Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.
ZDNET's key takeaways
- American Airlines will soon have free high-speed Wi-Fi.
- The service will be available on nearly all flights.
- You'll need a free AAdvantage account to log in.
The next time you settle in for a flight on American Airlines, you might be able to stay connected at no cost.
Free to sign up
AT&T announced today that it has partnered with the airline to provide free high-speed Wi-Fi on more than 2 million American Airlines flights a year. All you need to do to access it is log in to the in-flight portal with your AAdvantage number and password and select “Free Wi-Fi.” If you're not a member, it's free to sign up.
Also: When is the best time to book your flight? Google just spilled all the airfare secrets
The rollout will start this month, AT&T explained, and continue in phases. Narrowbody and dual-class regional fleets, used for shorter flights, will be the first to get the free connectivity. By early spring, free internet will be available for every plane in that fleet and nearly every other flight.
An essential
Heather Garboden, chief customer officer at American Airlines, explained that “free high-speed Wi-Fi isn't just a perk” anymore, but an essential for today's travelers.
Also: The viral wireless audio dongle for in-flight entertainment is better than ever
While in-flight Wi-Fi has been available from various airlines for about two decades, it's been notoriously unreliable, slow, and expensive. With many people working remotely and many more simply wanting to stay connected or stream content, airlines are realizing the importance of reliable, fast Wi-Fi.
United Airlines introduced a similar offering last year (powered by Starlink), and Delta offers free Wi-Fi for SkyMiles members on most domestic and international flights.
How fast is ‘high speed'?
American Airlines didn't specify how fast “high speed” would be, but we do know the internet will be provided by Viasat and Intelsat.
Also: The best (and worst) in-flight Wi-Fi service on airlines, ranked
A recent performance test from Ookla comparing in-flight Wi-Fi across airlines showed Intelsat's median download speed to be right at 60 Mbps, so it's probably safe to say that's a good estimate.
