American Airlines’ Expensive Annual Wi-Fi Plan Sparks Concerns

American Airlines has launched a new annual Wi-Fi plan that allows customers to access the internet on its narrowbody planes for a fixed fee. However, the plan has raised questions about its value and fairness, as it is more expensive than other airlines’ Wi-Fi plans and does not work on all of American’s planes.

The plan, which costs $49.95 per month or $599.95 per year, gives customers unlimited Wi-Fi access on American’s domestic and international flights operated by its Boeing 737 and Airbus A319, A320 and A321 aircraft. These planes make up about 80 percent of American’s fleet and fly mostly within North America, Central America and the Caribbean.

However, the plan does not work on American’s widebody planes, such as the Boeing 777 and 787 and the Airbus A330 and A350, which fly longer routes to Europe, Asia, South America and Australia. Customers who want to use Wi-Fi on these flights have to pay separately for each flight, ranging from $10 to $50 depending on the duration and destination.

The plan also does not work on flights operated by American’s regional partners, such as Envoy Air, Republic Airways and SkyWest Airlines, which fly under the American Eagle brand. These flights account for about 50 percent of American’s daily departures and serve smaller markets across the U.S.

The plan is also more expensive than other airlines’ Wi-Fi plans, which offer more coverage and flexibility. For example, Delta Air Lines offers an annual Wi-Fi plan for $399.95 that works on all of its domestic flights, regardless of the aircraft type or partner. JetBlue Airways offers free Wi-Fi on all of its flights within the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

American Airlines said that it launched the annual Wi-Fi plan in response to customer feedback and demand, and that it was working to improve its Wi-Fi service and availability. The airline said that it was in the process of upgrading its Wi-Fi systems on its widebody planes to offer faster speeds and more consistent connectivity. The airline also said that it was exploring options to offer Wi-Fi on its regional flights in the future.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, msn.com, aa.com, delta.com