American Airlines offers free wifi across domestic narrowbody aircraft, two-cabin regional jets, and widebodies equipped with ViaSat (but not those with Panasonic). The rollout mostly done. You have to watch an ad to connect.
I’ve been paying for monthly internet with American for years. In some cases, it’s been less than the cost of connecting for two flights. American might charge $25 or more for a single flight, but $50 a month. In fact, I’ve paid for this as long as they’ve offered it, though I suspended charges during the pandemic.
The monthly plan worked on the same aircraft where wifi is now free (and not on aircraft where it isn’t). American still plans to charge monthly subscribers, unless they cancel. After all, you can pay the monthly fee and access wifi without watching the AT&T ad first. Most of you will watch the ad.
So if you’ve been a monthly wifi subscriber like me, don’t forget to cancel to avoid next month’s charges! Send an email to subscription.wifi@aa.com. Here’s the one I sent:
Please cancel my American Airlines monthly wifi subscription
Gary Leff
AAdvantage # XXXXXXX
It took about 16.5 hours to receive confirmation.
Thanks for contacting Customer Care.
Your request to cancel your Monthly plan has been processed. Your confirmation number is XXXXXXXXX. Your American Airlines Wi-Fi Subscription Plan will remain active until the end of this billing cycle, which is 01/31/2026.
American has also offered an annual billing option (that hasn’t saved any money). I’m told that those with an annual plan can cancel for a pro-rated refund.
Gary has “been paying for monthly internet with American for years.” He’s one of the few people upset that AA is now offering free WiFi, because it means the masses will have access now. Ugh, why can’t ‘nice things’ only be for the slightly-upper-middle-class anymore…
note to gsw: you will spend a thousand hours dealing with po’ed people that forgot to cancel, which will cost millions more than simply sending a mail to all subscribers telling them they aren’t paying any more because it’s free and cancelling all of the recurring charges