American Airlines Sees a Future in Onboard Wi-Fi
In-flight broadband connectivity has eluded the airline industry. For the last five years, airlines and Wi-Fi service providers have purported it’s just around the corner. This week, American Airlines provided a glimmer of hope for air travelers as it announced it had signed a memorandum of intent with AirCell, LLC, to be the first U.S. airline to test AirCell's high-speed broadband connectivity. The test will be conducted in 2008 on American's Boeing 767-200 aircraft that primarily fly transcontinental routes, providing passengers with a high-speed Internet connection, VPN access and e-mail capabilities through Wi-Fi-enabled laptops and PDA devices. See related articles belows:
ARS Technica: American, foreign airlines returning to in-flight broadband plans
USA Today: Fliers' Net-surfing days inch closer
Would you use in-flight Wi-Fi if available?
Comments
I travel for business regularly and use many SAAS: Software as a Service, tools to get my work done, which all require web access. I would change my airlines of choice to have internet access on longer flights in the US.
Posted by: Greg | August 24, 2007 9:16 AM
Definitely would use!!
Posted by: /Craig | August 24, 2007 9:22 AM
Absolutely - time sitting on a plane during any flight could become very effective work time for business travelers. Most of my travel is for purpose of work, why not be able to use those travel hours effectively?
Posted by: Fran | August 24, 2007 9:28 AM
Absolutely! On-board WI-FI would be a very efficient use of time, as I travel a great deal. Keeping connected with my office will eliminate the time-consuming "catch-up" required post-flight and maintain my availability to staff and colleauges.
Posted by: Charmain Smith | August 24, 2007 9:34 AM
I've been waiting for WiFi on airplanes and would definitely use it, assuming a reasonable price.
Posted by: Matt Harmon | August 24, 2007 9:37 AM
I would use it depending on the cost. Aiports charge around $10.00 per day which I feel is too high. That or higher would not get my interest.
Posted by: Rick Franco | August 24, 2007 9:39 AM
In flight WiFi would be an AWESOME resource to have available to me. If I am working while traveling, I often need the internet (for more then just e-mail) and to have this would be very helpful.
Posted by: John Berkenbosch | August 24, 2007 9:43 AM
Yes, I would love it if airlines made Wi-Fi access available during flight!
Posted by: Emily Cohen | August 24, 2007 9:43 AM
I would use it absolutely
Posted by: JW | August 24, 2007 9:44 AM
Yes,I would definitely use on-board WiFi service if it was available.
Posted by: James E. Staffiera | August 24, 2007 9:44 AM
Yes I would deffinetly use WiFi. I have a teen age daughter and this would keep her occupied for the entire flight. Not to mention I would be able to keep up with work and school on line myself.
Posted by: Dawn | August 24, 2007 9:45 AM
Without question. It would save me enormous amounts of time.
Posted by: David Noble | August 24, 2007 9:46 AM
Absolutely but it shouldn't cost more than $5 for the entire flight.
Posted by: Jim | August 24, 2007 9:51 AM
It would be a great addition to business traveler perks. However if is a money making effort, forget it.
Posted by: Tony | August 24, 2007 9:56 AM
I would definitely use WIFI on the airplane!
Posted by: Robin | August 24, 2007 9:57 AM
Absolutely I'd use it! All those wasted hours on a plane that I could be getting work done, so that I'm not up til 3am answering email in my hotel? Helloooo???
Posted by: Maggie | August 24, 2007 10:09 AM
Absolutely!!! Can we make this happen on my flight on Monday?! :-)
Posted by: Kimra | August 24, 2007 11:02 AM
Definitely, if it doesn't cost too much. The in flight phone are amazingly expensive.
Posted by: ren | August 24, 2007 11:53 AM
Without question - as long as they don't kill it by excessive costs. Anyone notice it's the higher end hotels that charge $10-$15/day for internet, and the cheaper hotels offer it for free! I guess $250/day doesn't buy what it used to!
Posted by: Jim | August 24, 2007 2:04 PM
It would not be a necessity but it would be an attractive feature that might sway my choice of airlines.
Posted by: Danny Branson | August 24, 2007 3:17 PM
Many business travelers have been waiting for broadband on airplanes for many years now. Early attempts by airlines to provide any sort of Internet access have been plagued with high prices and low performance, not to mention retrictions on what can be accessed. I would use the service it all of these issues were resolved.
Posted by: Ken | August 24, 2007 6:51 PM
I would definitely use wi-fi as I carry my laptop on all my travels, and only choose hotels with wi-fi or ethernet. However I would not pay more than $5 per flight.
Posted by: Gayle Thieman | August 25, 2007 3:57 AM
That would be absolutely awesome - a huge benefit to the business traveler! To be able to utilize flight time with something productive would be such a help.
Posted by: Gladys Center | August 27, 2007 12:08 PM
I stayed at a $250 a night hotel and had to pay $15/night but at the $76/night hotel it was free. Just make the WI-FI cheap and the same cost for coach and first class.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 30, 2007 2:36 PM