JetBlue to upgrade Wi-Fi with fast new Amazon-powered satellite service
The first U.S. airline to offer free inflight Wi-Fi to all passengers is giving its on-board service a big upgrade.
JetBlue on Thursday said it will partner with Amazon’s Project Kuiper to outfit some of its planes with faster connectivity powered by low-Earth-orbit satellites.
The move will give JetBlue high-speed on-board internet that uses similar satellite technology to Starlink — the high-speed service that’s currently available (or soon to be available) on a growing list of U.S. airlines, from United Airlines to Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines.
Passengers on planes equipped with the new technology should be able to work, stream shows and YouTube videos, or perform essentially any other online function they would at home.
The New York-based carrier will be the first airline in the world to sign on to Amazon’s new Project Kuiper broadband network, a $10 billion investment that has the company deploying thousands of satellites into low Earth orbit.
The carrier expects to install the higher-caliber service on roughly a quarter of its fleet beginning in 2027.
“This is not just about faster internet — although, yes, it will definitely be faster,” JetBlue president Marty St. George said on a call with reporters. “It’s about ensuring our customers have the best connectivity possible.”
Installations should wrap up by 2028, St. George said. The carrier does not currently have plans to outfit additional planes with the technology. So, as of now, the plan is that the service will be available on about a quarter of JetBlue aircraft.
JetBlue's 'next evolution' of Fly-Fi
JetBlue first deployed its “Fly-Fi” service in 2013, and offered it free to customers long before complimentary on-board connectivity became a distinct trend across the airline industry.
In recent years, Delta Air Lines, United and Hawaiian have moved to add free on-board Wi-Fi. American Airlines said it will make its service free in 2026, and Alaska just announced it will soon do the same. Southwest Airlines has been testing whether its bandwidth can support making its service free for customers.
JetBlue, for its part, has dubbed its Amazon Wi-Fi tie-up the “next evolution” of its Fly-Fi service, which will remain free to customers, the airline confirmed.
“We were the first to do this. We do have a lot of our competitors trying to jump on the bandwagon,” St. George said. “We decided if other people are trying to catch up with what we started in 2013, what are we going to do in the 2020s to stay ahead?”
Snappier service
Like many other airlines, JetBlue’s current Wi-Fi service relies on geostationary Earth orbit satellite technology, which provides a wide coverage blanket to planes from high above Earth.
However, the speeds can feel slower to users than those of a service powered by low-Earth-orbit satellites, which form constellations to deliver a snappier browsing experience more reminiscent of surfing the internet at home.
JetBlue said this new Wi-Fi deal “in no way” signifies the end of its tie-up with existing provider Viasat.
Across the industry, airlines (and inflight Wi-Fi providers) are increasingly looking at ways to lean on both geostationary and low-Earth-orbit satellites to offer wide coverage and fast service.
Bottom line
JetBlue sees this Wi-Fi upgrade as part of a larger push to offer new services to passengers — investments that, the airline hopes, will drive customer loyalty and help it return to profitability for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic.
The carrier expects to debut its first airport lounge later this year at New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and introduce a domestic first-class cabin in 2026. Also included in that "JetForward" plan: Blue Sky, a new partnership with United Airlines.
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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.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 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. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
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 $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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $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.
- Terms Apply.