6 Ağustos 2008 Çarşamba
WiFi Comes to Airplanes Again
Delta has announced that they'll be offering wireless internet access on domestic flights, powered by GoGo. Costs will be $9.95 for shorter than 3 hour flights and $12.95 for flights lasting at least 3 hours. Alaskan Airlines and Southwest Airlines are testing a different technology. It appears that American Airlines either already has or is planning on using the GoGo service as well. While having wireless internet in the air would be nice to pass the time, the bigger issue really is battery life. I'd prefer that they actually finished putting AC outlets in every row before they started offering something like WiFi. And at $9.95 / $12.95, would it be worth it to you?
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i would prefer to have both. but given the choice i'd prefer the power outlet so i can watch a couple full movies on my laptop - especially since they're scrapping inflight movies.
YanıtlaSilI'd prefer both, but like Sean, if I have to make a choice, I'd take power.
YanıtlaSilI prefer having the Wifi, personally. Two reasons, one practical and one philosophical.
YanıtlaSilPractical: Power outlets must be shared and if there is one, it goes to the person with the greatest need or biggest mouth. It is sure to lead to bad feelings, either way. You can always bring an extra battery (yes, I know the FAA has some restrictions now).
Philosophical: The more ways we have to communicate with the outside world while on a plane, the more accountable the airlines are. If we are all unable to either use Wifi OR cellular phones while on a plane, we are at their mercy until we land and disembark. (And possibly longer, if they still have our luggage.) If we have Wifi, we can contact outside authorities (police, family, consumer watchdogs, etc.) if there are issues.
Just think how different 9/11 might have been if Wifi had been on all the flights and the people on them had known what was going down after the first crash.
I'd prefer the WiFi, although my current battery (pretty old) would not last. My next one will, though, :-)
YanıtlaSilnomad- WiFi on the plane just means that one of the first things the terrorist do is shut it down. As for cell phone service, you can get a cell phone signal up in the air, the issue, from what I've heard is that due to speed and distance, it causes more problems for the people on the ground than the airplane because it monopolizes the tower.
YanıtlaSilWedge, I seriously doubt the terrorists would bother (though they could easily tell everyone to shut a laptop). But even so, it still leaves consumer watchdogs, police, etc. for other situations.
YanıtlaSilNomad, not so sure. The 9/11 planes, if I remember correctly, didn't respond to radio transmissions. It's in the terrorists benefit to make sure they control all communication.
YanıtlaSilWedge, I don't think the 9/11 detail is worth debating. It is all supposition.
YanıtlaSilBut again, with Wifi, you have a choice if you are stuck on the ground and trapped by the airlines, or if you are being abused by a flight attendant or other passenger, or in other situations where current FCC rules would stop you from using a cell phone. You could even place a phone call via VOIP if needed. I still think it is the better choice if you have to choose power plugs or Wifi.
But I see I am in the clear minority here. And honestly, I'd be happy if they just improved their on-time arrivals % and customer service.