How to Get Free In-Flight Wi-Fi!

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In-flight Wi-Fi is a nice perk to have if you want to catch up on work, or stay entertained during a long flight.  But it can be expensive!

I’ll give you a few tips on how to get Wi-Fi on your next flight for free!

These Airlines Already Provide Free Internet

1.   JetBlue

Link:   JetBlue’s Wi-Fi Progress

JetBlue is on a mission to become the 1st US airline with free in-flight Wi-Fi in all of its planes.

There’s even a page where you can check their progress toward free Wi-Fi.

So far, 100% of A321 and A320 airplanes have free Wi-Fi.  But their E190 planes don’t have it yet.

But, JetBlue makes it very easy to tell what type of plane they’ll fly on your route before you purchase a ticket.  So if Wi-Fi is important to you, you can select the planes that are 100% covered!

You’ll also get free snacks and drinks, and complimentary in-flight entertainment.  So JetBlue makes it very easy to stay connected or entertained on their planes.

And, if you have Amazon Prime, you can stream your choice of TV shows, movies, and music.  Or you can download them before your flight and watch them whenever you want!

2.   Norwegian

Link:   Norwegian In-Flight Wi-Fi Information

Norwegian also offers free in-flight Wi-Fi.

It’s easy to tell if your flight has free Wi-Fi – just look for the Wi-Fi symbol when you buy your ticket.

Norwegian is a budget airline and charges lots of extra fees for baggage, booking, and online seat selection.  So always run the numbers to make sure you’re getting a good deal, even if the Wi-Fi is free!

3.   Emirates

Enjoy 10 MB of free data when you fly on Emirates.

Or, you can pay $1 for 500 MB of data in-flight, which is more than enough to send emails, update your social media, and catch up on Million Mile Secrets. 🙂

4.   Turkish Airlines and Others

These airlines also feature free in-flight Wi-Fi:

• Air China
• Hong Kong Airlines
• Nok Air
• Philippine Airlines
• Turkish Airlines

This is a great start!  I hope more airlines will follow.

5.   Airlines With Free Wi-Fi in Business Class or First Class

Some airlines charge coach passengers for in-flight Wi-Fi, but give a voucher for free access for folks in Business Class or First Class, including:

• Aer Lingus
• Etihad

These Cards Come With Free Wi-Fi As a Perk

The most popular service for in-flight Wi-Fi in the US is Gogo.

You’ll find Gogo on most large US airlines.  They offer several packages, including a 1-hour pass, all-day pass, and a monthly pass.

For folks who don’t travel often, the $16 1-day pass is plenty for a long flight, or for a couple of flights with a layover.

Let’s look at cards that’ll help offset your expenses.

1.   AMEX Platinum Business Card

Link:   The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

The AMEX Platinum Business Card comes with free Boingo internet at places like airports, malls, and attractions, and 10 Gogo in-flight internet passes each year.

Other perks include:

• $200 in statement credits per calendar year for airline incidentals (luggage fees, lounge day passes, etc)  on an airline you choose
• Access to airport lounges (Delta, Priority Pass, Airspace, and American Express Centurion Lounges)
• Statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
• Terms and conditions apply

There’s a $450 annual fee that’s NOT waived.  But the $200 statement credit makes the annual fee effectively $250.  And, you can get 10 Gogo internet passes in each year, too!

In-flight Wi-Fi does NOT count as airlines incidentals because it’s charged by a 3rd party company that isn’t an airline.  But it does cover checked bags and in-flight snacks.

2.   US Bank FlexPerks Travel Rewards Visa

Link:   U.S. Bank FlexPerks® Travel Rewards Visa Signature® Card

US Bank FlexPerks Travel Rewards Visa Signature cardholders can get 12 Gogo in-flight Wi-Fi passes per year.

They’re good for 1 flight segment each, so if you’re connecting you’ll have to use multiple passes.

To get your passes, you must register your card at this link.  Only cardholders who’ve made a purchase on their card in the past 12 months are eligible.

And note you can only use your passes on participating airlines for domestic flights:

• Alaska Airlines
• American Airlines
• Delta
• Virgin America

Note:   Your Gogo in-flight Wi-Fi passes are valid for 12 months from the date you register.  After that, you’ll receive an email inviting you to re-register to receive your next year of passes.

Bottom Line

There are a couple of ways to get free in-flight Wi-Fi:

• Fly on an airline that already offers it, like JetBlue or Norwegian
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express that comes with 10 Gogo passes each year

Let me know your favorite way to get free in-flight Wi-Fi!