Alaska's Adding Speedy Wi-Fi to All Airbus and Boeing Planes
Want high-speed satellite Wi-Fi when flying Alaska Airlines? Come 2020, you'll be guaranteed to have it. On Tuesday, the carrier shared plans to equip its entire fleet with Gogo's much-improved 2Ku satellite Wi-Fi, which the carrier quotes as offering "20 times more bandwidth than Gogo's air-to-ground (ATG) product." So if you're used to using the Gogo internet available on most planes today, this new variety will represent a huge step up.
Just how fast is 2Ku? Well, I had an opportunity to put it to the test on a Gogo test flight last year, and it worked well enough to accomplish just about any task I'd expect to on the ground, including streaming HD video. My "Delta Silent Disco" flight was also 2Ku equipped, which was fairly speedy despite the number of passengers sharing pictures and video on social media. The Wi-Fi even worked as we taxied for takeoff, which simply isn't possible with ATG, which uses antennas mounted on the plane's belly to communicate with towers on the ground — 2Ku, by comparison, uses satellite antennas on the top of the plane, so theoretically an aircraft can maintain its connection from gate to gate.
Currently, Alaska's 737s and Embraer 175s offer Gogo's older (sluggish) Wi-Fi, which, due to its design, only works when flying over North America, including the corridor to and from Alaska's namesake state. 2Ku, meanwhile, covers all of the carrier's routes, making it possible to offer Wi-Fi service on flights to Hawaii, Mexico and beyond.
So what does this mean for Virgin America's ViaSat experiment? While I'm a big fan of ViaSat Wi-Fi — which successfully powers JetBlue's entire fleet, for example — unfortunately that provider's product just won't work for Alaska Airlines, since service isn't available on all of the carrier's routes, including those to and from the state of Alaska. As a result, Virgin's A320s will be getting Gogo's solution, instead. Alaska regional jets will continue to offer older ATG service.
While pricing hasn't been announced — and varies by flight — Delta currently charges $16 for a prepaid Gogo day pass with 24 hours of access, so I imagine Alaska's version shouldn't end up costing an arm and a leg. As for when to expect 2Ku service to launch, Alaska will begin installing satellite Wi-Fi on its 737s early next year, with at least 40 planes expected to go online by the end of 2018. All mainline aircraft will offer 2Ku by early 2020.
Have you tried Gogo's 2Ku Wi-Fi?
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees