In an earlier post we discussed how some airlines are offering Wi-Fi in the Sky, but this week Virgin America announced that they’re the first to offer in-flight Internet on every flight – their entire fleet—so now you can fly with internet speed.
For charges ranging from $5.95 - $12.95, you’ll be able to make use of your time in the air by being in cyberspace at the same time, checking e-mail, surfing the web, and generally being connected while at 37,000 feet. They even have power outlets at every seat.
Until now, this was only available on selected flights, with each step being used to show the power and speed of internet connections. Virgin America launched Gogo® in November 2008 with the first ever “air-to-ground” video stream to YouTube Live – YouTube’s first official real-world user event. In February 2009, the airline became the first to host a live national television broadcast via WiFi stream while in-flight with CBS News’ THE EARLY SHOW.
To show it off their new fleetwide rollout, they used Skype to connect to the Oprah Winfrey Show and then hosted the first ever Skype-enabled in-flight wine tasting. It’s all part of Virgin America’s goal to reinvent air travel, which has earned them “Best Domestic Airline” awards from Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure in 2008. Not bad for an airline launched in 2007.
Of course, Virgin America doesn’t typically allow Voice-Over-IP (VoIP) products like Skype video call in-flight due to concerns about annoying other passengers. But there’s always instant messaging, e-mailing, tweeting, updating Facebook pages, blogging or any of the myriad other ways the web keeps people connected in near real-time.
Tags: Connect in near real-time, In-flight Internet, Internet Speed, Wi-Fi in the Sky