Major US airline offers new freebie to all passengers on domestic flights – but there’s a hoop to jump through
AN American airline has added a freebie to its entertainment offerings for domestic flyers.
While free travel benefits are always a plus, passengers have to jump through a few hoops for full access.
American Airlines has announced that it will provide free in-flight Wi-Fi for all passengers on its domestic routes.
The carrier has been testing out its free Wi-Fi service on many of its aircraft equipped with Viasat.
As part of the roll-out, passengers who agree to watch a sponsored video can receive 30 minutes of free Wi-Fi.
The airline’s complimentary connection for all customers will become available in the coming weeks.
Eager passengers, however, will have to watch a few ads before logging on.
Previously, only flyers with T-Mobile plans could connect online for free with the mobile carrier’s “In-Flight Connection On Us” program.
T-Mobile customers were granted up to an hour of complimentary Wi-Fi access before getting kicked out.
Currently, all customers can purchase wifi on-board for as little as $10.
Those who fly with American frequently may find it more cost-efficient to purchase a monthly or annual Wi-Fi subscription plan.
In addition to the latest perk, American Airlines loyalty program members will soon be able to use their AAdvantage miles to pay for ad-free Wi-Fi.
The airline predicts that all its Viasat-enabled domestic aircraft will offer the benefit come summer.
Complimentary Wi-Fi is quickly becoming the standard as airlines follow the likes of Delta and JetBlue in offering the service.
American Airlines is just one of many carriers making the recent transition.
Singapore Airlines served up unlimited free Wi-Fi to all its passengers last year, while carriers like Emirates and Etihad offered the benefit as a perk for their loyalty members.
Air New Zealand also offers free unlimited Wi-Fi on all its flights, while Qantas allows the service on select domestic routes.
To stay ahead of the curve, American Airlines will be the first to offer streaming options on all its mainline flights, where customers will be able to choose from over 1,500 entertainment selections.