UNITED STATES- The carrier American Airlines (AA), headquartered in Fort Worth, recently introduced several enhancements to its onboard Wi-Fi service, allowing passengers to utilize AAdvantage miles to purchase internet packages.
This fresh redemption option utilizing mileage will be rolled out in the upcoming weeks, initially on specific aircraft. Following a brief beta phase, most of the airline’s domestic fleet will incorporate this functionality.
New Wifi Redemption Option
The completion of the domestic flight rollout is anticipated before the onset of the summer travel season. It’s important to note that this redemption option will be accessible only on aircraft equipped with Viasat connectivity, encompassing all Boeing 737 and specific Airbus A319 aircraft.
American initially announced the opportunity for AAdvantage members to redeem miles for Wi-Fi in late February as part of a broader announcement regarding enhanced benefits for AAdvantage members.
Details regarding how American intends to price its Wi-Fi packages in miles remain undisclosed, as a carrier spokesperson declined to provide further information.
United Airlines has long provided the option to redeem MileagePlus miles for Wi-Fi service, typically at a redemption rate below TPG’s valuation of 1.4 cents per MileagePlus mile. Consequently, I usually opt to purchase United Wi-Fi with my co-branded credit card and reserve my miles for flight awards.
To facilitate American’s new service, the carrier will introduce a new landing page at aainflight.com aboard its aircraft. This updated landing page has begun appearing on select flights recently as the carrier tests the new service.
Anticipate a redesigned layout and the ability to access your AAdvantage account for mileage redemptions on this new landing page.
Although America is enhancing Wi-Fi accessibility with a new mileage redemption option, the carrier is not reducing its Wi-Fi pricing or offering it for free, unlike Delta Air Lines and JetBlue.
Wifi Prices Of Top U.S Airlines
American consistently offers the most expensive Wi-Fi plans among major U.S. airlines, with prices reaching as high as $35 on flights from New York to Los Angeles. In comparison, Alaska Airlines (AS) and United charge $8 for the same route, while Delta and JetBlue (B6) provide free connectivity.
Nevertheless, America is introducing a limited free Wi-Fi offering for all Viasat-equipped flights. This service will be available for 20 minutes in exchange for viewing a 15- or 30-second advertisement.
The complimentary, ad-supported Wi-Fi option was initially introduced in 2022, although it was historically restricted to specific flights. Now, it will be available on all of America’s Viasat-equipped domestic narrow-body aircraft. Remember that each device can only receive one free Wi-Fi package per flight.
For travellers seeking to save on in-flight connectivity costs, we recommend referring to our guide on obtaining complimentary or discounted in-flight Wi-Fi using credit cards.
Furthermore, America has reaffirmed its intention to upgrade the connectivity systems of regional jets. Starting this summer, the airline plans to implement high-speed Wi-Fi on nearly 500 dual-class regional aircraft.
While Wednesday’s announcement is significant, it’s disappointing that American has yet to fulfil its promise in 2017 to offer free in-flight messaging to all passengers.
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