From Commercial Aviation Today
VENDOR/PROVIDER NEWSI am still a bit concerned about our general need to be constantly connected. Can we really not take a three hour flight without logging in?Connexion by Boeing yesterday unveiled pricing details for its high-speed in-flight Internet service scheduled to become commercially available this spring. Initially, there will be two pricing plans:
Flat Rate Pricing Option: (Unlimited access to the Internet) $29.95 for long-haul flights (more than six hours); $19.95 for medium-haul flights (between three and six hours); and $14.95 for flights less than three hours.
Metered Pricing Option: 30-minute starter package for $9.95 with rates of $0.25 per minute thereafter.
The pricing is based on extensive customer research conducted individually and in conjunction with airlines in Europe, Asia and the U.S.“Our research shows that 38 percent of frequent travelers are willing to pay at least $25 per flight for full, high-speed access to the Internet and their corporate network,” said Forrester Research analyst Henry Harteveldt.” In-flight broadband Internet access is a highly desirable amenity, especially among frequent business and leisure airline travelers. Airlines that don't offer passengers this kind of service risk losing a key segment of their customer base to carriers that do.”
Lufthansa will be the first airline to launch the Connexion by Boeing service on commercial flights originating from Germany this spring.
Of course, Jeff Jarvis does get upset when he can't post his experiences right away (posts via his Treo when need be) and I love the frequency of his posting. Though his daily Stern rants have kept me from checking quite as often.