Alaska offers details on in-flight Wi-Fi, but pricing still up in the air |
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Alaska offers details on in-flight Wi-Fi, but pricing still up in the air
More than 2,100 passengers have tested Alaska Airlines' new Wi-Fi system, with the overwhemling majority indicating that they would like to try it again. Alaska introduced the system on one Boeing 737-700 in late February. The airline -- which is offering the service for free during the trial period -- said it is still trying to figure out the best price point for the service.
Alaska says travelers like their new system, which was built in conjunction with Row 44. Of those surveyed, 78 percent said they were "extremely likely" or "very likely" to recommend it. More than 75 percent rated the service "excellent" or "very good."
TechFlash readers offered some suggestions a few weeks ago on pricing, ranging from free to $15 per flight. (Let's hope they promote it better than the botched free Wi-Fi plan at Sea-Tac Airport.)
I am about ready to hop on a plane myself for a short trip back to the East Coast. Unfortuantely, I don't think it will offer Wi-Fi, so I spent last night loading my iPhone with podcasts, videos and saved stories from The New York Times. (Just for old times sake, I also bought a printed version of The Economist.)
I've never experienced Wi-Fi in the sky, so I would be curious to hear if any travelers have had good or bad experiences? I am also curious about your high-tech rituals in getting ready for a long flight -- from charging the laptop to loading driving directions on the phone.
About John Cook
John Cook is co-founder and executive editor of TechFlash. He has been covering the technology beat for nearly a decade, writing about startups, entrepreneurs and venture capital, most recently serving as a reporter/blogger at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
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