Here Are the American Airlines Aircraft With Wi-Fi — And When the Others Will Get It
American Airlines is in the midst of a massive multi-year "fleet transformation" process. If you haven't flown on American Airlines in a few years, you might be surprised at the changes. Some of these changes are good — such as no more angle-flat business class seats, excellent new business class seats and new premium economy cabins being installed on all widebody aircraft. Others changes are bad: removing IFE screens, smaller bathrooms in economy and reduced legroom in economy.
If you notice, that's improvements in premium cabins and reductions in economy. American Airlines is planning to spend $1.8 billion in 2018 to continue this trend. But, there's one aspect that's been a definite improvement for all cabins: Wi-Fi.
American Airlines Wi-Fi situation was pretty bleak up until recently. While its newest long-haul aircraft came with Panasonic satellite-based Wi-Fi, the domestic fleet either had no Wi-Fi or woefully slow Gogo connections. And older long-haul aircraft provided no connection options.
Well, AA has hit a new milestone in its transformation: All of its widebody aircraft now have Panasonic Wi-Fi installed. This includes the entire fleet of:
- 15 Airbus A330-200
- 9 Airbus A330-300
- 24 Boeing 767-300
- 47 Boeing 777-200ER
- 20 Boeing 777-300ER
- 20 Boeing 787-8
- 16 Boeing 787-9
The only international-configured aircraft that hasn't been fully installed with Wi-Fi is the Boeing 757. An American Airlines spokesperson confirmed the 757s "will be done by the end of the month."
Whether these internationally-configured aircraft are flying the 16+hour Dallas to Hong Kong flight or on a domestic route, the pricing is always set to be the same:
Unfortunately, the domestic fleet is a whole different story. American Airlines is in the process of installing high-speed internet (either ViaSat or Gogo 2Ku) on the vast majority of its narrowbody fleet. But, as of March 31 2018, the airline is only 13% done with this project:
However, it's going to be a relatively short time before American Airlines turns this stat around. The airline's estimated competition date is "2Q19" — meaning by June 30, 2019. Considering AA has nearly 800 narrowbody aircraft, that's going to be a remarkably quick installation rate. However, an airline spokesperson noted that this doesn't count "aircraft that will never receive satellite wifi, such as MD-80s which are due to retire by the end of 2019."
In the meantime, there's not going to be much rhyme or reason to which aircraft have high-speed internet. The only thing for sure is that the 737 MAX aircraft will have ViaSat installed. While there's not much to like about AA's new 737 MAX, at least it does have fast 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