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American Airlines to add free Wi-fi
Yet another airline has announced that it will add free Wi-Fi for loyalty club members. Most airlines have already introduced this, even if it’s just a messaging service, like BA. So, if you’re flying with an airline that isn’t part of your loyalty scheme, it’s always worth checking if they offer free Wi-Fi if you join their scheme.
Complimentary inflight Wi-Fi will be offered across more than 2 million American flights a year, beginning in January 2026 and is sponsored by US company AT&T.
The free Wi-Fi will be available exclusively to members of the AAdvantage® loyalty program.
“Our customers greatly value staying connected while in the air, whether communicating with friends, getting work done, checking in on social media or streaming their favorite subscription services,” said Heather Garboden, Chief Customer Officer, American Airlines. “We’ve been working diligently to outfit our aircraft with best-in-class high-speed Wi-Fi and together with AT&T are proud to offer those services at no cost to our most loyal customers.”
Beginning in January 2026, American will offer complimentary Wi-Fi on all aircraft equipped with Viasat and Intelsat high-speed satellite connectivity, accounting for roughly 90% of its fleet. To prepare for the launch, American conducted a limited-time complimentary Wi-Fi test on select routes, allowing the airline to gauge the strength of its service, which surpassed performance expectations. American is also on track to outfit more than 500 regional aircraft with high-speed Wi-Fi by the end of 2025, in time for next year’s complimentary Wi-Fi service.
New security process at Gatwick
I travelled through Gatwick a few weeks ago and was unimpressed that they still don’t have a proper Fast Track, despite selling access. The queue basically fed into one machine, which also had people from the regular line (which was actually shorter and had access to about 5 lanes). You had to push your way into the lane which felt quite uncomfortable. This has always been the way at Gatwick. I don’t understand why they just don’t have a dedicated scanner for Fast Track like Heathrow and then direct a few people from the regular line in as necessary if it is quiet.
However, the good news is that all the new scanners had been installed and that made the process much less painful (apart from the people still insisting on taking things out despite being told not to!). There seemed to be less bags being pulled over as well.
A Gatwick press release says “Passengers travelling through London Gatwick this Easter will also experience a state-of-the-art, simpler and more efficient security process, following the roll-out of new Next Generation scanners at the airport.”
Passengers no longer need to remove electrical items from their hand luggage, or place liquids in separate plastic bags. However, the 100ml rule still applies in terms of the individual size of items. But now that you no longer have to take items out, the rule about them being in a small, clear plastic bag is no longer stated, which gives some leeway at least. Hopefully, they will eventually go back to the previous rules that allowed larger liquids to be taken through.
Between January and the end of March, apparently 98% of passengers passed through security in less than five minutes (my experience was definitely longer). They now also have targets and current data displayed in each lane, which hopefully will encourage staff to manage the queues better.
British Airways Holidays £200 discount
British Airways Holidays is offering a saving of £200 on Greece, Cyprus, Portugal and Turkey holidays for a limited period. BA Holidays are one of the most efficient ways to earn TP as you get a full 1 Avios per £1 spent on the whole holiday. However, this will be split between all the people on the holiday.
Those booking a flight + hotel or flight + car holidays to Greece, Cyprus, Portugal and Turkey holidays and all cabins between 16th April – 22nd April 2025 for travel completed between 1 May and 31 October 2025, can make the following savings:
£200 discount with a min spend of £5,000 per booking (Flight +Hotel only)
£100 discount with a min spend of £2,500 per booking (Flight +Hotel or Flight + car)
£50 discount with a min spend of £1,250 per booking (Flight +Hotel or Flight + car)
£25 discount with a min spend of £625 per booking (Flight +Car only)
2 comments
Yeah the BAH “discount” seems to be one of their imagined ones yet again.
Prices of course fluctuate and rise as you get nearer to the booking date but we have been monitoring a property in Cyprus for a couple weeks. It has stayed consistent throughout with a max increase of £4.00 total based on 2 people.
The day before the sale that price had stayed the same as it had been for 11 days. I checked the matching itinerary at 03:30 the day said sale went live ( when I’m guessing not many people were up, about and booking holidays on BA and, unsurprisingly, the exact same deal had magically increased by…. £199. This isn’t the 1st time I’ve watched this happen but I think if I look again after the ‘sale’ ends and see that the price has suddenly dipped by the exact headline discount rate then I think I may be having a chat with them about how the regulators take a dim view and the law makes clear that advertising a sale then creating ‘ghost price surging” is a big no-no.
The, repeated, convenience of this occurring is making me question just how random it actually is.
I’m sure they’ll have a proper answer and data to show why it’s actually just that though.
Yes, Gatwick is an awful airport, especially the South Terminal which is dark and claustrophobic. Your comments on “ Non-FastTrack “ security are spot on. LHR are much better at making “fast-track” security, fast track. The owner/ operator, French firm Vinci, just squeeze as much money out of LGW as they can. I found out in the Paris Olympics that they operate the Stade de France where the loos were in a terrible state.
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