American Airlines is finally making inflight Wi-Fi free starting next January

[DRIless]

American Airlines is finally making inflight Wi-Fi free starting next January. Thanks to a new partnership with AT&T, AAdvantage members can soon scroll, stream, and keep up with the world at 35,000 feet without spending a dime.


The free inflight Wi-Fi will roll out on about 90% of American Airlines’ fleet. Regional jets are expected to get upgrades too, with over 100 already retrofitted and more coming this year. The not-so-good news is that long-haul flights (where you want Wi-Fi the most) are mostly equipped with older Panasonic systems and won’t be part of the free Wi-Fi party just yet, so you’ll still have to pay to access the internet.


American Airlines is finally joining the modern era, following in the footsteps of Delta and JetBlue, which have been offering free fleetwide Wi-Fi for a while now. Alaska, Southwest, and United currently offer Wi-Fi for around $8 on many flights, and United plans to make it completely free once Starlink Wi-Fi rolls out.


American’s about-face also follows the appointment of a Chief Customer Officer, signaling a long-overdue focus on keeping flyers happy—and frankly, it’s about damn time!

 

[gln60]

It sure is….no doubt about it…..we fly exclusively on AA

 

[buzglyd]

I just flew Hawaiian from San Diego to HNL and the flight had free Star Link WiFi and I was very impressed with the quality of it.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I just flew Hawaiian from San Diego to HNL and the flight had free Star Link WiFi and I was very impressed with the quality of it.

We also used it on Hawaiian, and I think on United as well from Maui. Absolutely free

 

[dougp26364]

This will make flights somewhat more bearable. On our last United flight, I made the mistake of pre-paying for WiFi. I’m not a technically savvy person and I had a very difficult time getting connected. While I’d like to use WiFi in flight, I doubt I’ll make the mistake of paying for it again.

The past couple of years we used American more often than not. This year, not so much. I tend to book the routes that work best on the flights the cost the least. Since we’ve begun flying first class as often as possible, price is a strong motivating factor.

 

[Luanne]

I don't use, or really need, wifi on a flight. Free wifi on American wouldn't be enough to make me want to fly them.

United Airlines will be adding free Starlink wifi to their flights. Even though I fly United I won't use it as i prefer to read, or sleep, when I'm flying.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I watch movies on flights. I actually have watched The Notebook on several flights over the last ten years or so. I still cry at the end and cry when she goes to visit Noah in the house he rebuilt for her. I get teary when he sees her with the rich guy she is engaged to through the restaurant window.

 

[Luanne]

Free wifi on American Airlines not as good as it originally sounded.

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