Business travelers are used to enjoying Internet access at hundreds of airports worldwide—there are more than 300 locations in the U.S. alone, including numerous terminals and airline club lounges.
Inflight Internet is gradually expanding to more US-based airlines and flight and throughout other international locations. There are a few inflight vendors, such as Row44 and Aircell's Gogo Inflight, now in partnership with iPass, making business logins automatic.
So what can you do with Inflight Internet?
You can do almost anything you are already equipped to do with your ground-based Wi-Fi service! Things like text chat, Web surfing, email and even Internet radio (with headphones, please!) all work seamlessly. With some services, it even works with corporate VPN networks, offering secure access to your work environment. You'll be able keep up with the latest news and sports scores, check in with the office, schedule meetings, send and receive documents you're working on, and much more. Of course airline rules -- and basic etiquette -- prohibit the use of Internet voice services like Skype, so you won't need to worry about your seatmate suddenly starting up an intrusive chat session.
How it works
These services either rely on satellite communications or a nationwide network of mobile broadband towers on the ground that are pointed upwards to cover the entire sky above the continental U.S. Once your flight has reached an elevation of 10,000 feet and the crew gives the okay to turn on your portable electronics, the service will be available. Just search for the service in your Internet access client and double click to get connected, or open up a browser which will guide you through connection. Make sure to check if your service provider is listed, to save the cost of connection.
View how to connect with this demo: http://www3.ipass.com/about/inflight-internet/
Where to Connect
Up until now, one of the biggest hurdles to using inflight Wi-Fi was simply not knowing whether it would be available on your flight. However, a critical mass of Wi-Fi-enabled planes traveling within the US are now in the air. AirTran and Virgin American offer the inflight service on every domestic flight, and Delta's entire mainline fleet is set to be equipped by the Summer. Other airlines are also expanding their Wi-Fi fleets rapidly, with Alaska, Southwest and Continental joining the sky-high team this year.
Who's On-Board with Gogo and iPass?
Air Canada: Available on select A319 long-haul flights over the U.S. between Montreal or Toronto and Los Angeles. Look for the Air Canada Wi-Fi logo on board.
AirTran Airways: Available on all AirTran flights departing from U.S. destinations.
Alaska Airlines: Expected to roll out across all 115 aircraft by the end of 2010.
American Airlines: Available on all 767-200 aircraft, on select MD80 aircraft, and coming soon on 737s. Check the AA Wi-Fi Widget within 24 hours of your flight to see if it has Gogo.
Continental Airlines: Announced it will install Gogo on 21 Boeing 757-300 aircraft flying domestic routes by summer.
Delta/Northwest: Available now on more than 1,000 daily flights and expanding weekly. The entire domestic mainline fleet is scheduled to be equipped by summer.
United Airlines: Available now on all p.s.® premium service flights between New York (JFK) and Los Angeles (LAX) or San Francisco (SFO).
US Airways: Will be available soon on 50 A321 aircraft. If this service is available on your flight, you'll see a Wi-Fi icon when booking on USAirways.com.
Virgin America: Available now on every flight.
Southwest Coming Soon with Row44!
Southwest Airlines: Started installing Row44 onto planes, with the entire fleet expecting to be outfitted in 2012.
Inflight Internet is your choice. You can choose to log in for work or for fun, or just read your book or snooze. You now can decide what to do with that time in the air.
Inflight Internet is gradually expanding to more US-based airlines and flight and throughout other international locations. There are a few inflight vendors, such as Row44 and Aircell's Gogo Inflight, now in partnership with iPass, making business logins automatic.
So what can you do with Inflight Internet?
You can do almost anything you are already equipped to do with your ground-based Wi-Fi service! Things like text chat, Web surfing, email and even Internet radio (with headphones, please!) all work seamlessly. With some services, it even works with corporate VPN networks, offering secure access to your work environment. You'll be able keep up with the latest news and sports scores, check in with the office, schedule meetings, send and receive documents you're working on, and much more. Of course airline rules -- and basic etiquette -- prohibit the use of Internet voice services like Skype, so you won't need to worry about your seatmate suddenly starting up an intrusive chat session.
How it works
These services either rely on satellite communications or a nationwide network of mobile broadband towers on the ground that are pointed upwards to cover the entire sky above the continental U.S. Once your flight has reached an elevation of 10,000 feet and the crew gives the okay to turn on your portable electronics, the service will be available. Just search for the service in your Internet access client and double click to get connected, or open up a browser which will guide you through connection. Make sure to check if your service provider is listed, to save the cost of connection.
View how to connect with this demo: http://www3.ipass.com/about/inflight-internet/
Where to Connect
Up until now, one of the biggest hurdles to using inflight Wi-Fi was simply not knowing whether it would be available on your flight. However, a critical mass of Wi-Fi-enabled planes traveling within the US are now in the air. AirTran and Virgin American offer the inflight service on every domestic flight, and Delta's entire mainline fleet is set to be equipped by the Summer. Other airlines are also expanding their Wi-Fi fleets rapidly, with Alaska, Southwest and Continental joining the sky-high team this year.
Who's On-Board with Gogo and iPass?
Air Canada: Available on select A319 long-haul flights over the U.S. between Montreal or Toronto and Los Angeles. Look for the Air Canada Wi-Fi logo on board.
AirTran Airways: Available on all AirTran flights departing from U.S. destinations.
Alaska Airlines: Expected to roll out across all 115 aircraft by the end of 2010.
American Airlines: Available on all 767-200 aircraft, on select MD80 aircraft, and coming soon on 737s. Check the AA Wi-Fi Widget within 24 hours of your flight to see if it has Gogo.
Continental Airlines: Announced it will install Gogo on 21 Boeing 757-300 aircraft flying domestic routes by summer.
Delta/Northwest: Available now on more than 1,000 daily flights and expanding weekly. The entire domestic mainline fleet is scheduled to be equipped by summer.
United Airlines: Available now on all p.s.® premium service flights between New York (JFK) and Los Angeles (LAX) or San Francisco (SFO).
US Airways: Will be available soon on 50 A321 aircraft. If this service is available on your flight, you'll see a Wi-Fi icon when booking on USAirways.com.
Virgin America: Available now on every flight.
Southwest Coming Soon with Row44!
Southwest Airlines: Started installing Row44 onto planes, with the entire fleet expecting to be outfitted in 2012.
Inflight Internet is your choice. You can choose to log in for work or for fun, or just read your book or snooze. You now can decide what to do with that time in the air.