The main cabin of American Airlines Boeing 777-300ER jets.
Mary Altaffer | AP
American Airlines Free in-flight Wi-Fi is being planned starting next week as carriers are under increased pressure to provide the service for free.
Testing will take place on three flights: between Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina and Raleigh Drum International Airport; Charlotte and Jacksonville International Airport in Florida; between Miami International Airport and Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
More and more carriers have launched or are ready to offer free in-flight Wi-Fi, which makes it harder for competitors to charge for connectivity. Americans have different prices, some of the highest in the U.S. industry, with flight passes usually exceeding $20.
It is unclear whether Americans will expand free services to their larger networks, and if so, when.
Delta gas line Announced to do it two years ago Free Wi-Fi Applicable to members of their Skymiles loyalty programs JetBlue Airlines. United Airlines plan Free Wi-Fi available Used on board this year Elon MuskStarlink Satellite satellite Wi-Fi serving Hawaiian Airlines, by Alaska Airlinesalso used.
“With this test, we will evaluate customer charge rates for onboard Wi-Fi, evaluate our providers and aircraft capacity, and (perhaps most importantly) measure the impact on customer satisfaction,” Chief Customer Officer Heather Garboden, U.S., said in a staff memo on Friday.
In addition to facing more competition for free services, Americans are also struggling to win customers after their business travel sales strategy failed last year.
“Although the scope is relatively small, this has taken a big step in the very critical work of our organization to provide customers with what we know,” Garboden said.
