A six-hour-long flight with a noisy fellow passenger and very little legroom? It may seem like nothing on a flight can be worse than that.
But, you will have to deal with no Wi-Fi access as well. Airlines offer one-time Wi-Fi passes. However, the in-flight Wi-Fi will cost you up to $20 on domestic routes. Before you panic, know all is not lost.
In the next five minutes, learn about credit cards offering free in-flight Wi-Fi.
Note: the information is true at the time of writing, July 2021.
Credit cards offering Wi-Fi passes
1. City National Bank Crystal Visa Infinite Card
This credit card offers 12 complimentary Gogo in-flight passes during a calendar year. If you don’t know, Gogo is an in-flight broadband and internet service provider.
Go to the Gogo website, login to your account, and then head over to Gogo benefit. Enter your credit card number and you’ll see the 12 passes linked to your account. You must use the passes within a year from when you link them to your account.
2. UBS Visa Infinite Card
The UBS Visa Infinite Card offers 12 Gogo in-flight Wi-Fi passes in a year. Access Wi-Fi on planes equipped with Gogo when you log in to the Gogo website.
Head over to the Gogo website and register your UBS Visa Infinite Card. You must cancel any prior subscription you have with Gogo before the online registration. You’ll receive the 12 complimentary passes within a second. The passes expire after 12 months.
You can use the internet on one device at a time. Find a list of participating airlines on the Gogo website.
3. U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve Visa Infinite Card
This credit card also offers 12 free Gogo in-flight Wi-Fi passes per calendar year. Gogo serves the internet on airlines including Delta Airlines, American Airlines, and United Airlines.
You must use the passes within a year after you receive the passes. Furthermore, the credit card issuer offers access to Priority Pass Airport lounges as well.
Credit cards offering statement credits
1. Chase Sapphire Reserve
The Chase Sapphire Reserve credit card offers a $300 annual travel credit per cardmember per year. If you receive the credit on June 7, 2021, the credits will expire on June 6, 2022.
With the credit, you can reimburse purchases in categories including airlines, hotels, and car rental agencies. Buy the in-flight Wi-Fi, and the credit card issuer will reimburse the cost. You can buy any number of passes until you exhaust the $300 travel credit.
You must buy the Wi-Fi passes through a participating airline’s website.
2. Citi Prestige
The Citi Prestige credit card offers a $250 annual travel credit. Buy in-flight Wi-Fi passes and you’ll receive the cost as a statement credit. Never travel again listening to the wails of a fellow passenger’s baby.
For this card, though, you will need to pay a $495 annual fee, and you must have a credit score of 720 to 850 to qualify for the card.
3. Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Card
With the Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Card, you can get free in-flight Wi-Fi every day of the year.
The credit card allows you to buy 365 in-flight Wi-Fi passes each year. The passes can be worth up to $8. $8 is what Southwest charges for an all-day Wi-Fi pass, giving you get free Wi-Fi for the whole year.
Note that Global Eagle serves Wi-Fi on Southwest planes. Thus, you must access Wi-Fi only through Global Eagle.
4. AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite MasterCard
Flying with American Airlines? Get the AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite MasterCard to access AA in-flight Wi-Fi.
The credit card issuer offers $25 statement credits for buying Wi-Fi passes. You must use the statement credit within each card anniversary year. If you receive the statement credit on March 2, 2021, the credit expires after March 1, 2022.
You will pay a $99 annual fee for the credit card.
5. AAdvantage Aviator Silver World Elite MasterCard
If you are traveling with American Airlines, the AAdvantage Aviator Silver World Elite MasterCard allows you to receive a statement credit for travel purchases, including in-flight Wi-Fi.
You will receive a $50 statement credit. Use the statement credit within each anniversary year of the card.
The card issuer charges a $199 annual fee.
6. Citi Business/AAdvantage Platinum Select MasterCard
The Citi Business/AAdvantage Platinum Select MasterCard is another great option to partially waive the airplane Wi-Fi cost.
You’ll receive a 25% statement credit on Wi-Fi purchases. The offer applies to American Airlines flights. You must also buy the in-flight Wi-Fi service from Gogo, Panasonic, Viasat, or American Airlines’ Wi-Fi subscription plan.
You’ll receive the statement credit eight to ten weeks after the transaction.
7. United Explorer Card
The United Explorer Card offers a 25% back as a statement credit for in-flight Wi-Fi, food, and beverage purchases. You must travel on a United Airlines flight, and you will receive the statement credit within 24 hours after the purchase posts to your account.
The card issuer charges no annual fee for the first year. Afterward, you will pay $95 a year.
8. United Business Card
The United Business Card offers 25% statement credit for buying Wi-Fi. You can use the statement credit for food and beverage purchases as well. You must travel with United Airlines.
You can use the Wi-Fi through the United Airlines website and the United Airlines mobile app. You can also use the Wi-Fi on partner websites including Marriott and Hertz.
You will receive the statement credit within 24 hours of purchase. The credit card issuer charges a $99 annual fee.
9. United TravelBank Card
Are you a United TravelBank credit cardholder? Receive 25% statement credit on travel purchases including in-flight Wi-Fi. Fly with United Airlines to get the offer. The card issuer reimburses the cost within 24 hours after the transaction appears on your account.
The card issuer never charges an annual fee. However, you need to have a credit score of 690 to 850 to qualify for the card.
10. Alaska Airlines Visa Signature
If you fly with Alaska Airlines, choose the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature credit card to get statement credits on in-flight Wi-Fi purchases.
The credit card issuer offers 20% back as a statement credit for in-flight purchases. The purchases include Wi-Fi, food, and beverages.
You need to pay a $75 annual fee for the card. Furthermore, you must have a credit score of 690 to 850 to qualify for the card.
Final words
Credit cards allow you to use free in-flight Wi-Fi in the form of free passes and statement credits. Airlines including JetBlue, Qantas, and Norwegian Air offer free in-flight Wi-Fi as well. Never worry about missing out on social media for six long hours while you are on the flight.
Also, we would be remiss if we didn’t mention another option to save some money. After all, we’re all looking for ways to save when we fly, right? Before any international trip, you should strongly consider investing in travel insurance. A travel insurance policy can provide you with a wealth of benefits, including:
- Trip cancellation coverage
- Travel delay coverage
- Coverage for loss of baggage
- Flight insurance
These are just a few of the benefits travel insurance can offer. Visit Insubuy today to find the perfect policy for you.
