Virgin America

Free in-flight Wi-Fi for the holidays

Air Travel, Wi-Fi, , , , , ,

Yesterday Google Chrome announced that it is partnering with AirTran Airways, Delta, and Virgin America to offer passengers free Gogo Inflight Wi-Fi from November 20, 2010 through January 2, 2011.

That’s great news, of course, but I had a few questions:

What about those folks who’ve already purchased monthly “Gogo Unlimited” packages?

Not to worry, say the folks at AirCell, who have so far installed the Gogo inflight internet on 1033 (and counting) aircraft:

“During the Google promotion, we will work with each individual to meet their upcoming travel needs. We encourage Gogo Unlimited customers to contact our Care team at customercare@gogoinflight.com.”

OK. But what airports?

Last year Google’s Holiday Wi-Fi program sponsored free Wi-Fi at close to 50 airports.  Some of those airports were already offering free Wi-Fi and over the past year a few airports have switched from paid to free Wi-Fi service. But there are still plenty of airports where sending a few emails requires the purchase of a 24-hour Wi-Fi pass.

Earlier this year there was talk of Google partnering with airports to offer not only free Wi-Fi, but free long distance phone calls and other sure-to-be-appreciated perks. Today a Google spokesperson told me that’s not going to happen.

But Santa-Google, we’ve been good. As long as you’re sponsoring all that free in-flight Wi-Fi, why not throw in a bit of free Wi-Fi for travelers who will find themselves stuck at the airport this holiday season?

Barking up the wrong tree: air travel just too bizarre

Air Travel, Pets, Security, ,

As this New York Times article describes, the new era of security at airports is all about contradictions, confusion and delays.

Also this week, bad weather in the U.S. Midwest and Southeast, and in Europe, is forcing airlines to cancel flights and strand passengers at airports.

If that’s not bad enough, today a few “unruly” passengers forced a few airplanes to turn around.  The most serious incident took place on a Portland to Hawaii-bound flight when, according to the TSA spokesperson, “a suspicious passenger” made threatening remarks and refused to store his carry-on bag.  Two military fighter jets were called out to escort that plane back to the airport.

So while I really wanted to ignore the story about today’s “Chihuahua lift” I just can’t. We need a break.

Here, then, is a photo that shows a few of the fifteen Chihuahua pups Virgin America flew for free from California – where there seem to be just too many Chihuahuas – to New York City, where there are, evidently not enough.  The New York American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has promised to find the wee pups good homes.

(Photo courtesy Virgin America, Bob Riha, Jr.)

Free in-flight Wi-Fi offers

Free Stuff, Wi-Fi, , , , ,

I’m a big fan of free wireless Internet at airports.  Now I’m also a big fan of free wireless Internet on airplanes.

Especially these free in-flight Wi-Fi offers that have popped up recently:

This Saturday, October 31, 2009, Gogo Inflight Internet will be free on all Gogo-equipped Delta flights. To access the service use the code GOPINK.

Delta pink plane

It’s great that Delta passengers can spend Halloween using Gogo for free.

Even better: for each free session that day, Aircell (the company that brings us the Gogo service) will be donating $1 to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, up to $10,000. They’re also going to give all Gogo proceeds from Delta’s Pink Plane for the month of October to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Gogowifi

It seems first timers might also be able to get free Wi-Fi on Delta through the end of the year with the code: deltatrygogo and on Airtran with airtrantrygogo. (Let me know if this works for you.)

But wait! There’s more:

From November 1 – 7, 2009, there will also be free Wi-Fi on Wi-Fi-equipped American Airlines flights, courtesy of the folks at LEXUS.  To access that service use the code: 2010LEXUSLS. ( No car purchase necessary.)

And one more: from November 10, 2009 all the way through the holidays and until January 10, 2010, you’ll get free Wi-Fi on Virgin America flights, courtesy of the folks at Google. Details about free Wi-Fi on Virgin America here.

Have you found some other free in-flight Wi-Fi offers? Let us know.

Chill out – for free – at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Int’l Airport

Free Stuff, Wi-Fi, , , ,

The list of stress-busting activities being offered at the nation’s airports this holiday season just keeps growing:

In addition to the entertainment being offered by airports around the country and the free amenities being offered by JetBlue Airways in its new terminal at JFK, on Nov. 25th and 26th, travelers passing through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) can get free massages, free Wi-Fi, and free snacks.

The stress-reducing services are at the “privacy oasis” sponsored by 3M Computer Privacy Filters in the Airport Executive Conference Center on the 3rd floor of the Atrium. The company has also set up a Web site where travelers have been sending in tips about places to chill out at various airports around the country.

Given how close we sit next to each other on airplanes, computer privacy filters seem like a useful tool pretty much anytime. But as I wrote in a recent Well-Mannered Traveler column on MSNBC.com, privacy filters may become downright necessary as airlines roll out in-flight Wi-Fi. (Virgin America is launching its Gogo in-flight Internet service – on one plane – this Sat, Nov 22) Not all airlines plan to filter in-flight Internet service and some travelers are worried about being exposed to inappropriate material on a seatmate’s screen.