JetCheck.net

Not too long ago, US Airways decided to ditch their in-flight-entertainment (IFE) monitors for aircraft that serve domestic and Caribbean routes. The monitors added a good amount of weight to the gross weight of the aircraft and in the generation of iPods and the rapid growth of consumer electronics, it’s fair to say that a majority of passengers on-board were not watching IFE. It appears as though airlines are moving away from IFE and are installing lighter 150 pound equipment that provides wireless internet in the air.

Who?

In the past year, U.S. & Canadian airlines have shifted their focus to a new amenity offered on-board flights: Wi-Fi. A few airlines have already started to implement Wi-Fi; others have just been testing it. Virgin America has installed Aircell’s Gogo Inflight Internet on-board every aircraft in their relatively small fleet. Air Canada, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines have begun to implement Gogo capability on-board aircraft. Southwest Airlines and Alaska Airlines have been trying out California-based Row 44′s inflight internet system, but neither airlines have made it official. Last I heard, Row 44 has not received FCC approval (unlike Aircell’s Gogo).

What is this costing travelers?

Currently, Southwest and Alaska are offering the service for free since it is in testing. Aircraft registrations equipped with Wi-Fi were posted on Southwest’s blog not too long ago. They are: N901WN, N902WN, N906WN, and N907WN. Alaska Airlines has seen 2,100 passengers use their Row 44 system. 96 percent of Alaska’s Wi-Fi users reported a good experience. Currently, Alaska Airlines is reportedly evaluating pricing models for the service.

American Airlines currently charges $12.95 for transcontinental flights with shorter routes costing $9.95. Handheld device users are charged $7.95. From AA’s website:

Gogo Inflight Internet is now available to customers on select flights between New York (JFK) and Los Angeles (LAX), New York (JFK) and San Francisco (SFO), New York (JFK) and Miami (MIA), & Los Angeles (LAX) and Miami (MIA) on American’s Boeing 767-200 flights. The service is being installed on select MD80 aircraft. Gogo is available in the continental U.S. (lower 48 states) and to our Canadian destinations. Service will also be available to customers travelling to Mexico, however, coverage currently does not extend 100 miles beyond the U.S. border.

Delta charges a flat fee of $9.95 on flights of three hours or less and $12.95 for longer flights. Delta says it plans to have its entire fleet of planes covered by May 31, 2009, as well as those of its merger partner, Northwest Airlines. From Delta’s website:

Gogo will be offered initially on Delta’s fleet of 133 MD88/90 aircraft and will rapidly expand to the remaining domestic fleet of more than 200 Boeing 737, 757 and 767-300 aircraft throughout the first half of 2009. The airline expects to have more than 330 aircraft complete by summer 2009.

United Airlines announced their Wi-Fi service in January of this year. Sometime in the second half of this year, United is expected to implement Wi-Fi onboard their p.s. flights. “p.s.” offers transcontinental service from California to New York City. To properly quote United:

Aircell’s Gogo® Inflight Internet service will turn United’s p.s. aircraft into flying Wi-Fi hotspots, enabling customers to surf the Web, check e-mail, instant message and access corporate VPNs on their Wi-Fi-enabled devices. The service will be available to United customers traveling in all classes of service for a flat fee of $12.95.

The Best Amenity Around?

Airlines have a good opportunity of making money by providing Wi-Fi service. Travelers want it. It allows emails to be read, presentations to be compiled, and the teenager in 20B to change her Facebook status. Without a phone or any device to stay connected with the world, flying has taken a toll on passenger-productivity while on-board. Internet access on-board aircraft connects people to the world. I’d say connectivity is important to travelers.

I suspect more airlines will announce Wi-Fi service. Now that the IFE is gone from domestic / Carribbean service, why doesn’t US Airways implement Wi-Fi? They’re not the only ones not to, but I think airlines like US Airways will announce their interest.