A few years ago it would have been unthinkable and yet here we are today with a number of airlines who recognise that we like to stay connected no matter where we are, even when we’re flying at 35,000 feet.
If it’s possible then we want it. I don’t think many would really mind paying for it if they had to either, the ability to connect whilst on a flight is definitely worth it, it would alleviate the boredom and of course for some folk, the nerves.
So who is and who isn’t offering us an in flight connection at the moment?
Alaska Airlines
They started trialling their Wi-Fi service in February on a few flights between Seattle, Washington and San Jose and a whopping 96% rated the service as Good and nearly 80% stated that they would very likely be recommending the service to others.
Alaska Airlines are planning to officially offer Wi-Fi to their customers by the end of 2009 and you will know which flights have been Wi-Fi enabled by a special mark on the side of the aircraft or near the boarding door.
Alaska Airlines will be using Row44 Broadband and are likely going to charge for the service but we don’t know yet what it will cost.
American Airlines
Currently available on 15 of their aircraft but they intend to make Wi-Fi available for most of their domestic flights and will be equipping 300 planes with the necessary technology over the next year or two.
This Airline will use Gogo In-flight Internet and costs are likely to be less than $13 for flights of 3 hours or more and less than $10 for shorter flights.
If passengers wish to access using smaller devices such as mobile phones and PDA’s, cost will be less than $8 for the duration of any flight.
Virgin America
Virgin America intends to have Wi-Fi on all of its 28 planes by the beginning of July.
Delta Airlines
Currently offer Wi-Fi on about a third of their planes using Gogo Inflight Internet but will have all their flights Wi-Fi enabled by Autumn of this year.
Prices are $12.95 for flights of 3 hours or more, $9.95 for shorter flights, and $7.95 for handheld devices on flights of any duration.
Continental Airlines
Has the capability to offer it but no Wi-Fi yet but they do plan to introduce it in the near future.
JetBlue and SouthWest Airlines
These two are currently experimenting and we’re likely to see Wi-Fi available in future.
