Airlines Now Offering In-flight Facebook for Free
Forget in-flight WiFi, what you really want is in-flight Facebook, right?
Though many airlines offer it as an add-on, in-flight WiFi isn’t a complimentary service. However, it seems some airlines are endeavoring to make the add-on more attractive by offering just a little bit of social networking for free.
USA Today reports that for the entire month of February, seven major airlines will be giving Facebook access for free on their Wi-Fi networks. The deal is part of a promotional campaign with in-flight WiFi-provider Gogo, which says Facebook is its most visited site.
The company is trying to promote in-flight WiFi because only a small percentage of passengers are logging on. While some flights see more WiFi connections than others (Virgin’s Boston – San Francisco has apparently been nicknamed the ‘nerd bird’ by crew), USA Today cites analyst Amy Cravens who estimates that the percentage of passengers connecting to the Internet while flying is between 7 and 10 percent.
One of the reasons for not connecting is thought to be a lack of faith in the quality of the service. Do you use in-flight WiFi? Let us know in the comments below!
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it it were free i'd definatly use in flight wfi... as its not i just play my psp or laptop gaming
of coarse that was when i used to fly a ear or so back with the tsa stuff i stoppe dflying altogether and now drive the talahassee fl to chicago trip 5-6 times a year with a few trips to michigan in between >_<
give me a way to go through non-tsa airports and i'll happily begin flying again though
I streamed the bears/packers game on my phone. While it hiccuped every minute or so I was able to get the gist of what was going on and the audio was fine. I'm converted to using it every flight I don't need a nap.
btw, it was only $8. I thought that was a fair price for 3 hours in the air.
" give me a way to go through non-tsa airports and i'll happily begin flying again though"
Get your pilots license.
So I'm confused. Wasn't there just an article recently about how using wireless devices on airplanes was still considered "dangerous" even though government studies never proved interference?
If they can use "WiFi" on flights (which you obviously pay for) then why can't they just open it up to all wireless devices? You can still get kicked off a flight by flight attendants for have a phone or laptop open/on at the wrong time. (yes I understand that cell phones use different frequencies than WiFi devices)
I don't know, the whole thing sends mixed messages to the mass public if you ask me. Either ban it altogether, or remove the ban altogether. WiFi is only dangerous if it's not paid for I guess.
I'm not an expert, but I believe this is the case: The most important time for plane instrument communication is during take off/landing. Also God forbid an emergency happened during this time, not having those devices out will assure most everyones attention.
Let me get this straight, the airlines want me to pay a fee to check my bags, bring my bags on the plane, to talk to a person, to get a soda, to get a pillow, headphones, or a blanket, to get in the boarding line before others, to get a row with enough that I won't get blood clots in my legs, to hold a baby in my lap during the flight, or to go the bathroom or even get a seat during a flight (Ryanair), but they are gonna give me free Facebook ?!?
I have a feeling its not really free... the day I can open my laptop and connect to the network without being redirected to the Gogo website... without giving them contact info... without agreeing to their terms of bullshit... I'll log in, until then your "free" facebook access is worthless.
Yes I know the above will never happen... which is unfortunate.
I have one of those silly Dell notebooks with the extended battery sticking out the front. As a result, I cannot open it far enough to see the screen
What good is wifi if the space between the seats is only big enough for a 120lb person carrying a 12.1" netbook? Should I ask the guy in front of me to put his seat up?
Not sure for WiFi, but I know for Cell service the issue has always been tower switching. On the ground at 60mph with a limited LOS to towers, it isn't a major deal. However, in the air, with a near limitless LOS and moving at 400 - 600mph you're talking about a real headache.
Now you can hit on the air stewardess you poked on facebook whilst waiting to take off.
(I know nothing about facebook).
way too expensive!
..its gonna be priced into the airfare tickets.. you wont notice it though..
I would use if it was available. I have on six international flights and multiple connecting flights and not one offered wifi. But a handful offered a $6 for Direct-TV on an a 70 minute flight. I'll pay for wifi, because I can determine the content. No way will I pay for limited content Direct-TV.
so people couldn't just change there status saying there on a plane before they got on the plane
Facebook needs to be killed off. Seriously.
Facebook is garbage I do not want to sit in a plane full of people using facebook to update their status from walking to sitting on ass in an airplane.
facebook on a plane? lol
why would someone bother?