A discussion about the airline industry, airline employees, and all things related

It was only a matter of time before the airlines got the hint and started bringing these services to their passengers.  JetBlue Airways (JBLU) will become the first airlines to offer limited e-mail and instant messaging services for FREE on one of their A320’s. 

The service will allow users to check their e-mail and use instant messaging but only through Yahoo if they use their laptops and will be able to check their personal and work e-mails if using two specific Blackberry models.

The system that JetBlue is using is limited because it will not allow for general internet surfing or e-mail attachments.  JetBlue will use 100 ground based towers unlike Boeing’s former Connexion that used satellites.  The ground based towers are cheaper to operate but have less capacity. 

Passengers will not be allowed to use the internet during take-offs and landings and those using Blackberries will be required to switch off their cell portion.    

JetBlue passengers flying on “BetaBlue” flight 641 from New York to San Francisco on last Tuesday got to use this new system.  The airline hopes to roll out the system to their entire Airbus fleet.    

Alaska Airlines and American Airlines have their own version of the Wi-Fi technology in progress and hope to have it rolled out to their customers in the next few months.

Now that JetBlue is testing their FREE limited internet access, would that persuade you to fly with JetBlue over another carrier?  Would it matter if JetBlue’s price was $5, $10, $15 more if you could use FREE internet?  Would you pay for an internet connection that would allow you to surf more of the web, like American Airlines is planning?

The Washington Post