Boeing, Boing, Bong

Leave your laptop at home when flying

[smells so good]

This is a surprising move. I would have thought more air travelers would use this. Guess not.

The Boeing Co. ... said it would dump its money-draining in-flight Internet-access service, which failed to attract much interest among travelers or airlines.
...
Boeing has failed to build a market for high-speed Internet access on jetliners, despite investing "substantial time, resources and technology."

Maybe people would rather sleep in-flight? Or read a book, or watch a movie? Obviously those people are NOT webmasters.

[informationweek.com...]

[edited by: engine at 10:23 pm (utc) on Aug. 17, 2006]
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[engine]

HUH! It was never on any flights I've taken.

Also, even if it was, what do you think it would have cost? I know that making an in-flight phone call isn't cheap.

[opifex]

... and what's the difference if you aren't allowed to bring your laptop on the plane? (well at least last week on flights to the US)

[smells so good]

Questions, questions.

what do you think it would have cost?

Considering the money they poured into the system, lots. In dollars and cents? Maybe an extra $75.00?

what's the difference if you aren't allowed to bring your laptop on the plane?

There is no more difference. Maybe the final straw for this service was airline security. That coupled with the financial drain and lack of industry-wide interest.

This is a surprising move

To re-state myself, it was a surprise to hear about. I thought 747-Net was doing well.

[walkman]

how about offering it as a package to airliners, who in turn would surcharge $10 extra for ticket should you want the option? Getting your CC out, and buying this and that, especially by the hour is pain and not appealing to many.

[Rosalind]

Well, a lot of people do travel in order to get away from work ...

I think the whole security issue may have put the nail in the coffin of this idea. You can't go offering something like this if it's not going to be clear that people are going to be able to use it.

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

You can't go offering something like this if it's not going to be clear that people are going to be able to use it.

I would have thought the opposite was true. If you are not allowed to uise your own laptop then wouldn't the airline's provided service be much more attractive?

[Visit Thailand]

There are very few airlines with computers for use, so systems such as Connexion by Boeing etc are for use with a travellers own computers (which a traveller can take on board).

When I have been on planes with the system installed I found the basic surfing package to be reasonably priced but the email downloading was prohibitively expensive and very complicated.

Plus to be honest most of the time I do not use the laptop on the plane as it is all packed away and if I did use it who knows when someone could spill a drink on it.

Long distance flights are different but again I prefer to sleep or watch a movie.

[edited by: Visit_Thailand at 7:08 am (utc) on Aug. 18, 2006]

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

Perhaps they should now consider building one into the seatback tray ;o)

[gpilling]

I think it was poorly promoted, and overpriced. Why not offer free wi-fi for all? A giant flying coffee shop... In an era where each airline is compared on every website, sometimes a little extra could tip the balance. I know that I would pay a little extra for a web-enabled flight - probably more for long flights than short, but I guess that is all moot now. I can say that I did enjoy the Movies-on-demand during a recent flight to Singapore...

[Visit Thailand]

This story is still in its infancy. Airbus will be offering a similar service sometime next year and Boeing has not said how it is going to finish the service.

I would imagine a company will take it over.

US$ 26 for 24 hours even through connecting flights is very reasonable although as I mentioned previously it was the email charges which were silly and difficult to work out.

[ann]

Probably the exploding lap tops scared them off and now lap tops arn't allowed sooooo...

Ann

[Neo541]

Flying to Europe in Coach, I was down to use the Connexion thing, but it's kind of pointless to buy 24 hours or whatever, when my laptop battery last approximately 19 seconds. Actually two hours, but there are no power stations in coach (on that airline anyway).