In-Flight Wireless Via Gogo Launches on Virgin America

First, the cashless cabin via credit card swipe for beverages and food, and now the in-flight wireless. Although Virgin America passengers do risk stimulus overload through its free flowing video/audio entertainment, rave-lite background music and muted but colorful cabin lighting, it is fast becoming one of the best ways to fly for the tech-savvy traveler in the States.

News that in-flight Internet would be available soon on Virgin America flights via Aircell and the Gogo Internet service has been reported for months, but yesterday it finally went live between select cities. Those routes are:

• SEA - LAX (Los Angeles)/SAN (San Diego)/SFO (San Francisco)
• SFO - LAX (Los Angeles)/LAS (Las Vegas)/JFK (New York)/IAD (DC-Dulles)
• LAX - SEA (Seattle)/JFK (New York)/IAD (DC-Dulles)
• LAS - SFO (San Francisco)/JFK (New York)

A quick call to Virgin's customer support confirms that the goal is to have the service available on all flights by the end of the calendar year. This was only tier one support, so this can't really be taken as gospel, but being a west coaster, I'm feeling pretty good about the current service. Unlimited use costs $12.95 for flights longer than three hours and $9.95 for flights under three hours, with the only current restriction being on VoIP and video chat. Aircell and Gogo Internet are not exclusive to Virgin America. The service is already available on American Airlines flights between JFK and SFO/LAX/MIA (Boeing 767-200 only) and will be launching on some Delta and Air Canada flights in the near future. Delta claims that it is shooting for the service on all continental domestic flights by the middle of next year. Good for everyone involved if they can do it. This is the Virgin America claim as well. I just believe Virgin more than Delta though since they have been on the in-cabin media bandwagon since their beginnings. All Virgin Airlines seats power options, either standard outlets or EMPower and USB ports for devices that can draw power that way. According to their 'connectivity' flash page they also will soon have Ethernet ports at seats. Uh, sweet.

Engadget did a nice in-flight posting for the maiden voyage of the service yesterday that calls out its features, as well as how they performed. Looks preety good and well worth $10-15. Check it out the Engadget piece and get ready to fire up those gadgets.

--Tom Milnes