Jun 4, 2018, 9:33 pm
Last edit by: txpenny
American Airlines In-Flight WiFi
NOTE: Three providers mean some gaps in how one pays for and uses WiFi in the long run, e.g. monthly passes, at least for now. But AA has “fixed” things so you are limited to a single device now (2020), rather than share your connection to different devices even serially, unless you bring a WiFi hotspot and connect that.
Link to AA (unofficial) fleet site with WiFi, etc. listings for each aircraft
Link to AA tool flight status and WiFi (indicates WiFi, not type / provider)
Link to AA chat where you may easily cancel and request WiFi refunds
WiFi types (fee or pass required)
ViaSat Ka band satellite-based WiFi under installation in ~500 AA narrowbody aircraft, and comes “out of the box” on AA 737 MAX 8 aircraft. “Gate to gate” offered.
American adding faster ViaSat WiFi to 500+ Aircraft"]American adding faster ViaSat WiFi to 500+ Aircraft (FT)
Link to ViaSat press announcement
Gogo cellular telephone dependent WiFi (converted to Gogo 2Ku band satellite Wi-Fi for many flights within the continental U.S. and southern Canada). Available above 10,000 ft MSL (Ku at any time). On the wane, as over 400 aircraft will be converted to ViaSat.
Link to credit cards supporting courtesy WiFi Gogo passes
Link to Gogo 2Ku page.
Link AirInsight article on Gogo loss of ~400 AA aircraft to ViaSat
Panasonic ExConnect Ku band aeronautical satellite network -based WiFi on widebody aircraft. Blacked out over China.
International (Panasonic satellite) WiFi: availability, experiences (FT)
The Jan 2020 WiFi lineup after refit is:
Airbus:
• A319: ViaSat or 2Ku
• A320 (Legacy US Airways): Gogo 2Ku
• A321 (Legacy US Airways): ViaSat
• A321 (Legacy AA - A321H, A321S): ViaSat
• 32B Sharklets (A321T): ViaSat
Boeing
• 737-800: ViaSat (all)
• 737 MAX 8: ViaSat (all)
• 787-8: Panasonic (Batch 1)
• 787-8: Viasat (Batch 2, 788T)
• 787-9: Panasonic (all)
• 777-200ER: Panasonic (all)
• 777-300ER: Panasonic (all)
• Embraer E190: ?
Parenthetical notes:
all = all in fleet
no parenthetical note = goal, not current state; Gogo conversion to Gogo 2Ku
under conversion = varies by specific aircraft until conversion complete
(Thanks to ThreeJulietTango)
Wifi Speeds inflight : AA's new service is 10x as fast as Gogo Inflight
Onboard IFE streaming (free IFE to your personal device)
WiFi based onboard server-based streaming in flight entertainment (IFE) is being added to hundreds if aircraft, making AVOD streaming to your personal device the norm (as opposed to seatback flatscreen entertainment options).
Related: Oasis: New seats & less pitch, WiFi IFE & power all 737 and A321 2019-21
Mobile Phone support/features by Provider:
GoGo:
T-Mobile - Wi-Fi calling and texting works (well I never tried the calling but, but it connects as T-Mobile WiFi). iPhone imessage works
Verizon -
AT&T -
Sprint -
Panasonic:
T-Mobile - Wi-Fi calling not available, so no Wi-Fi texting. iPhone iMessage works (only when texting another iPhone user)
Verizon -
AT&T -
Sprint -
Viasat:
T-Mobile - Will register as T-Mobile WiFi. WiFi texting works. Unknown about WiFi calling, but didn't want to chance it.
Verizon -
AT&T -
Sprint -
Link to archived 2018 posts
NOTE: Three providers mean some gaps in how one pays for and uses WiFi in the long run, e.g. monthly passes, at least for now. But AA has “fixed” things so you are limited to a single device now (2020), rather than share your connection to different devices even serially, unless you bring a WiFi hotspot and connect that.
If you fly often, join the Monthly American Airlines Plan for $49.95 a month (plus tax). The pass is valid only on Gogo and Viasat Wi-Fi equipped domestic flights operating between airports within the United States, Canada, and Mexico, where network coverage is available. Wi-Fi services provided by Panasonic, regardless of destination, are not covered under the American Airlines Wi-Fi subscription plan. (aa.com)
You can always access aa.com for free during your flight.
You can always access aa.com for free during your flight.
Link to AA tool flight status and WiFi (indicates WiFi, not type / provider)
Link to AA chat where you may easily cancel and request WiFi refunds
WiFi types (fee or pass required)
ViaSat Ka band satellite-based WiFi under installation in ~500 AA narrowbody aircraft, and comes “out of the box” on AA 737 MAX 8 aircraft. “Gate to gate” offered.
American adding faster ViaSat WiFi to 500+ Aircraft"]American adding faster ViaSat WiFi to 500+ Aircraft (FT)
Link to ViaSat press announcement
Gogo cellular telephone dependent WiFi (converted to Gogo 2Ku band satellite Wi-Fi for many flights within the continental U.S. and southern Canada). Available above 10,000 ft MSL (Ku at any time). On the wane, as over 400 aircraft will be converted to ViaSat.
Link to credit cards supporting courtesy WiFi Gogo passes
Link to Gogo 2Ku page.
Link AirInsight article on Gogo loss of ~400 AA aircraft to ViaSat
Panasonic ExConnect Ku band aeronautical satellite network -based WiFi on widebody aircraft. Blacked out over China.
International (Panasonic satellite) WiFi: availability, experiences (FT)
The Jan 2020 WiFi lineup after refit is:
Airbus:
• A319: ViaSat or 2Ku
• A320 (Legacy US Airways): Gogo 2Ku
• A321 (Legacy US Airways): ViaSat
• A321 (Legacy AA - A321H, A321S): ViaSat
• 32B Sharklets (A321T): ViaSat
Boeing
• 737-800: ViaSat (all)
• 737 MAX 8: ViaSat (all)
• 787-8: Panasonic (Batch 1)
• 787-8: Viasat (Batch 2, 788T)
• 787-9: Panasonic (all)
• 777-200ER: Panasonic (all)
• 777-300ER: Panasonic (all)
• Embraer E190: ?
Parenthetical notes:
all = all in fleet
no parenthetical note = goal, not current state; Gogo conversion to Gogo 2Ku
under conversion = varies by specific aircraft until conversion complete
(Thanks to ThreeJulietTango)
Wifi Speeds inflight : AA's new service is 10x as fast as Gogo Inflight
Onboard IFE streaming (free IFE to your personal device)
WiFi based onboard server-based streaming in flight entertainment (IFE) is being added to hundreds if aircraft, making AVOD streaming to your personal device the norm (as opposed to seatback flatscreen entertainment options).
Related: Oasis: New seats & less pitch, WiFi IFE & power all 737 and A321 2019-21
Mobile Phone support/features by Provider:
GoGo:
T-Mobile - Wi-Fi calling and texting works (well I never tried the calling but, but it connects as T-Mobile WiFi). iPhone imessage works
Verizon -
AT&T -
Sprint -
Panasonic:
T-Mobile - Wi-Fi calling not available, so no Wi-Fi texting. iPhone iMessage works (only when texting another iPhone user)
Verizon -
AT&T -
Sprint -
Viasat:
T-Mobile - Will register as T-Mobile WiFi. WiFi texting works. Unknown about WiFi calling, but didn't want to chance it.
Verizon -
AT&T -
Sprint -
Link to archived 2018 posts
HELP DESK: AA In-Flight WiFi (Gogo, ViaSat, Panasonic)
Jul 23, 2021, 5:15 pm
#181
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TPA/ABZ
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
Posts: 13,248
You may be better off directing your anger at those providing the service rather than at an internet bulletin board?
Jul 24, 2021, 6:55 pm
#182
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: MSY (finally); previously NYC, BOS, AUH
Programs: AA EXP, 6MM; BA GLD
Posts: 17,248
I flew DFW-LHR on July 7 and LHR-MIA today (July 24), both on 773s. The Wi-Fi didn’t work on either flight. Just bad luck or have there been recent reliability issues?
Jul 24, 2021, 11:05 pm
#183
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 10,948
Jul 26, 2021, 9:14 am
#184
Join Date: Jul 2021
Posts: 2
It will just be all Domestic, to/from DFW out of ORD as well as LGA occasionally. Thanks for the subscription pricing heads up. I guess it would be a matter of how many times I fly and utilizing the sub or if it was around $10 like they claim then it's a bit of a wash.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Jul 26, 2021, 9:42 am
#185
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: TPA/ABZ
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold. GGL/CCR.
Posts: 13,248
It will just be all Domestic, to/from DFW out of ORD as well as LGA occasionally. Thanks for the subscription pricing heads up. I guess it would be a matter of how many times I fly and utilizing the sub or if it was around $10 like they claim then it's a bit of a wash.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Jul 26, 2021, 10:14 am
#186
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 20,627
It will just be all Domestic, to/from DFW out of ORD as well as LGA occasionally. Thanks for the subscription pricing heads up. I guess it would be a matter of how many times I fly and utilizing the sub or if it was around $10 like they claim then it's a bit of a wash.
Thanks!
Thanks!
ETA: Let me add a few more data points from early May: LAX-BNA $25, BNA-DFW $19, DFW-LAX $25.
Last edited by TWA884; Jul 26, 2021 at 3:00 pm Reason: Add data points
Aug 8, 2021, 5:02 pm
#187
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: Marriott Titanium, AA EP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 27
About to fly MIA to JFK on 773. Wifi status finder says no wifi on the flight...concerned that when they reassigned the planes to domestic, that they didn't make necessary changes to support domestic wifi?
Not sure 100%. Hoping it works. Will report back.
Not sure 100%. Hoping it works. Will report back.
Aug 8, 2021, 7:07 pm
#189
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 20,627
P.S. Didn't see your update before I posted.
Aug 29, 2021, 12:08 am
#190
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 153
Looks like iPass has just started to work on ViaSat, at least on the 32B I was on this morning. For me, it worked via both the macOS and Android apps and automatically connected with no CAPTCHA. However, on the aainflight.com roaming page, Boingo was the only option in the drop down, so it was very much of a suprise!
I believe this is in the last few days, and may not be on all aircraft yet.
I believe this is in the last few days, and may not be on all aircraft yet.
Aug 29, 2021, 8:29 am
#191
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NYC, USA
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, Lifetime Platinum, Marriott Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 10,967
Sadly, nope. I've tried. On some flights, the "roaming" option for Boingo appears, and on others it is iPass. I have iPass but have never gotten it to work on any AA flights other than widebodies with Panasonic service.
Aug 31, 2021, 11:29 am
#192
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,636
Same observations here. I saw a link to iPass in late June on a 772 but iPass credentials didn't work. Didn't even see iPass as an option on a 738 this past weekend (only Boingo). Not even sure if iPass is even partner anymore.
Sep 25, 2021, 1:09 am
#193
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: PHX
Programs: AAexp, AC75k, HertzPC, NationalEE, Accor/MariottP, Hilton/HyattG
Posts: 3,614
Some of the envoy flights on E175 shows up as just having power, while other shows up with having wifi on the AA wifi status finder thing.
Do some of the E175's have wifi and some don't? Some with power and some not? I can't remember any flight without wifi or power on the e175.
Thanks!
Do some of the E175's have wifi and some don't? Some with power and some not? I can't remember any flight without wifi or power on the e175.
Thanks!
Oct 10, 2021, 6:07 am
#194
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA EXP; 1W Emerald; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold; UA dirt
Posts: 7,816
Anyone have experience with AA's Wifi to the Caribbean (specifically AUA or CUR)? Aircraft is a MAX so I'm certain it will be Viasat. As much as I want to be on island time the minute I leave home on this trip, the powers that be schedule a major deadline on my outbound trip day and I need to at least monitor the insanity...
Oct 10, 2021, 2:53 pm
#195
Moderator: Travel Safety/Security, Travel Tools, California, Los Angeles; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: oneword Emerald
Posts: 20,627
Anyone have experience with AA's Wifi to the Caribbean (specifically AUA or CUR)? Aircraft is a MAX so I'm certain it will be Viasat. As much as I want to be on island time the minute I leave home on this trip, the powers that be schedule a major deadline on my outbound trip day and I need to at least monitor the insanity...
