We normally don't go for the business travel-oriented ranting of Portfolio columnist Joe Brancatelli but his article this week is totally great. The premise? Where the heck is our in-flight WiFi?
With so many airlines recently announcing big plans for the service, Joe did a little digging to find out why we aren't yet online at 35,000 feet. One executive at American Airlines, which tested Aircell WiFi earlier this summer, says:
This thing should have been working months ago. Obviously, there's something wrong.
Delta, which just announced its plans, is already behind schedule: The carrier says it will have at least some planes fitted with wireless gear by year's end, but the FAA hasn't even looked at the airline's paperwork yet.
Airlines using technology from Row 44 aren't doing much better, it seems. Both Southwest and Alaska are already behind schedule, having yet to test the satellite-based wireless technology.
The carrier will partner with Aircell, the same company that's behind the wireless offerings planned for AA and Virgin America. The company uses cellular technology, meaning the service will only be available on domestic flights.
First up for WiFi will be Delta's 133 MD-88/90s. Soon after, the carrier will install the system across more than 200 737s, 757s and 767-300s.
We're taking our time to get it right. We're not just throwing this on our planes like in the lobby of some hotel.
Charles tells us that Virgin should have at least some in-flight WiFi by this fall; the whole fleet will have it by early 2009.
As is the case on AA--but not on JetBlue--you'll be able to surf the whole web from your laptop, and, notably, the VA product will also let you SMS from the seat-back entertainment console. Charles says that once the system is in place--and Paris Hilton helps christen it on the premiere WiFi flight--the carrier will continue to develop its internet offerings. So how long till we're playing video games against our buddies on different Virgin flights?
American Airlines will test its in-flight WiFi system tomorrow on a round-trip between JFK and LAX. We're hearing that wireless for the rest of American's 15-plane 767-200 fleet is ready to go. In other words, if this test is a success, they'll flip the "on" switch.
The carrier is using Aircell technology that'll be available under the Gogo brand name. Pricing will be what the company announced in March: $13 for longer flights, $10 for shorter flights. On Wednesday, though, access will be free.
Currently the only other in-air wireless is from JetBlue, which only has limited internet access on one plane, BetaBlue. Virgin America is slated to start up Aircell WiFi sometime this year, too.
If you're flying, we'd love to see a screenshot of Gogo in action. Please send one our way!
American Airlines and Virgin America are racing to be the first US carrier to offer in-flight WiFi*, and they could both be online by this summer. The CEO of Aircell, the company outfitting the planes, says you should be flying out of SFO:
For the first six months, there will be more broadband-enabled flights out of San Francisco.
Aircell is marketing its service as Gogo for some reason, and the company's website indicates flights between JFK and both Miami and LA will have WiFi soon, too.
As for pricing, it's what we've heard before: $13 for a long flight and $10 for any trip under three hours.
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