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Gratis wifi on AA (?)

Posted by (Freedonia) on

I got an email today from American Airlines saying that wifi will be free for AAdvantage members. (Their frequent flyer program.)

I thought this was great until I read the following

We’re rolling out free high-speed Wi-Fi across these aircraft:

All Airbus A319, A320 and A321 aircraft, and all Boeing 737 aircraft

Select Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft

Select regional aircraft

Where are the 777's that fly much of AA's international routes? And not all 787's.

It seems to me that it's basically just for domstic flights.

Posted by
1193 posts

Might have something to do with agreements between AA and various providers
for satellite access?

Posted by
546 posts

Sounds like my Tmobile benefit. I have a Magenta Tmobile plan which offers free wifi on American on some flights. Last few years, it has worked domestically, but not on the overseas legs.

Posted by
1642 posts

The 777s currently use Panasonic WiFi. They're supposed to be upgrading to ViaSat in the fall and then offer free wifi to AAdvantage members.

The newer 787s, like the ORD to LHR flights, should be part of have the current rollout.

Posted by
76 posts

Wonder what the expectation will be of the flight attendants if passengers have trouble connecting, latency or whatever...knowing it could be anything.....I recognize older technology in flight wifi has been around for awhile, but setting an expectation that the entire plane would have access is scaling up really fast. I would think they would have to put some boundaries around any kind of individual assistance that could be offered in flight and/or what kind of compensation they would offer if the service is not available.

Not to sound pessimistic but I was on two United flights recently that supposedly had free wifi and it no workie on either. I didn't have the heart to ping the attendant, they were busy with other things.

Posted by
1255 posts

It's a phased roll out starting with narrow bodies and regional jets and then the rest of the fleet by the spring. Simple research.

https://news.aa.com/news/news-details/2026/American-Airlines-launches-FREE-high-speed-Wi-Fi-sponsored-by-ATT-available-on-more-aircraft-than-any-other-carrier-in-the-world/default.aspx

https://thepointsguy.com/news/american-airlines-free-wifi-rollout-begins/

https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/american-airlines-roll-out-free-wi-fi-loyalty-program-members-2026-01-06/

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