• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Ask Scott
Travel Codex

Travel Codex

Your Resource for Better Travel

  • Subscribe
  • Credit Cards
  • Reviews
  • Guides & Tips
  • Award Travel

Alaska Airlines Launches New $8 Flat Rate Streaming-Fast Satellite Wi-Fi

by Steve Case
Last updated January 23, 2023

When you fly with us, staying connected is easy. On most flights, our streaming-fast satellite Wi-Fi is available for only $8. During your flight, simply connect to our onboard Wi-Fi network and visit AlaskaWiFi.com to learn about the available options.

a woman using a tablet on a plane
Alaska Airlines economy Recaro seats with tablet holders. Photo credit: Alaska Airlines.

Flat Rate Wifi Onboard

The fast satellite Wi-Fi that’s had you surfing and streaming with ease on your Alaska Airlines flights just got a price break: You can do those internet things you do so well with our new $8 flat rate for Wi-Fi service on their mainline aircraft with satellite-enabled connectivity onboard. And starting now, we’re offering a variety of new meal selections on our flights as part of the most comprehensive food and beverage program in the industry.

First up, Alaska’s upgraded, high-speed Wi-Fi – in partnership with Intelsat. The service provides a more enjoyable passenger experience with better reliability, faster connections and a lower cost. The airline’s web portal now loads 50% faster than before with a one ‘click-to-connect’ web experience, and connection speeds are 20 times faster than their previous, basic Wi-Fi system.

“We’re always seeking new ways to add options to our inflight experience and provide remarkable care for our guests, especially as we see more people returning to travel this year,” said Sangita Woerner, senior vice president of marketing and guest experience for Alaska Airlines. “Our flat rate satellite Wi-Fi and expanded entertainment selections are additions our guests will love. Coupled with our high-quality food and beverage offerings, served with our award-winning customer service on board, we’re able to provide what our guests expect from us – only the best.”

Free Wi-Fi Coming Your American Airline Flight
Trending
Free Wi-Fi Coming Your American Airline Flight

With the purchase of $8 flat rate satellite Wi-Fi for their entire flight, their passengers can stream content on their personal devices from their favorite services such as Netflix, Hulu, YouTube and other streaming platforms. You should also take a look at the best IPTV apps for Apple TV.

a screenshot of a computer

Wait, It Gets Better

On Alaska’s aircraft enabled with satellite Wi-Fi, you can connect from the moment you board, instead of waiting for the connection to kick in after the boarding door closes—it’s seamless connectivity from gate to gate. (Another way to save: Use the Alaska Airlines Visa® Credit Card and snag a 20% savings on inflight purchases including Wi-Fi.)

The newest planes are equipped with satellite Wi-Fi, often flying the longest routes between the West Coast and New York, Boston, Washington, D.C. and Florida markets. With nearly 80% of the fleet currently equipped with high-speed satellite Wi-Fi, you can still connect on both long and short-haul flights. You’ll know you’re flying an aircraft with upgraded Wi-Fi if see you see the dome-shaped antenna on top of the plane, or if you spot the satellite Wi-Fi decal just inside the entry door.

Recaro Seating Integrated Tablet Holders

Those Boeing 737 and Airbus A-320/321 aircraft that have refurbished interiors featuring integrated tablet holders.  When I first heard about this change, I was really excited.  The economy class seats have a tablet holder towards the top of the seat which keeps your tablet, such as a huawei tablet, at near eye level.

a tablet on the seat of an airplane
Alaska Airlines economy Recaro seats with tablet holders. Photo credit: Alaska Airlines.

Unfortunately, the tablet holders in first class are part of the tray table.  On a long flight, your neck could be hurting from constantly looking down at your tablet.  It would have been smarter if Alaska Airlines had maintained the same tablet holder in their Recaro first class seats.  My Lenovo tablet allows it to view from a hanging position.  I hang my tablet from the literature rack to raise it to a higher position.  It is not perfect, but it is better than straining your neck and looking down at the tray table to watch a two-hour movie.

a tv on the seat of an airplane
Hanging my Lenovo tablet from the literature rack. You can see the raised back on the table for holding tablets.

My DIY IFE

Necessity is the mother of invention and in the case of Alaska’s older Boeing 737 aircraft, IFE is no exception.  These older interiors have no tablet holder so I created my own with a fix from Dollar Tree.  Since my Lenovo SmartTab can be viewed from a hanging position.  I bought a door hanger and added a short piece of plastic tubing to make the hanger of my Lenovo SmartTab.   I hang the door hanger over the seatback ahead of me and attach my tablet.  Eureka, do-it-yourself personal entertainment.

a tablet with a hook on a marbled surface

Final Thoughts

With the cost of travel and everything else going up, it’s nice to see a lower price, flat-rate price for inflight wifi.  With faster wifi response time, you will be able to watch content from your streaming service.  Alaska will still have a streaming entertainment server on board but if you don’t like what’s playing, you can play your own.  If they could just fix the first class tablet holders, like would be great.

  • 0shares
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Email

Read This Next

  • Alaska Airlines Plans New Board Room in SEA North Satellite
    Alaska Airlines Plans New Board Room in SEA North Satellite
  • a room with a bar and chairs
    Alaska Airlines Will Open a Second Board Room in Seattle Next Month
  • Free Chocolate on Alaska Airlines
    Free Chocolate on Alaska Airlines

About Steve Case

Steve is a life-long avgeek and a points and miles player. The photo is from my first premium, international award flight in 2012. That is all it took, I was hooked. I used my airline mile and hotel points to travel well and cheap. I am truly an "out-of-the-box" traveler which has enriched my travel experiences.

Primary Sidebar

Over 100K+ Followers

Subscribe to updates from Travel Codex

none

Learn to how to find the cheapest awards.

Search Now

none

Transfer points to get more value.

See Options

none

Compare credit cards to earn more miles.

Explore Offers

Contact

If you have a question or would like to make a press inquiry, please contact:

Scott Mackenzie
Editor in Chief
scott@travelcodex.com

For updates:
Subscribe to RSS
Subscribe to Apple News

Privacy Policy


© Travel Codex, LLC All Rights Reserved.


Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Travel Codex with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.