Not everyone agrees. But one of the reasons I like taking long distance flights is that I can sleep, read a book, listen to music, watch a movie and not feel guilty. Sure, I may pay for the cyber-silence when I arrive at my destination. But the actual flight has been a vacation. Does this sound like a form of escapism? Perhaps.
Even people who live on-line need down time. We can become consumed with work 24/7 and never be off-duty. Call it addiction, obsessive compulsive behavior, whatever; for many it’s a way of life. Adding to the frenzy are Blackberries, iPhones and all of the mobile networks, and some clients, contacts and family members who expect immediate responses.
It’s our faults and certainly mine. We haven’t trained people to wait. I knew I had reached a new low when I answered one of Bonjour Paris’s writers nearly instantaneously. After three emails, I migrated to others (will I ever see the bottom of my email box?) and said writer, (who is no longer one of ours) shot off another email saying that I hadn’t answered her previous one. My response was more than snarky.
As Americans have become accustomed to being connected all the time, more broadband providers are filling in one of the few remaining dead zones — airplanes. Does this make you happy? Do you share my ambivalence?
Some airlines are hesitating before installing wireless Internet access on all of their aircraft because they wonder whether or not passengers will be willing to pay for wireless access in flight.
Recently, US Airways finished installing wireless Internet capability on its 51 Airbus A321 aircraft, narrow-body planes primarily used on transcontinental domestic flights, and is providing the service free to passengers until June 8. If demand is strong enough, the airline will consider expanding the service to some of its other narrow-body Airbus aircraft.
US Airways is using a service called Gogo Inflight Internet from Aircell LLC, an airline wireless Internet provider that has now equipped 930 aircraft for eight airlines with WiFi. That is nearly twice as many planes as the company had equipped a year ago. Aircell’s prices start at $4.95 for flights shorter than an hour and a half and go up to $12.95 on flights longer than three hours. Monthly and 24-hour Internet-access passes are also available on some airlines. To be sure, more competition will surface.
WiFi is currently available on all AirTran Airways and Virgin America flights, and on some Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines flights. The service will be rolled out on some Continental Airlines and Frontier Airlines flights.
I see the writing on the wall. We’ll be able to work en-route. No excuses. Will you have the will-power not to take advantage of signing up and being on-line. I know what my answer is – but, I want to hear yours.
Karen Fawcett is president of Bonjour Paris
Karen Fawcett loves to travel anywhere. Karen was a founder & president BonjourParis.com while living in Paris for more than 25 years. She has traveled across Europe and the rest of the world. She is now based in Washington, DC.
