American Airlines Updates Inflight Entertainment and Wi-Fi

American Airlines has announced some updates to its inflight entertainment and Wi-Fi offerings in the hope that its passengers enjoy every moment of their flights.

Among the changes passengers can expect are new entertainment channels, high-speed Wi-Fi on most regional jets, free ad-sponsored Wi-Fi, and new ways of paying for Wi-Fi packages, which will be accessible through a new-look Wi-Fi portal requiring fewer clicks to make a purchase.

Ad-Sponsored Wi-Fi for All

American will join Delta as the second of the big 3 U.S. legacy carriers to offer free Wi-Fi options on some flights. All of American’s domestic narrow-body aircraft are equipped with Viasat connectivity and will now offer passengers free Wi-Fi service from gate to gate. However, to gain access to Wi-Fi, you must first watch an advertisement.

High-Speed Wi-Fi Coming to Regional Jets

In an attempt to make sure as many passengers as possible can get connected, almost 500 of American’s regional jets (like the American Eagle Embraer below) will be fitted with high-speed Wi-Fi via provider Intelsat.

Redeem Miles for Wi-Fi

In a few weeks, passengers traveling on American Airlines’ mainline short-haul flights who are AAdvantage members will be able to use their miles to upgrade from the free, ad-sponsored Wi-Fi package to a premium one.

It’s unclear at this stage how many miles will be required for Wi-Fi access, but given what we know about using miles this way, we’d guess it would result in poor use of your hard-earned miles.

The rollout will start with just a few aircraft and continue until the summer, when passengers can access this service on all Viasat-equipped narrow-body jets.

Entertainment Updates

In addition to being the first U.S. airline to offer streaming on all of its mainline aircraft, the airline also wants to be known for providing the widest range of content with the addition of new channels.

Passengers can now enjoy specially curated content on channels including, Award Nominated, Women’s Stories, and Paramount Scares.

For the youngest flyers (likewise for the parents), there are sensory videos thanks to a partnership with Hey Bear Sensory. Passengers who value wellness content will be able to enjoy meditations, affirmations, and at-seat stretches, while music fans may check in to Center Stage to witness interviews with a variety of well-known and emerging musicians.

Final Thoughts

American has started rolling out changes to its onboard Wi-Fi and entertainment offerings. Watch out for free Wi-Fi and new content on your next flight on AA!