The Roaming BoomersMy Experience with Gogo Inflight Internet
Gogo Inflight Internet – Question: You are sitting on a plane for four hours. Would you rather watch movies or have Internet connectivity?
For me, hands down, it is Internet connectivity.
Aboard our recent Delta flight to Orlando, for the AARP Orlando@50+ National Event, I noticed a Wi-Fi decal on the plane as I entered the door.
Cool, I thought, I can get some work done!
After we climbed to 10,000 feet, the flight attendant made an announcement that we could now use our electronic devices, and that we were also now at an altitude where Gogo Inflight Internet connections were allowed.
I quickly pulled out my MacBook Pro and searched for the Gogo Wi-Fi signal.
As soon as my computer booted up the signal was visible, and in less than 60 seconds, and $12.95 later, I was connected to the Internet.
Nice!
As I entered my e-mail in-box, I noticed an e-mail from Gogo asking me to let them know how my experience was.
Brilliant!
Here’s my answer:
- I love the service. It was very easy to connect and the speed seemed more than adequate.
- For me, the $12.95 was a no brainer. I could easily get $12.95 of value out of the next four hours.
- I lost connectivity for about 45 minutes somewhere over New Mexico. That wasn’t very fun. What’s with that? There must be holes in the service in certain parts of the country.
- Reconnection was easy once a new signal was later obtained.
- My biggest bummer was actually delivered from my Delta flight. You see, we were back in coach for this flight, and when the gentleman in front of me decided to lay his chair back, he immediately greatly impinged on my workspace. I was now forced to tilt my notebook up to a 45º angle to work. ACK!
Will I use the service again?
Absolutely! As long as I feel I can get a return for my $12.95, you will find me gleefully connected to the Internet at 38,000 feet.
Thanks Delta and thanks Gogo Inflight Internet.
11 Comments on “My Experience with Gogo Inflight Internet”
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Oh, I sympathize about the passengers who recline their chairs without turning around and asking if you mind. I’m okay with a little recline but I really hate it when someone else’s head is in my face, much less my workspace. I think if the airlines are going to space the rows so close together, they should disable the recline button on the seats. Um, as you see, you hit a nerve with me :-).
Absolutely love GoGo Internet. Unfortunately, many of the flights I take are feeder airlines where the service isn’t provided or the time is too short to make it worthwhile.
Amen to disconnecting the recline button. I still have sore knees from the woman who was determined to recline as far as allowed by the airlines (but not the legs of the 6’4″ guy behind her).
Donna,
We did hit a nerve, didn’t we? I wouldn’t be in favor of a total loss of recline, but I agree, I don’t need to be making out with the person in front of me.
I can’t tell you how many times I nearly had my lunch splattered all over my lap from quick reclining seats. ACK!
I was once an international flight in coach where the woman in front of me insisted on reclining, leaving me no way to eat my meal. The flight attendant noticed and strongly suggested to the woman that she raise her seat up. Luckily, my next international flight is business class. Yay!
Oof. I shutter to think of international flights not in business class. I must confess, I was spoiled completely rotten when we owned our business in Michigan. Every single flight was upgraded to first class with our airline miles.
Ah. Those were the days. Unfortunately, I don’t have 60K to put on a credit card each month any more. WAH!
We gave up our credit cards that accumulated miles because the hassle of trying to use them is not worth our time. Plus, seats are so hard to come by. Instead, we charge everything to a Costco American Express, cash in the rebate and place it in a “business air fund” in a savings account. Then, we add a bit of our own money each month. When it’s time to book international air, we have the money to go shopping for the best deal.
Interesting tip. We haven’t had a problems getting seats as we are generally doing things months in advance, but I have heard Carol mention that with the planes now so crowded, it is more difficult.
This sounds like a really good blog post, boomer-age wisdom in the new economy. Tips and tricks like this Costco example make for a great story. David, let’s talk!
I used Gogo Inflight on a trip back to Texas from the east coast (cost me 7.95 for the connection) and I was impressed. I tweeted, I logged in on foursquare (and got the mile high badge unlocked) checked emails, both home and work. Great use of time. The only issue was that it was only available on the flight home, AA does not have WiFi on the entire MD80 fleet yet.
Would definitely use it again, so I guess I have truly lost my last bastion of isolation and disconnectivity from an ever faster moving world.
Andy,
Last bastion? Does that mean you Tweet in church on Sunday? 🙂
Andy,
You got a better price for your connection to Gogo Inflight Internet. I wonder if it is a matter of pricing between different airlines, or perhaps a matter of potential connection time, or both.