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WNBA basketball star Caitlin Clark may be one of the most recognizable athletes in America, but even she doesn’t want to pay for inflight Wi-Fi.
A reporter asked the Indiana Fever rookie whether she would be watching Game 7 of the NBA Finals during a press conference, but Clark said she’d be on a Delta flight during the game.
Like many basketball fans, Clark hoped to catch the game. But if her plane didn’t have built-in seatback screens, she was worried she would need to pay up for streaming access.
“I’m hoping for the ones with the screens on the back of the chairs, so I don’t have to pay for Wi-Fi. I’m a little cheap,” Clark said.
Unfortunately for Clark, the Indiana Pacers lost anyway. The Oklahoma City Thunder won the 2025 NBA Finals with a dominant second half in Game 7, winning 103-91 and earning the franchise’s first NBA title since relocating from Seattle in 2008.
Why in-flight Wi-Fi still feels like a ripoff
In an era of more connected cabins, paying extra to stay online can feel frustrating — especially when basic connectivity is often slow or inconsistent. And it’s not always clear whether you’ll be able to livestream content anyway.
Another source of frustration is the lack of transparency around cost. Some airlines are upfront about their pricing (e.g. Southwest Airlines charges $8 per device, no matter the length of the flight), but other airlines make it difficult to know how much Wi-Fi will cost until you board. For example, American Airlines promises Wi-Fi for as little as $10 per flight, but it often ends up costing about $30 or more. That will change soon, though. American Airlines plans to offer free Wi-Fi to AAdvantage members starting in January 2026.
For some travelers, it's not about the money. It’s about the feeling of being nickel-and-dimed for something that many travelers say should be included.
Delta is rapidly expanding its free Wi-Fi
Clark’s wish to watch live basketball games in the skies for free is already in the works at Delta Air Lines specifically. Just as Clark mentioned, certain Delta planes are equipped with seatback screens that offer up to 16 channels of live satellite TV on select flights with seatback screens.
“Delta is leading the industry in delivering fast, free Wi-Fi at scale — making it available to more travelers on more routes than any other airline," a Delta spokesperson said in an email to NerdWallet. "Combined with the most seatback screens in the U.S. sky, we’re setting the standard for staying connected and entertained in flight.”
The airline is also currently rolling out free Wi-Fi across its fleet for both domestic and international flights. Delta Sync Wi-Fi, a specific type of Wi-Fi capability, allows streaming, so Clark could’ve streamed the game for free if her plane was equipped with the new technology.
Delta Sync is available on its entire domestic mainline fleet for domestic flights and all flights across its transatlantic network to Europe, Israel and West Africa. Regional aircraft and new Delta planes are also on the list for upgraded Wi-Fi capabilities as well.
Other ways to avoid paying for Wi-Fi without missing a game
Fly airlines with free live TV
If you’re merely trying to catch a game or watch something else live on TV, then you might not necessarily need an airline with free Wi-Fi, just one that offers free live TV.
Major airlines with free live TV include United (which offers more than 100 channels through DIRECTV on many of its planes), JetBlue and Southwest (though there are no seatback screens on Southwest, so you’ll have to connect on your own device).
Fly airlines with free Wi-Fi
In addition to Delta, an increasing number of airlines are installing free Wi-Fi. JetBlue has long provided free Wi-Fi for all passengers. United and American Airlines’ free Wi-Fi rollout is in the works.
Alaska Airlines and Southwest Airlines allow free texting, though not necessarily free Wi-Fi, so at least your friends could keep you in the loop with live updates.
Free inflight Wi-Fi is coming
Whether you’re a professional athlete or a casual vacationer, no one wants to be gouged for internet access, especially when more airlines are proving it doesn’t have to be this way.
Thankfully, airlines are changing. Now that some airlines, including Delta, are moving in the opposite direction by offering free Wi-Fi, the days of paying extra just to stream your favorite show or catch a big game may soon be over.
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