American Airlines
is one of the largest airlines in the world. Its route network has grown to six continents and more than 350 destinations. To reach all of these destinations, American has a mainline fleet of nearly 1,000 planes and has several hundred regional aircraft operating under other regional carriers and subsidiaries.
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WiFi coming to regional aircraft
Almost one year ago, American announced it would begin installing WiFi connectivity on more than 500 planes. The airline said it would work with intelsat
to provide high-speed WiFi on the dual-class regional aircraft. The installation process was set to begin this year and would take two years.
Photo: Wenjie Zheng | Shutterstock
In February, the two parties finalized their agreement and said installations would begin later in the year. The aircraft that will receive the new connectivity will be the Bombardier CRJ-700s, CRJ-900s, and Embraer
E170s and E175s.
Intelsat CEO Dave Wajsgras,
“Our recent commercial aviation success with major airlines validates our approach, offering consistent and reliable service tailored to the unique needs and uses of each airline. American’s decision to install Intelsat’s system on regional jets demonstrates that world-class airlines see the value of a multi-orbit system to deliver their passengers access to more throughput and the best overall user experience across their aircraft fleet.”
According to the airline, the new connectivity will allow passengers to stream video, browse the internet, and even use VPNs in flight. The first plane to receive the Intelsat connectivity was a CRJ-700 that was flown to Gainesville, Florida, at the end of June. Fifty days later, the plane returned to service.
Photo: SkyWest Airlines
Paying in miles
In March, American announced that it would soon allow AAdvantage program members to purchase WiFi using miles. Although the airline announced this several months ago, it is unclear if the option is now available or when it will be available.
Free connectivity for T-Mobile customers on most flights
American is the only carrier in the ‘Big Three’ that has not yet announced free WiFi for passengers. Delta Air Lines was the first to do so, announcing that it was rolling out free access for members of the SkyMiles program. Then, most recently, United Airlines announced that Starlink would provide internet services for its aircraft, which would be free.
Photo: American Airlines
American also does not offer free WiFi for passengers with status in its AAdvantage program or for those flying in premium cabins. As a matter of fact, its WiFi is expensive on many long-haul routes. The only passengers eligible for free WiFi on select American Airlines flights are those who are customers with cell phone provider T-Mobile.
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T-Mobile has struck partnerships with several American carriers, including 
Delta Air Lines
before it announced free WiFi for all passengers. At American, connectivity is available on many flights, but not all. For example, I recently flew from Dallas to Costa Rica and then from Costa Rica to Miami, and neither of the two flights had free connectivity for T-Mobile customers.
Not only is connectivity dependent on the flight, but it also depends on the customer’s cell phone plan. Some plans only offer four full inflight sessions yearly and unlimited texting sessions, while others offer unlimited connectivity. In order to prevent passengers from using others’ cell phone numbers, American has begun SMS verification for T-Mobile phone numbers.
Monthly and annual WiFi packages
For frequent flyers who need connectivity, American offers WiFi plans for AAdvantage
members. According to the website, there are plans for one or two devices. The monthly cost for one device is $49.95, and the annual cost is $599. For two devices, a monthly plan is $59.95 and annually costs $699.
Photo: American Airlines
American says that in order to purchase plans, one must:
- Be an AAdvantage member
- Have an email address saved in your AAdvantage account
- Have a credit card with a US billing address saved in your AAdvantage account
It is important to note that the WiFi plans are not available on long-haul flights to South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. American’s widebodies are equipped with Panasonic connectivity and the airline states, Panasonic international Wi-Fi services are not included in the American Airlines Wi-Fi Subscription Plan.
Streaming is available
While many airlines offer inflight connectivity, not all offer the ability to stream video while in flight. But American says its products do offer video streaming outside of its provided entertainment. Connecting to the network is simple and a two-step process whether on a phone, tablet, or laptop.
Photo: American Airlines
On phones and tablets:
- Enable airplane mode and connect to the ‘aainflight.com’ Wi-Fi signal
- If you’re not redirected, open a browser and enter aainflight.com
On laptops:
- Connect to the ‘aainflight.com’ Wi-Fi signal
- If you’re not redirected, open a browser and enter aainflight.com
**Though streaming is possible, phone calls are not allowed while in flight.
The Intelsat connectivity being installed on the regional planes will be able to match the speeds currently offered on mainline aircraft. Through the purchase and equipping of the new connectivity on the regional aircraft, American is reinforcing its commitment to consistency for its passengers.
Photo: Brisbane Airport
If passengers do not want to pay for connectivity, the airline’s inflight entertainment portal has a wide selection of TV shows, movies, music, and more. On some flights, in partnership with Apple, American offers two free months of Apple Music, which can be accessed while on a flight.