbit satellite networks like Starlink fly much lower, so they’re faster with far less delay; that’s why airlines are switching.

Speed per passenger still depends on how many people are online. It’s the same Starlink network that sells home service; see our Starlink review and best satellite internet for how it compares on the ground.

How fast is plane Wi-Fi?

If you need to work or join a call, a Starlink plane is the safe bet. On older systems, expect browsing and email to work and large uploads to crawl.

Tips for better plane Wi-Fi

• Download shows, music and work files before you board, in case the Wi-Fi is slow or missing.
• Free messaging (iMessage, WhatsApp) is often available even when full Wi-Fi isn’t.
• Plane Wi-Fi is a shared public network. A VPN adds a layer of privacy for work or banking.
• If you fly a non-Starlink United plane often, United’s Wi-Fi subscription can work out cheaper than per-flight passes.

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