Planning for a summer trip and looking for a fly with wifi? (that rhymed!) American Airlines would be the deal as you’d have internet along most of the way. American Airlines has deployed satellite-based broadband WiFi access to the it’s fleet of 700 and more narrow body aircraft that mainly cover the domestic routes.The planes also include access to 12 live TV channels that you could stream on your personal device.
It never has been fun travelling by air with your legs couched in cramped space in budget airlines. Nonetheless, having an internet access in flight could bring about a huge difference in the travel-experience. This hasn’t been an option until now. Most airlines have been competing to have a better in-seat entertainment systems, but wifi limitations have meant most remained largely similar in offerings. This will now change.
American Airlines also intents to install power outlets in every individual seat for its mainline and two-class regional fleets. All this with a roll out tablet holder for it’s narrow-body aircraft.
American Airlines, a giant in the airline industry, deployed satellite broadband access to it’s widebody aircraft around an year ago. You will have either Gogo 2Ku or ViaSat Ka connections providing consistent fast WiFi access depending on your choice of route. As per TechCrunch, the company isn’t planning a WiFi upgrade on it’s oldest MD-83 as they are currently being phased for more modern jets.
Kurt Stache, Senior Vice President for Marketing, Loyalty and Sales at American stated “Elevating the travel experience is one of our top goals at American and we’ve been working hard to provide our customers with the same level of entertainment and connectivity options they enjoy in their own living rooms,” . “In less than two years, we completed broadband internet installation on our entire mainline fleet and we will continue setting new standards in the industry to show our customers we value the time they spend with us.”
Internet connectivity mid-flight would be charged for. Monarch was one of the first which would offer it’s “M-Player” – A free app where you could stream music and movies but not surf. Unlike it’s competitors American Airlines does not offer WiFi access to chat apps but the none the less this would be a major step up for the company.
