Alaska Airlines is joining the free Wi-Fi gang in 2026 with plans to use Starlink. This is a needed investment to compete with Delta.

Alaska Airlines unveiled its new Atmos Rewards program

As you might recall, Alaska Airlines purchased Hawaiian Airlines. For a while, the two programs have run as separate entities. However, Alaska just announced that they developed a new combined loyalty program. Clearly, some consultants must have had a fun time renaming it as they came up with the name “Atmos Rewards”. I think it ranks up there with the Bonvoy program as things that just don’t sound appealing to me.

We’ll talk more about the program change in time, but the most significant changes are in the elite program rather than the redemption side. They’re also launching a new premium credit card that is interesting enough compared to what the competition offers. But hidden within all the uproar is news that Alaska is going to make Wi-Fi free for all Atmos Rewards members.

Alaska’s free Wi-Fi for Atmos Rewards members

Alaska Airlines is pairing up with T-Mobile to offer Atmos Rewards members free internet on Starlink-equipped planes. T-Mobile customers are expected to get an extra benefit to be announced at a later date on top of no ads to access the Wi-Fi. It should be noted that T-Mobile customers already get complimentary Wi-Fi on Alaska Airlines flights. However, this announcement will help everyone else who doesn’t use T-Mobile as their wireless provider.

The first planes to get Starlink equipment will be in 2026, with full rollout expected by 2027. Their announcement seems to include all planes in the fleet: regional, narrowbody, and widebody planes.

Atmos Rewards members will need to log into their free account to access the complimentary Wi-Fi.

This is needed to compete with Delta

Alaska has been in a heated competition for the Seattle market for a number of years. Seattle is Alaska’s main hub while Delta built a hub there back in 2014. The two airlines have competed for the market, offering special promotions specifically targeted at Seattle residents. Delta had a number of advantages over Alaska, but these are starting to get addressed:

• Delta operated long haul flights out of Seattle while Alaska historically didn’t. But this is now addressed with the widebodies acquired from Hawaiian.
• Alaska is a smaller airline with a smaller domestic network than Delta, but customers seem to be very loyal to Alaska despite its size.
• Delta offered free Wi-Fi to its SkyMiles members while Alaska didn’t until this announcement.

The gap certainly isn’t fully closed at this point, and Alaska has a long way to go to reach parity. But Alaska is continuing to put up a fight with Delta, determined to keep the #1 spot at Seattle-Tacoma Airport.

Many airlines now offer or will offer free Wi-Fi

Let’s briefly summarize which airlines offer free Wi-Fi and which do not. This is not a complete list. It’s intended to highlight not only the airlines that offer free Wi-Fi but when they made it available. I’m only considering airlines that (1) offer free Wi-Fi for all classes of service and (2) offer more than just free messaging.

• North American airlines
  • Offer free Wi-Fi: JetBlue (2017), Delta (2023), Porter (2023, on some aircraft), United (2025), WestJet (2025), Air Canada (2025), American (2026), Alaska (2026)
  • Does not offer free Wi-Fi: Aeromexico, Southwest, Spirit, Sun Country
  • Planes do not have Wi-Fi: Frontier
• European airlines
  • Offer free Wi-Fi: Air France (2025), SAS (2025), Turkish (2025), Virgin Atlantic (2026)
  • Does not offer free Wi-Fi: Aer Lingus (only free for business), Austrian, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia, KLM, Lufthansa (only free for first class), Ryanair, SWISS
• Middle Eastern airlines
  • Offer free Wi-Fi: Qatar (2024)
  • Does not offer free Wi-Fi: Emirates (only free for first, and elites in business), Etihad
• Asian airlines
  • Offer free Wi-Fi: Singapore (2023), JAL (2024, domestic flights and business/first class), ANA (2025), EVA Air (2025), China Airlines (2025)
  • Does not offer free Wi-Fi: Asiana, Cathay Pacific (only free for business/first class), Korean Airlines (only on select routes), Starlux (free for any cabin other than economy)
• Oceania airlines
  • Offer free Wi-Fi: Qantas (2017, domestic flights), Air New Zealand (2018)
  • Does not offer free Wi-Fi: Air Tahiti Nui, Fiji, Virgin Australia (only free for business, and elites)

Slowly but surely, more and more airlines are making the switch to offer free Wi-Fi. The expectation is that even more will announce plans in the near future. Competitive pressures almost demand it.

Suggested reading:

• American Airlines Free Wi-Fi in 2026: It’s About Time
• Disappointing Wi-Fi on Celebrity Solstice
• Excellent Internet with Carnival Wi-Fi