New 738's with Wi-Fi
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Chicago O'Hare
Programs: AA EXP, LT PLT 2.6MM, HHonors Lifetime Diamond, Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 678
New 738's with Wi-Fi
Has anyone flown on a new 737-800, which still seem to be restricted to ORD (my home airport), that has in-flight Wi-Fi? It seems that they are upgrading the older fleet of 738's first. I have been on a few to/from DFW and they have had the Wi-Fi, but have not had a new 738 that has it. I often fly some of the more popular routes (LAX, SEA, BOS) from O'Hare, and it is really disappointing that such a nice plane does not have the service yet.
#2
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,630
Has anyone flown on a new 737-800, which still seem to be restricted to ORD (my home airport), that has in-flight Wi-Fi? It seems that they are upgrading the older fleet of 738's first. I have been on a few to/from DFW and they have had the Wi-Fi, but have not had a new 738 that has it. I often fly some of the more popular routes (LAX, SEA, BOS) from O'Hare, and it is really disappointing that such a nice plane does not have the service yet.
Appears NOT to be an AA priority.
I have NOT been on one 738 with WIFI
#4
Join Date: May 2009
Location: IND || CMI
Programs: AA EXP 1M, Marriott LT Platinum, Hyatt Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hertz President Circle
Posts: 631
I have noticed the flights from ORD-SFO/SFO-ORD have had wifi ... while the ORD-SJC/SJC-ORD have not ....
I talked to one of the FA's and apparantly they rolled out more wifi on the MD-80's to give folks something to do on the plane ... in comparison to the 737's which has inflight entertainment ....
+-ADT
I talked to one of the FA's and apparantly they rolled out more wifi on the MD-80's to give folks something to do on the plane ... in comparison to the 737's which has inflight entertainment ....
+-ADT
Has anyone flown on a new 737-800, which still seem to be restricted to ORD (my home airport), that has in-flight Wi-Fi? It seems that they are upgrading the older fleet of 738's first. I have been on a few to/from DFW and they have had the Wi-Fi, but have not had a new 738 that has it. I often fly some of the more popular routes (LAX, SEA, BOS) from O'Hare, and it is really disappointing that such a nice plane does not have the service yet.
#5
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: LAX
Posts: 3,267
I have noticed the flights from ORD-SFO/SFO-ORD have had wifi ... while the ORD-SJC/SJC-ORD have not ....
I talked to one of the FA's and apparantly they rolled out more wifi on the MD-80's to give folks something to do on the plane ... in comparison to the 737's which has inflight entertainment ....
+-ADT
I talked to one of the FA's and apparantly they rolled out more wifi on the MD-80's to give folks something to do on the plane ... in comparison to the 737's which has inflight entertainment ....
+-ADT
One of the advantages of the MD-80 to me is...no IFE = no crappy NBC programming tape! ^
#6
Join Date: Mar 2008
Programs: AA EXP 2.5MM National EE
Posts: 298
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I flew dfw-lga on a 738 and it had wifi. I didn't like the F seat. My butt prefers the MD-80!
I flew dfw-lga on a 738 and it had wifi. I didn't like the F seat. My butt prefers the MD-80!
#7
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,027
I've had about a 33% chance getting WiFi on the DFW-SFO route and back on the 738s. However, I haven't seen an MD-80 with Gogo since November for some reason and seemed to have much, much better luck in 2009 and early 2010.
#8
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Signatures
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: London, England
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, National Exec, AA EXP Emeritus
Posts: 9,747
I've seen a few ex-SEA on both DFW and ORD routes. Very rarely do I see them flying to JFK, although that route goes back to the 752 soon so won't see any WiFi for a while. Based on my observations here, on other sites, and in person, there appear to be four tranches of 738s in AA's fleet:
I stand to be corrected, but I'm pretty sure these are the options. So the only birds with WiFi are the most recent deliveries, and the oldest 738s that have gone through the CIP and gotten WiFi that way.
- Older purchases, with original configuration involving S80-style seats in front and Y going back to row 28; no WiFi, not in CIP configuration
- Older purchases, with updated configuration after having gone through the CIP, including articulated seats all round and Y going back to row 30; has WiFi, and is in CIP configuration
- Mid-age model, with updated configuration coming straight from Boeing, including new articulating seats all round and Y going back to row 30; no WiFi, but came from the factory in CIP configuration
- Newest models, with updated configuration and WiFi both coming with the bird as new; has WiFi, has CIP configuration
I stand to be corrected, but I'm pretty sure these are the options. So the only birds with WiFi are the most recent deliveries, and the oldest 738s that have gone through the CIP and gotten WiFi that way.
#9
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: DCA / WAS
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Posts: 9,388
I have been on only 2 in the last year on IAD/LAX/IAD (out of 20-ish round trips). And both times, I've bought. It's a godsend on that long flight.
#10
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: WAS
Posts: 1,623
I fly in/out of DCA often and I'd estimate that for the last 10 months or so (at least) I've been on a new 738 approx. 90% of the time. What I find shocking is that I'd estimate that only 50-60% of the new 738s that I've been on have wifi. Why in the world AA is not configuring these new planes with wifi is beyond me.
I do prefer the new 738 F seats compared to the old ones.
I do prefer the new 738 F seats compared to the old ones.
#11
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Puget sound
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 336
I have flown on two. One was SEA-DFW, the other was ORD-SEA.
The ORD-SEA flight was in late November, and the Capt. came over the PA and told everyone that the aircraft was brand new and only on its 8th revenue flight.
The ORD-SEA flight was in late November, and the Capt. came over the PA and told everyone that the aircraft was brand new and only on its 8th revenue flight.
#12
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: WAS/TYO
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-FlyerBeek
#14
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: WAS/TYO
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