Alaska Air hoping to add in-flight WiFi in 2008
By Darren Murph 
posted Sep 18th 2007 9:48AM
posted Sep 18th 2007 9:48AM
Joining Shenzhen Airlines, Qantas, and a whole host of others, Alaska Air is the newest airline to promise us in-flight WiFi when coming onboard. Reportedly, the firm "will test a system from Row 44, a provider of broadband communication for airlines, on a Boeing 737 in spring 2008," and if all goes well, it will then equip its 114-aircraft fleet with the goods. Notably, Alaska Air also stated that it had been working with Row 44 "for two years to bring in-flight broadband to market," so here's to hoping that all that hard work pays off early next year.
That is great news. I fly Alaska almost exclusively & about 20-30 times a year so getting some work (or play) done while en route would be wonderful.
Agreed, being from Alaska, it's often the only choice I have for airlines when going home, so it's definitely some welcome news.
I thought once upon a time the FAA didn't want people with laptops that have a wireless internet card to use them.
pr0n @ 35,000 feet?
Bringing a sad new meaning to "Mile high Club"
Alaska Air might want to focus more on things like...I don't know....not crashing planes.
I used to fly them all the time when visiting my cousins in Fairbanks. I see they still have those distinct faces on their planes. who the hell are those guys.
Adding Wifi is a plus and I see this trend as being that nice added perk of flying and being connected.
As for the picture in this post, that was taken in Salt Lake.
The dude on the tail is a Native Alaskan (eskimo), and no, the picture was taken in Anchorage.
Maybe they should work on not losing so many bags.
Free wi-fi would almost make up for getting mugged in the security line.
http://www.filterra.com/stormwater
I normally don't respond to obvious trolls, but being an Alaska MVP member, I had to...
@ Jeff D: Alaska Airlines has had 5 crashes in 75 years, the most recent being the Point Mugu crash in 2000. (http://www.airdisaster.com/cgi-bin/airline_detail.cgi?airline=Alaska+Airlines)
@Stormwater: Alaska Airlines is in no way responsible for your experience in the line to get through security. That's all on the waste of government resources known as the TSA and your local airport.
@JR: I'd agree, some stations (Seattle is notorious for this) do seem to have slower than average bag service, but I've yet to lose my bag in over 40,000 miles flown this year.
I just wish that the mods had used a more recent photo - the 737-200's are all retired out of the fleet. :)
40,000 miles whoa that's a lot... Get outta here, so you fly a lot... don't grandstand.
This is a long time coming congrats to Alaskan airlines for putting there customers first
would they also put wifi in Horizon Air planes?
You know, I would think this would be a distingushing feature between the two airlines. Now with Horizon going to more Q400s, it is possible that those planes could be a platofrm for wifi service but I see this as something to prove on Alaska first.
As to the note above on security and mugging, take Horizon to the first stop or as a partial. During cruising season in Seattle, I take Horizon to Portland as a 1 stop flight to the bay area and am wisked through the line in moments or else get a free ticket. Waiting for TSA to get to SFO or LAX can cost you your seat on a Sunday or Monday. Quickly sliding into PDX to then get on to Alaska for the trip south can be a huge saver in security time and then waiting for the next flight on Alaska.