Airborne Wi-Fi is something of a paradox. Airlines around the world are gearing up to provide it, but according to recent reports, fewer than 10 percent of you actually use it on flights where it's available. (articles.chicagotribune.com) More...
Maybe in our 24/7 Connected lives some people like the excuse of being in the air to escape for 3 hours.... Wow, who would have ever considered a Row 33, Middle seat as an escape!?
Wifi only works when flying over land. Since the majority of my flights involve traveling over oceans rather than landmasses, it has never been available. I can see the appeal on longhaul international flights, but that's exactly when you can't get it!
Last time I used GOGO it was 12.95 for a 3hr flight. I believe that might have something to do with it. Plus a lot of people don't want to take their laptops due to the risk of theft in the security lines.
I use WiFi all the time. Connecting with a tablet or phone is so much easier than a computer and does most everything I need anyway - email, social, documents, web, videos and music and movies. Just connect and go.
I've used GOGO on cross country trips and enjoyed it. I'm a ham radio operator and can run a program called Echolink through it that gives me access to radio repeaters around the globe. Kind of fun to check in on a net as an "air mobile" from 30k over Kansas.
We have it on our 900's and it seems to work pretty well. Our system is under GOGO, and it is obvious that people are utilizing it, however, I do not know the numbers.
Delta allows free access to the Delta web site on thier Wi-Fi equiped flights, otherwise you have to pay through the nose for open access. Wouldn't be so bad if they also provided entertainment like movies and TV programs for free over the Wi-Fi.
The reason that more airlines dont offer it is because of these free phone calling app's and the FAA has no way to regulate it and they dont like the idea of people making phone calls from a flight so much any more, and not to mention the airlines would of course like to charge you just like on the old sky phones.
Depends on airline and flight. I've used GOGO for as low as $4.95 on AirTran SFO-ATL. Caveat emptor. Works fine with iPad. Not enough bandwidth usually for VOIP, or it's blocked. Streaming music , NYT, usually work fine.
Actually not totally correct. All of the data goes through a Proxy. To block phone calls is all that you have to do is to block the port and or protocol. No Problem.
Delta does offer pax the ability to download streaming movies and tv shows...you have to pay for the content, but you don't have to purchase a Wifi session to stream or download it. It's called "Delta Connect". It's currently only on 757-300 a/c, but will be expanded to the entire domestic Wifi-equipped fleet, and eventually on the int'l fleet in conjunction with Wifi installation on those a/c...
Recently flew from KPDX to KHNL on Alaskan Air and the flight attendant warned us... do not pay for the GoGo unless you enjoy only getting about 15 minutes of WiFi time. She said that once we went over the ocean, we'd lose the connection.
Makes a case for the transoceanic satellite WiFi connection. Are you listening, Alaskan Air?
Atleast the Flight Attendent gave you the warning ahead of time. but with Alaska Airlines, less then 5% of their flight have that issue. most are continental flights. Compared to other carriers that fly alot of transoceanic flights like British Air, Unitied and others.
If there's a way to make sure that passengers are completely wrung out and penniless when they reach their destinations, I'm sure part of the strategy will be to offer and encourage the use of wi-fi in the cabin...
