American Airlines Testing Free Inflight Wi-Fi on Select Routes

American Airlines is shaking up its inflight experience with a bold new test that offers free Wi-Fi on select routes.

Before we get too excited, know that the test is limited to just 3 routes, though it’s available in both directions. The tests will begin next week.

Here’s what you should know — and which routes to fly if you want to test it out for yourself.

American Airlines Testing Free Wi-Fi

American Airlines is testing a major connectivity upgrade that could finally bring free inflight Wi-Fi to select routes. Starting next week, the Fort Worth-based carrier will trial complimentary Wi-Fi on 3 routes in both directions: Charlotte (CLT) to Raleigh-Durham (RDU), Miami (MIA) to Chicago (ORD), and Charlotte to Jacksonville (JAX).

This new initiative is designed to enhance the travel experience and keep the airline competitive, as it’s facing mounting pressure from rivals who have long offered free or lower-priced connectivity.

This development was first reported by The Points Guy after seeing an internal memo at American Airlines, and a spokesperson for AA confirmed this trial to Upgraded Points.

“With the creation of our new Customer Experience organization led by Chief Customer Officer Heather Garboden, American Airlines is more committed than ever to enhancing every aspect of our customers’ travel journey. Staying connected in the skies is critical to today’s passengers and through this limited-time complimentary Wi-Fi test, we are exploring opportunities to build upon our high-speed Wi-Fi offerings to stay competitive in the industry and give our customers what we know they want.”

Statement from American Airlines

While details about the duration of the test and why these routes were chosen remain under wraps, the initiative underscores the airline’s dedication to improving customer satisfaction by gathering data on bandwidth usage and overall take rates.

Comparing AA’s Current Wi-Fi Costs to Competitors

American Airlines has long been one of the more expensive carriers when it comes to inflight Wi-Fi.

Right now, passengers pay about $35 for internet on a cross-country flight — a rate vastly higher than what you’ll find with JetBlue‘s complimentary offering and the significantly lower fees from carriers like Alaska Airlines, Southwest, and United. In recent years, competitors have increasingly prioritized connectivity as a critical component of the travel experience. Until now, AA has been the only carrier not rushing to decrease the cost of using the internet during a flight.

For example, Delta has rolled out free messaging for all its passengers and is expanding its free Wi-Fi offerings, while United is preparing to launch free connectivity with its Starlink-powered network.

American Airlines’ trial of complimentary Wi-Fi on these specific routes is a clear response to that competitive pressure. However, it remains to be seen if this test will lead to a broader rollout across the carrier’s entire fleet.

The focus on just 3 routes initially suggests that American is moving cautiously. The selected routes appear to be chosen for their manageable passenger volumes and operational feasibility, letting AA assess how the free Wi-Fi service performs in real-world (but limited) conditions. The airline is carefully evaluating customer satisfaction, as measured by NPS scores, and gauging the technical capacity of its current infrastructure.

If successful, this could signal a significant shift in American Airlines’ longstanding practice of charging high rates for connectivity.

Final Thoughts

American Airlines’ move to test free inflight Wi-Fi marks a significant pivot in its approach to passenger connectivity. While the test is limited to just 3 routes for now, it reflects a broader commitment to modernizing the travel experience and catching up with its competitors.

If the trial proves successful, free Wi-Fi could become a standard offering across the fleet, potentially reshaping how passengers stay connected during their flights. For now, travelers on these routes will have a unique opportunity to experience this new service. Here’s hoping the trial is successful and the airline expands the offering to more flights soon.