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Tags: Very Awesome Stuff / In-Flight WiFi / Oman Air / WiFi / OnAir / Technology / Airline News / Airlines / → All Tags
This is the Future! Oman Air Successfully Starts Long-Haul In-Flight WiFi
Happy Friday! Oman Air is officially the first airline to get long-haul in-flight WiFi up and running on one of its planes (Lufthansa's abandoned FlyNet of years ago doesn't really count).
Oman Air, which is already known for having some of the poshest airplane bathrooms, has just added to their in-flight amenities with all sorts of fun connectivity. The excellent announcements comes after a successful first flight with the WiFi onboard an Airbus A330 between Muscat and London-Heathrow. It might not be a super long-haul, 13+hour flight, but it's better than nothing.
The service is from OnAir, a company that hasn't worked to supply any US carrier with in-flight WiFi, although maybe they should think about it. Plus, the WiFi is joined by Oman Air's GSM/GPRS abilty, which allows passengers with the proper GSM/GPRS phones to make phone calls and even text message from 35,000 feet up. SWEEET.
Related Stories:
· Mobile and WiFi Internet Access on Oman Air [AsiaTravelTips]
· Phone Home from Oman Air, as They Allow In-Flight Cell Phones and Texting [Jaunted]
· In-Flight WiFi [Jaunted]
[Photo: drewski2112]
Tags: In-Flight WiFi / Delta / WiFi / Airline News / Airlines / Gogo / → All Tags
Delta Continues Its Crusade For Fleet-wide WiFi
While other airlines are just announcing their intentions to bring in-flight WiFi to the masses, Delta continues to move full speed ahead with its installation.
We’ve used their Gogo service a couple of times now, and it’s always been easy to access and pretty snappy. Even though there’s a fee to use it, it’s one of the charges we really don’t mind paying. Although we were a little sad when WiFi agents in blue shirts handed us a Gogo WiFi card in Atlanta—we thought it was a freebie code, but it was just a card explaining things.
Tags: On-Track WiFi / Train Travel / WiFi / Amtrak / Acela / Technology / → All Tags
Amtrak Does Something Right! There's Now Free WiFi in Trains and Stations
The moment we've all been waiting for has arrived! Kind of. We mean, it's probably not the biggest piece of news ever, but it's exciting nonetheless and a step forward for USA rail travel when we say that Amtrak's Acela have free WiFi right now! They promised us that they'd have it flowing by March, and we're surprised to see that they were good on their word.
According to the AP, the free WiFi isn't just on the 20 Acela routes, but it's even at a few of their stations. You'll find a free Amtrak signal in the gate areas of Washington Union Station, Baltimore Penn Station, Philadelphia 30th Street Station, New York Penn Station, Providence Station and Route 128 Station in Boston. They also report that Wilmington Station will get it when they finish up their station renovations next year.
Tags: In-Flight WiFi / WiFi / Airline News / Airlines / Lufthansa / → All Tags
Lufthansa's Long-Haul WiFi Service Will Be Fast, Easy and Possibly Lifesaving
We are huge HUGE advocates of in-flight WiFi here at Jaunted, so when Lufthansa announced that they'd be bringing back their FlyNet system for long-range in-flight WiFi, we were elated...but we're also impatient. When will Lufthansa have this up and running, we asked, and all we've heard thus far is "the middle of this year."
But since other domestic airlines still can't get it together enough to outfit even half their fleets with it, we'll keep waiting for the miracle that is long-haul in-flight WiFI when Lufthansa finally re-debuts the service. Here's what we can expect:
Thanks to FlyNet, Lufthansa passengers will soon not only have WLAN Internet access but will also be able to send SMS messages by mobile phone and transfer data via smart phones such as PDA, iPhone or BlackBerry devices. Together with its new business partner Panasonic, Lufthansa aims to equip a major part of its long-range fleet with FlyNet within the first year of operation.
Lufthansa is deliberately focusing on high bandwidth as the main requirement for the unrestricted use of such services as web surfing, email/file transfer including attachments and the Virtual Private Network (VPN). In addition, only wide bandwidth will enable potential future operational applications such as telemedicine for the transmission of a patient's vital parameters to a ground station.
Related Stories:
· Lufthansa Resurrects Their FlyNet For Long-Haul In-Flight WiFi [Jaunted]
· Jaunted's 2009 Airline In-Flight WiFi Guide [Jaunted]
· Stay connected with Lufthansa's New In-Flight Internet [AsiaTravelTips]
· In-Flight WiFi news [Jaunted]
[Photo: caribb]
Tags: In-Flight WiFi / WiFi / Airline News / Airlines / Alaska Airlines / Gogo / Aircell / Row 44 / → All Tags
Alaska Airlines Is Going Whole Hog With In-Flight WiFi From Gogo
It's been a year since Alaska Airlines began testing their in-flight WiFi and we wondered if they would ever just go whole hog and plug in the whole fleet, already. Well, we're happy to say that they've finally decided to do it, but not with Row 44 as they initially planned, but with the most popular provide of in-flight wifi: Gogo.
If you're not familiar with Gogo, you should know that they already have outfitted Virgin America's fleet, AirTran's fleet, and many planes for the likes of American, Delta and United. Although there's no date yet set for the completion of fleet-wide installation for Alaska Airlines, they are already working to install it on the first 737-800.
Hopefully soon we'll all be able to make bad puns from 35,000 feet: "Juneau where I'm flying now?!"
Related Stories: [Photo: Drewski2112]
· Alaska Airlines to Offer Gogo In-Flight Internet Service [Aircell press release]
· Jaunted's 2009 Airline In-Flight WiFi Guide [Jaunted]
· WiFi is Working on Alaska Airlines, But How Much Would You Pay? [Jaunted]
· In-Flight WiFi news [Jaunted]
Tags: In-Flight WiFi / WiFi / Airline News / Airlines / Southwest Airlines / Southwest / Row 44 / → All Tags
Southwest Wants Their 544 Planes Plugged Into In-Flight WiFi ASAP
For everyone who relies on the cheap fares and consistent service of Southwest Airlines, we've got some great news for you today. According to SWA's official blog "Nuts About Southwest," they have concluded their year-long testing phase, which only had four aircraft (of their 544) flying around with WiFi.
They've just signed the contract with in-flight internet provider Row 44 to begin equipping their entire fleet with the gizmos necessary to get us passengers connected at 35,000 feet. Installations will begin in the second quarter of this year, beginning at the pace of 15 aircraft per month and hopefully quickly ramping up the pace to 25 per month.
After the jump...yea, but how much will it cost to use?
Tags: HotelChatter / VegasChatter / WiFi / Hotels / → All Tags
What Hotels Boast Free WiFi in New York City?
Our sis site HotelChatter does a bang-up job of covering the latest news and trends in the hotel world. We're also including a few links from VegasChatter, the newest member to the family. So check in and stay awhile.
HotelChatter:
· Where to find free Hotel WiFi in New York City
· How to help out Haiti with your hotel loyalty rewards points
· Chicago's excellent James hotel is coming to NYC's Soho in summer
· We go inside the opening day of the Andaz Hotel Wall Street
· A video room tour of the Argonaut Hotel in San Francisco
VegasChatter:
· The Vegas monorail filed for bankruptcy! Nooo!
· You might have to pee after watching the fountain at Aria
· What would Elvis think of Elvis impersonators?
· What went down at CES and the Porn Expo
Tags: Airport WiFi / BUD / Budapest Travel / Hungary Travel / Airports / WiFi / → All Tags
In Pursuit of Free WiFi, an Outlet, and a Cushioned Bench at Budapest Airport
There are three things we care about in airports, alcohol obviously excepted. They are, in genuinely no particular order: a working electrical outlet, free airport wifi, and a comfortable chair. At any given time in Budapest's terminal 2B¡the half of the international terminal that serves EU countries—you can get two out of the three. Never all three. Sometimes only one. Usually two out of three. But never all three.
We were actually pretty psyched to roll into the airport recently, where Jaunted's Airport WiFi Map correctly promised we would get free wireless. It turns out that using the wireless can be a challenge because the signal is sometimes uneven inside the terminal and, of course, because computer batteries only last so long. The root of the problem lies in BUD's decor, which is this kind of haphazard and postmodern "maybe we'll put cushions on our uncomfortable metal benches and maybe we won't" arrangement.
Benches are molded four seats at a time, with accompanying green cushions glued in - or not - in seemingly random order. Where there are no cushions the seats are painfully uncomfortable. When there are cushions there are almost never four in a row, which makes using the benches as makeshift overnight beds impossible. Take a look:
Tags: On-Track WiFi / Amtrak / Train Travel / WiFi / Techonolgy / Acela / → All Tags
Amtrak Will Have Free WiFi Flowing Through Their Trains By March
Woo-hoo! Another victory for the modern traveler as Amtrak has named this the year of free WiFi aboard their Acela trains. To tell you the truth, we knew this was coming, even that it would be free, but we didn't know when it would be completed or if we could even count on it.
Well we can count on it! Amtrak announced that installation of WiFi on the Acela trains (which are the express routes on the East Coast) will be completed by March, as part of a celebration of the Acela's tenth anniversary of service. Other upgrades due for the trains include "leather seats and improved tray tables and power outlets." Score!
But who knows when we'll get to try out the WiFi and outlets; the Acelas are too damn expensive. Yeah right like we're paying $100 for a one-way to Boston when a WiFi and outlet-equipped BoltBus takes almost the same time and costs around $30. Keep trying, Amtrak, but we're proud of your achievements thus far.
Related Stories:
· Amtrak adding free WiFi on Acela Express Trains [USA Today]
· Amtrak Competes with In-Flight WiFi by Adding Internet to Acela in 2010 [Jaunted]
· Amtrak travel [Jaunted]
[Photo: pandoralyrael]
Tags: HotelChatter / VegasChatter / WiFi / → All Tags
Where To Find Free Hotel WiFi In Vegas...Especially For CES
Our sis site HotelChatter does a bang-up job of covering the latest news and trends in the hotel world. We're also including a few links from VegasChatter, the newest member to the family. So check in and stay awhile.
VegasChatter:
· Where to find FREE WIFI in Vegas for CES or any other time
· The Porn Expo, which happens after CES, gets started in the clubs
· Six cheap eats in Vegas
· Five spots for grabbing classy drinks before starting the debauchery
HotelChatter:
· Lady's Gaga's Dad is the Godfather of Hotel WiFi
· The world's first Armani Hotel has an opening date!
· Hong Kong's Peninsula Hotel buys Mini Coopers--not more Rolls Royce--for their fleet
· We get the lowdown from online sample sale site Jetsetter on what hotels sell the best
Tags: Tsa The Season / Holiday Travel / Celebrating In The Skies / Virgin America / WiFi / In-Flight WiFi / In-Flight Meals / Christmas Travel / Airline News / → All Tags
Celebrating In The Skies: Virgin America Will Pour You Some Patron
Welcome to our new feature on the ways that the airlines are making you more comfy and less cranky this holiday travel season—"Celebrating In The Skies." Some airlines just want you to sit down and shut up, but these—thanks to extra treats and smiles—will show you how much they appreciate your flying with them.
Do you happen to be flying on Virgin America in the next few days? If so, be prepared to sit back with a free cocktail, free in-flight WiFi, and the chance to win tickets and an additional gift. You see, back when we chatted with CEO David Cush two weeks ago, he hinted that select flights during the peak holiday travel time might get some freebies, and he's made good on his word.
FREE BOOZE, after the jump.
Tags: In-Flight WiFi / WiFi / Airline News / Airlines / Technology / Lists / Air Canada / Airtran / Alaska Airlines / American Airlines / Continental / Delta / Jetblue / Southwest / United / US Airways / Virgin America / Lufthansa / Virgin Atlantic / Emirates / → All Tags
Jaunted's 2009 Airline In-Flight WiFi Guide
Let 2009 be known as the year that the airlines embraced the internet. Whether through Facebook and Twitter or web-only specials, they really put themselves out there. But the most revolutionary change to come was the proliferation of In-Flight WiFi. The seeds of connectivity were planted in 2008 and they budded this year, but 2010 will see the bloom and boom of airlines with WiFi. Already we have eleven carriers that are either already online or signed up to start very soon. And that's not counting the international airlines with their grand long-haul plans.
Let's look at the status of the WiFi on each of these airlines, but first you'll need to know a quick bit about the major providers of in-flight WiFi, and there are three:
· Gogo, a terrestrial-based service that relies on signal towers on the ground. This is the most popular choice.
· Row 44, a satellite-based service that allows for uninterrupted browsing, even over bodies of water.
· LiveTV, used only by Jetblue and sadly lagging behind with extremely limited internet access.
And now, without further ado, Jaunted's 2009-2010 Airline In-Flight WiFi Status Update...
