Posts Tagged inflight internet
GoGo Mobile App for iPhone, iPad, and Blackberry Review
Ever fork over for GoGo wireless Internet access when flying? It’s easy to use and makes the time literally fly! There are some affordable price packages especially for a month-long subscription perfect for those heavy flying times of the year.
But, not every airline has wifi-equipped planes, and even if they do, the entire fleet may not be equipped. It can be cumbersome to take out your laptop in a cramped coach seat to check for a wifi signal. But, the new GoGo app for iPhone/iPad/iPod touch and Blackberry devices makes it easier by detecting a signal and letting you know on your phone if it’s available. The app will soon be available for the Android too.
You can then open the app in one click and are instantly connected rather than going through the various sign-in pages on your Internet browser. You have to create a GoGo account and store your credit card before using the app. But, that helps to save time once inflight.
The free app can be downloaded from the iTunes store and saves a couple of minutes off the time it can take to log into the Internet (which when you are buying the service for a limited amount of time on a flight is appreciated).
On shorter trips when I do not travel with a laptop, this app allows me to access the Internet directly from my phone onboard.
It is worth installing on your phone simply to give you free access to the airline’s web site to check your flight status or book future flights. There’s no charge for that, which is what makes this app such a good idea for frequent travelers.
There’s an app for everything these days, but this app truly does make accessing the Internet a few clicks easier inflight.
See the Top free apps and Top paid apps on the iTunes App Store
Posted by Ramsey in Business Gear, Travel Light on July 4th, 2011
Inflight Internet a Terror Risk? Hardly
One of the more ridiculous suggestions I’ve run across during the past week is eliminating Wi-Fi on commercial planes, in light of security concerns about bombs recently sent on cargo planes.
I know this is deviating a bit from our standard format of reviewing travel gear, but Gogo Inflight Internet from Aircell is one of my favorite travel gadgets. And even the suggestion of pulling Wi-Fi from planes shows just how ridiculous the reaction can be when a new terror threat develops.
According to NewScientiest, the suggestion is being made by Roland Alford, an explosive consultant in the UK. He believes Wi-fi might be used to trigger explosives on planes.
It seems to me, with the various log-in screens required for inflight Wi-Fi, that would be difficult to do. But Alford’s suggestion might eliminate Gogo from more than 1,000 commercial planes where it is presently available in the U.S., as well as gear installed by other developing inflight Internet services.
That would mean no more checking delays and schedules from the air, no more e-mail, no more news and sports scores and no more Facebooking from 33,000 feet. And that would be a shame.
Name one thing the airlines have done to improve their offerings in the last couple of years. Inflight Internet is one. But I’d be hard pressed to name another in a sea of increased fees for checked (or even carry-on) bags, fees for selecting better seats, fees for earlier boarding and the list goes on.
Inflight Internet is not just a gimmick, but a logical extension of a connected world. It helps pass the time on long flights, often on planes that offer little else in the way of in-flight entertainment.
Enough is enough. Don’t mess with my Gogo.
Posted by JohnG in Business Gear, General Gear on November 7th, 2010
Savings and Scores from Gogo Inflight Internet
Your favorite team is playing in March Madness—but you’re jetting across the country at 35,000 feet. Pure agony.
Unless, of course, you’re flying on a plane equipped with Gogo Inflight Internet. And the folks at Gogo are offering a special deal to Practical Travel Gear readers who want to keep up with the NCAA tournament.
Gogo is offering $5 off a 30-day pass on either American Airlines or Delta now through April 5, 2010. That brings the price of the pass down to $24.95 for 30 days of access on a single airline.
Just enter this promotion code to receive the discount: 27805864fbm
Other single-use and 24-hour options are also available for as low as $4.95, depending on the length of the flight.
I thought this tidbit from Gogo was very interesting. The service is fairly new. But last year, Gogo saw its usage spike by as much as 39 percent during NCAA games.
So this is a way to save while keeping up with the latest scores, tracking brackets and even gloating about your upset picks by e-mail or on Facebook.
I’ve been a fan of Gogo since it was first introduced on American. The service is speedy and dependable and makes long flights seem to go by much more quickly. Gogo is now available on 760 commercial aircraft and growing.
So basketball fans, take heart. You won’t have to postpone that trip—or fly in suspense—as long as Gogo is on board.
Posted by JohnG in Business Gear, General Gear on March 23rd, 2010
Win Gogo Inflight Internet Monthly Pass, More
The only thing better than Wi-Fi on an airplane is free Wi-Fi on an airplane.
Gogo Inflight is offering two ways to keep in touch on your next flight, free or at a discount. First, two lucky Practical Travel Gear readers will each receive a 30-day, single-airline pass courtesy of Aircell, the company that operates Gogo. Also, Gogo is sponsoring a contest that lets you win either a free session or a 25- or 50-percent discount.
Gogo offers wireless Internet connections on all AirTran and Virgin America flights and on hundreds of Air Canada, American, Delta and United Flights. Service is coming soon to Continental and US Airways.
I’ve reviewed Gogo in the past and the company offers a solid service, whether you’re traveling for business and need to check e-mail, or on a vacation and wanting to keep in touch with friends. Gogo is also planning to roll out an in-flight entertainment service with movies and TV shows.
If you’d like to win a 30-day, single-airline Gogo pass, worth $29.95, just leave a comment below on your experiences with Gogo. If you haven’t tried the service, give us some ideas on how you might use it. The contest for the one-month pass will run through Sunday, Feb. 21, 2010, at midnight CST. We’ll pick the two winners at random. Be sure to include a valid e-mail address in the post (it won’t be shown) so we can contact the winners. One entry per person.
The Great Gogo Race, offering a free session or 25- or 50-percent discount, continues through February 28. Gogo’s normal rates are $12.95 for a single flight longer than three hours, with reduced rates for shorter flights, and $7.95 for a mobile device such as a smartphone or MP3 player with wireless capabilities.
I’ve been using Gogo on just about every flight where it’s been available—e-mailing, sending instant messages, checking the latest news and sports info, shopping, watching the flight path and more. On one flight during the football season, some nearby passengers were wondering aloud how the “big game” was going. I was getting updates instantly via Gogo.
So leave a post below and good luck on winning a monthly pass. Gogo is an excellent way to keep in touch and really helps the pass the time on a long flight.
Update: We have winners!
Congratulations to Kim and Rosie (Posts #2 and #8). Each will receive a Gogo 30-day pass. And thanks to all who left comments.
Posted by JohnG in Business Gear, General Gear on February 15th, 2010
Gogo Inflight Internet: Movies, More on the Way
Aircell's Eric Lemond demonstrates Gogo's new services
Gogo Inflight Internet has some surprises in store later this year, with plans to launch a full-fledged video entertainment service for laptops, mobile phones and tablet devices.
I got the scoop from Eric Lemond, Aircell’s director of product and platform development, at the recent 2010 CES International show in Las Vegas. And while most U.S. flights now offer little in the way of entertainment, Gogo aims to change that.
Gogo now offers broadband, Wi-Fi Internet access on nearly 700 planes flown by six airlines—American, Delta, United, Virgin America, Air Canada and AirTran. U.S. Airways will soon be coming on board.
Gogo passed the two-million user mark this month—sooner than expected. I’ve used the service on just about every American Airlines flight where it’s been available—checking e-mail, sending instant messages, getting the latest news and weather and even tracking the flight.
When it launches, Gogo Video will offer hundreds of movies and television shows which can be watched inflight. Movies will be available about the same time they are released on DVD.
“We’re trying to bring IFE (inflight entertainment) into the Internet age with this product,” says Lemond. “When you put it on a plane, it really is a game changer.”
If you don’t finish watching your movie before having to stow your gear for landing, don’t worry. The movie is still on your hard drive and can be viewed for 24 hours from the time of purchase. Some of the TV shows will be sold outright, with no time limitations on watching them.
This next step makes a lot of sense. Gogo has already wired planes for Wi-Fi. So with a little modification, Gogo Video can upload videos to a wide range of portable devices. With the proliferation of smartphones, netbooks and e-readers, this could be huge.
At initial launch, the service will be available only on Windows machines. Macs and mobile devices will follow.
Prices have not been firmed up yet, but I’m told programs will be offered at a “small premium” over prices on the ground.
Gogo’s Internet access for laptops ranges from $4.95 to $12.95 per flight, depending on the length, and $7.95 for smartphones. Also available are 30-day and 24-hour passes. Free access is offered to the Wall Street Journal Online, Frommer’s Travel Guides and airline websites.
Look for more pricing options in the future to meet the different needs of travelers, including the convenience of purchasing Gogo access in advance, when ticketing a flight.
“The hope is we always keep it just like you’re working in the office,” says Lemond.
Or, with Gogo Video, it could be just like sitting in your living room.
Posted by JohnG in Business Gear, General Gear, Kids and Family on January 18th, 2010
