American debuts new Wi-Fi redemptions, but stops short of making it free
Staying connected when flying with American Airlines is about to get a little bit easier.
The Fort Worth-based carrier on Wednesday unveiled a few updates to its onboard Wi-Fi service, including the ability to redeem AAdvantage miles for internet packages.
This new mileage redemption option will officially debut in the coming weeks on select aircraft. After a short beta period, nearly all of the airline's domestic aircraft will offer this feature.
The rollout for domestic flights is expected to be completed by the start of the summer travel season. Note that this redemption option will only be available on aircraft equipped with Viasat connectivity, which includes all Boeing 737 and select Airbus A319 aircraft.
American first announced that AAdvantage members could redeem miles for Wi-Fi in late February as part of a larger announcement around enhanced benefits for AAdvantage members.
It wasn't immediately clear how American plans to price its Wi-Fi packages in miles, and a carrier spokesperson declined to share more details.
United Airlines has long offered the ability to redeem MileagePlus miles for Wi-Fi service. The redemption rate typically falls below TPG's valuation of 1.4 cents per MileagePlus mile. So, I typically purchase United Wi-Fi with my cobranded credit card and save my miles for flight awards.
To power American's new service, the carrier will also roll out a new landing page at aainflight.com on board its jets. This updated landing page has started to pop up on select flights in recent days as the carrier tests the new service.
Expect a new design, as well as the ability to log in to your AAdvantage account for mileage redemptions, on this new landing page.
Though American is making Wi-Fi more accessible with a new mileage redemption option, the carrier is stopping short of lowering its Wi-Fi pricing or making it free altogether, as Delta Air Lines and JetBlue have done.
American consistently offers the most expensive Wi-Fi plans of all the major U.S. airlines, charging as much as $35 on a flight from New York to Los Angeles. (On the same route, Alaska Airlines and United charge $8; Delta and JetBlue offer connectivity for free.)
That said, American is rolling out a limited free Wi-Fi offering for all Viasat-equipped flights. This timed service will be available for 20 minutes in exchange for watching a 15- or 30-second ad.
This free, ad-supported Wi-Fi option was first rolled out in 2022, but it's historically been only available on select flights. It'll now be active across 100% of American's Viasat domestic narrow-body fleet. Just note that you can only get one free Wi-Fi package per device per flight.
If you're looking to save on inflight connectivity, be sure to check out our guide to scoring free and discounted inflight Wi-Fi with credit cards.
In addition to the aforementioned upgrades, American reiterated plans to upgrade the connectivity systems on regional jets. The airline plans to roll out high-speed Wi-Fi to nearly 500 dual-class regional aircraft beginning this summer.
While Wednesday's announcement is certainly noteworthy, it's unfortunate that American still hasn't made good on its 2017 promise to offer free inflight messaging to everyone.
In 2017, Delta Air Lines was the first of the "Big Three" U.S. airlines to offer free messaging to all travelers. This allowed flyers to connect to the internet to use apps such as iMessage and WhatsApp without paying for a full Wi-Fi pass.
American announced the next day that it would match Delta's move "soon" but didn't provide a concrete timeline. Yet here we are, seven years later, and American still hasn't enabled this offering.
Even Southwest Airlines and United, which have many fleets outfitted with slower and less reliable Wi-Fi than American, now offer free messaging. So, it's a bummer that American still hasn't made good on this promise.
Related reading:
- Your ultimate guide to American Airlines AAdvantage
- Best credit cards for American Airlines flyers
- What is American Airlines elite status worth?
- Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
- The best credit cards to reach elite status
- Everything you need to know about flying basic economy on American Airlines
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | 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. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- 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 $8,000 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.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- 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.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.