Hey y’all just wanted to tell you this quick little hack I learned flying today. On American Airlines they demand you to pay to use their wifi. I learned if you connect to the planes wifi and it opens the page where it wants you to pay for wifi, just turn on your VPN. This might be basic knowledge but its been working great for me. Happy travels, and happy new year!
They also have a trial feature where you can watch a 15 second ad for 20 minutes of full speed (80 mbps according to speedtest) wifi. If you switch IP assignment from DHCP to Static and change to a different IP address when you run out of time, you can do it again and again. I’m writing this from a plane, this is my 6th “tank” of free wifi so far, no VPN necessary
So, my experience as a data point. Travelling with an iPhone and a Samsung Galaxy. Although I could connect to the viasat wifi connection without problem, on neither phone could I successfully pay for a flight pass for WiFi. Always came up with an error at the payment screen both at the gate and in-flight trying different cards as well as apple pay. Iphone would not allow me to load an ad to get the free connection either. Samsung would allow me to load an ad from aainflight meaning I could connect successfully (at last!)… Starting looking at ways of connecting by changing MAC, using VPN etc.
Iphone, connected on viasat WiFi but no internet connection (no possibility to pay, ad-supported trial connection wouldn’t load ad) - Nord app wouldn’t connect
Samsung, connected on viasat WiFi with (free) Internet connection - Nord app would connect. Started a Microsoft Teams call and browsed successfully. At the free 30 min mark I stopped browsing but was not disconnected from my call. Call went on for another two hours without issue. Was even able to start a new Teams call. Once this one finishes (also almost 2 hours in now, so 4-5 hrs connected total), I will try and browse again. Nord app still connected.
Edit: managed to post this, so my connection works for reddit as well as Teams. 
Does this work with other airlines like Alaska for an upcoming flight.
This hack still works (posting this comment from 30k ft.) the trick is first connect to aainflight wifi have your IPV4 set to automatic. After it connects take a screen shot of the IPV4 numbers it set for you. After you have taken that screen shot forget the network. Now before connecting back to it tap the “i” icon next to the network and go to IPV4 area and tap manual then type everything in the same as what is in your screenshot. Except change the last digits of the IP Address to something random (1-3 digits should be ok I only do 2 digit numbers and that seems to give me enough complimentary WiFi’s to get me where I’m going) after you have you IP Address, Subnet Mask, and Router numbers in. You should be able to tap to connect to aainflight and it will think you are a new device. If that does not work forget network again and try a different 1-3 digit number for the last digits of the IP Address. Hope that helps! Ok Gotta get back to scrolling on insta 
No need to connect to VPN. Just get a travel router like this one below from Amazon. Connect to WiFi through router. Watch video. Share with your friends!! When your 20 mins are up go to the advanced configuration page and tell it to change your MAC address and use random. Then watch another video for 20 more mins. You can keep doing this for the whole flight.
GL.iNet GL-AR300M16-Ext Portable… Amazon.com: GL.iNet GL-AR300M16-Ext Portable Mini Travel Wireless Pocket Router - WiFi Router | OpenWrt | 2 x Ethernet Ports | OpenVPN/Wireguard VPN for Public & Hotel Wi-Fi | USB 2.0 Port | 2 x External Antennas : Electronics
Did not work for me but I figured out something else. T-Mobile gets free wifi so just type in any random T-Mobile number you know (I remembered a relative who uses it and just put in their number). It won’t do SMS/MFA verification because you’re in the air.
This option only appears on mobile. You can get it on your computer 2 different ways: use your phone as a hotspot, or use your preferred way to simulate a mobile browser on your laptop browser. Both ways worked for me. (I’m on the plane now.)
CAN CONFIRM THIS STILL WORKS
Cyber Security Engineer here.
Okay so this still does work but you must configure your manual IP address BEFORE connecting. Meaning you must toggle off “Auto Join” & “Auto Login”. Also you need to hit forget this network each time you recreate a session. And like other posters have eluded to, you may need to try a few different IPs before getting a fresh unused session.
I entered the manual IPv4 information BEFORE connecting. (I’m pretty sure American Airlines uses the same local range across all flights?) Nothing else needs to be changed (DNS can be set to automatic, no proxy needed, etc)
Configure IP: 172.19.0.x where x = 1 through 254
Subnet Mask: 255.255.254.0
Router IP: 172.19.0.1
This is assuming they use the same across the board. Adjust your IP according.
This worked great on Wed April 10 from PHL - LAX! But did not work on the LAX - PHL return on 4-12. Tried it again on my SAV - PHL flight this week but it failed as well, and I tried 2 different VPNs. AA must have patched this.
Anyone know another way to bypass?
Attempting this now. Using the 20 min free trial and then turned on my ExpressVPN. I’ll know in about 10 min if it worked or not.
Using vpn, getting free wifi on my flight. Interestingly, unable to access aainflight.com. so at least this vpn, this flight, not getting walled garden or paywall. Woot!
Can someone ELI5 me on how to set up a manual vpn. I have an iPhone. Gonna try this today!
I tried this today and it didn’t work. Are there additional steps other than connecting to the wifi and turning on your vpn?
Is it still working to do this?
This hack works, currently inflight!
You can use an Scanner to find addresses that are being used. Ping Tools etc.
I have Nordvpn, and it didn’t let me connect to vpn when connected to onboard wifi
After spending 50 minutes finding IP address that lets me connect to wifi, finally works!
What vpn do you use OP?
Just start a lil group and share a subscription. You can split the monthly $50 with 10 or more people if your not all in the same flight.