SURF IN THE SKY – American Airlines Introduces Web Access Aboard Select Flights!
SURF IN THE SKY – American Airlines Introduces Web Access Aboard Select Flights!
TEST BEGAN LAST WEDNESDAY ON AMERICAN AIRLINES – FLIGHT-LONG ACCESS TO COST $9.95 TO $12.95!
Accessing the web from an airplane in flight? The technology has been around for some time but airlines have been slow to offer it on domestic flights. Yes the old Airphone service a staple on some planes for many years offered a type of satellite-based connection but it was very slow often unreliable and costly! The new service promises better speed and reliability for passengers wishing to access their email instant messaging their corporate intranet and any website.
American Airlines is testing its new in-flight internet service partnered with Aircell LLC. The test occurred on one American flight between New York Kennedy Airport and Los Angeles and appeared to work well.
The airline will soon offer and charge for internet connectivity on its Boeing 767-200 flights between New York and Los Angeles San Francisco and Miami with a broader roll out possible later. Passengers can download e-mail and websites on their laptop or other internet-enabled device PDA or Smart Phone. Each plane will have three wireless access points which will provide adequate wireless coverage throughout the plane.
No filters will block certain web content. Doug Backelin Manager of In-Flight Technology for American Airlines says attempting to filter certain types of sites – those featuring adult content for example – could disrupt passengers downloading more acceptable web content. "We already have policies to deal with inappropriate material that passengers bring on board our planes including magazines and DVD’s" said Backelin. Flight attendants enforce this policy.
Other airlines considering using Aircell technology to offer in-flight web access include Virgin America and JetBlue Airways.
No immediate plans are currently in place to add web connectivity to flights originating or ending in Chicago – but successful initial testing makes expansion of the service likely.
For more info read David Koenig’s article in last Tuesday’s Chicago Tribune.
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