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High-speed Wi-Fi is coming to American's smallest planes

Dec. 01, 2023
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3 min read
American Airlines planes jets Washingon DCA National Reagan Zach Griff - 1
High-speed Wi-Fi is coming to American's smallest planes
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Regional jets don't always offer the most comfortable onboard experience, but American Airlines has some good news.

The Fort Worth-based carrier announced on Thursday that it'll outfit its regional fleet with high-speed Wi-Fi. Specifically, American will install Intelsat's satellite connectivity across nearly 500 of its smallest two-class jets.

This new technology will allow flyers to connect to streaming speeds on its smallest planes. American promises low latency for the internet connection, which should mean minimal buffering, if any, when trying to watch a show or stream music while in flight.

American didn't share a rollout timeline for this new high-speed service (beyond starting the installations in 2024). American Eagle regional affiliates currently operate the following two-class jets: CRJ-700, CRJ-900, Embraer E170 and Embraer E175 — all of which will receive the Wi-Fi upgrades.

The CRJ-200 and Embraer E145, which don't currently offer Wi-Fi, unfortunately won't receive internet service as part of this announcement.

American's existing regional jet Wi-Fi provider, Gogo, is painfully slow and often unreliable. It uses an outdated air-to-ground network that was one of the first mainstream solutions for inflight connectivity.

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The upgrades will no doubt be big news for travelers who find themselves on American Eagle planes.

ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

American's move to team up with Intelsat for regional connectivity comes just weeks after Delta Air Lines announced a similar solution for its fleet of Delta Connection jets. The Atlanta-based carrier is teaming up with Hughes Network Systems to bring faster and more reliable Wi-Fi to 400 Boeing 717s and regional jets operating in North America.

All of this enhanced connectivity comes as the largest U.S. airlines are racing to offer an onboard experience that mimics the living room. Delta and United are both committed to offering seatback TVs on every single jet, as well as high-speed Wi-Fi on every plane.

On the other hand, American ditched entertainment systems across nearly its entire domestic fleet, but it does offer streaming-capable Wi-Fi on every mainline jet.

While there's been industry pressure to make Wi-Fi access cheaper (or even free, like om JetBlue and Delta), American continues to charge more than any of its key competitors for internet access.

Case in point: A few weeks ago, a full-flight pass on my trip from Los Angeles to New York came out to $29. Had I instead been flying with JetBlue (or on select Delta planes), Wi-Fi would've been free. If I chose United instead, I'd only be on the hook for a much more modest $8.

Hopefully, as American's Wi-Fi gets faster, it'll ultimately invest in free fleetwide Wi-Fi.

Featured image by ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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  • Solid welcome bonus

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  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
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  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
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