It's a sad, sad state of affairs. After nearly
four years worth of announcements you're still more likely to get a good night's rest on a flight than find wireless internet, leaving us to wonder whether any airline will survive long enough to roll-out the system-wide access they've almost all pledged. Another player is now crawling tardily into the ring, Alaska Airlines fulfilling its
promise and partnering with
Row 44 to offer satellite-based internets on a very limited basis. You should know the drill by now: access is only offered on very select routes, or route in this case, debuting on 737-300 flights running between Seattle (SEA) and San Jose (SJC). At least the service will be free for the first
90 60 days, but the airline isn't saying how much it will cost after that. We'd guess somewhere between not free and way too much, leaning toward the latter.
Update: Correction, it's only 60 days not 90, and we're told by Glenn over at
High-Fi News that it's not just a single route it's actually a single
plane, and while it will be starting out on the SEA/SJC route, it will be making appearances elsewhere -- maybe even in the land of the midnight sun!
[Via
Electronista]
posted Feb 27th 2009 4:11PM
Does anyone know the real reason for the delay in implementing wifi on planes? Is it technical issues, or safety, or business related?
With airlines so strapped for cash they're charging for checked bags, you'd think they would be moving as quickly as possible to introduce new potential for revenue.
Yes, yes and yes.
Exist some technical issues (for example to keep the connection when you jump from one "internet" zone to another),and too some safety issues (if you manage to invent a technology for airplane, then the process of validation can last a decade) and there are a business issue (satellite Internet is "a bit" expensive).
This is reaaaaaally crazy. I am happy with the fact that there is wireless internet, but this only makes the chances of terrorist using this device as in a bad way, higher. I think they shouldn't allow it.
"They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety"
Perhaps there is another solution... um kill all terrorists!
its easy... just force everyone to carry an American flag... if they refuse shoot em
Interesting. I'm going to Maui here in a few months, and it would be nice to have on board Wi-Fi. Likely, probably not! Oh well...
I was on a delta plane from Atlanta to Jacksonville Florida and it was offered. Not really worth 10 bucks for the flight when the flight is only 45 mins though.
I like how they used the worlds most popular and loved phone to demonstrate it!
What happened to the Nokia Tube?
Oh yes thats right its a piece of SHITE!
yea everyone loves the meizu m8
HAHA Miazu $395 US for a phone that is what the iPhone was back in `07
forget that you have no warranty and you have to hack it to enable Wifi and 1900 850...
iPhone 3G is the same price for 1st grade goods.
$199 + $170ETF + $30 aviation fee + 1 month usage = $419...
eat it and barf Miezu lover.
(aviation fee = When you get an iPhone you fly over the competition)
AHAHAH
iphone features still dont compare to the nokia n810
Good guess on the prices... =)
Pretty sure Alaska doesn't fly the 737-300; their fleet consists of 737-400's, 900's, 800's, 700's and a few venerable 200's, not to mention some MD-80's...
Alaska retired all of its MD-80s
ALASKA NEVER OPERATED THE 737-300, its current fleet is 737-400/700/800/900 and it doesnt have the md80s since agust 2008
ps. alaska airlines has a minor hub at anchorage, but its mayor bases are Seattle, Portland, and LAX. but its mayor operations are at seattle!
No more 737-200s in the fleet. The 737-400 is the workhorse of the fleet. I cannot remember the last time I was on a 737-300. PTL the MD-80, MD-90 and MD-93 are g-o-n-e.
Can you please give an example of how a terrorist on a plane could accomplish something that couldn't be accomplished on the ground?
It's not like you can hack into the cockpit and fly the plane into buildings.
You could use the X plane app on your iPhone...
@JeffM If you've ever watched a Hollywood movie involving airplanes you would know that it is indeed very easy to hack into the cockpit of any plane in the sky. You just have to know the password (which you can find by searching the web for "cockpit password"). Also, it doesn't hurt if you're Tom Cruise.
Damn that Palin...
What does she have to do with an airline based in Washington state?
don't worry it will reach plenty far into Alaska, and the first plane will get up there from time to time.
Southwest has it on two planes now as a test...it will be followed by two more for the test and then fleet implementation later on this year or early next. During the test Wifi is free for everyone on the flight.
I had inflight wifi over TWO YEARS AGO.
go go korean air.
Around 4 years ago I went out of my way to take a British Airways flight from JFK to LHR (instead of flying direct from my local Detroit airport) just to try the then trial of Connexion by Boeing. So when I boarded the plane and took my seat I asked the flight attendant how I could connect. After some discussions I found out that the one plane equipped for it was being serviced.
That's still the closest I've come to in-flight internet.