fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20 | LONG road to ROI
At those prices, I'm sorry to tell them, they're going to have a really hard time getting an ROI on the investment.
I predict that unless they drop the price, the service will go the way of the AirPhone. |
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iansltx
join:2007-02-19
Golden, CO | Hey, I'd pay that much to get WiFi on my flight. I'm sure a lot of the technorati would do the same. Just look at all the web celebs on Virgin's every-so-often inaugural flights  |
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Araiden
join:2008-04-12
| reply to fiberguy
What's wrong with those prices? They seem pretty reasonable to me. What do you expect to be able to use the service in the air? I'd pay those prices to be able to use my smartphone or laptop while i'm flying as long as the service is somewhat decent surf web pages fairly quickly etc. |
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Matt
Take me down to the paradise city
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC | reply to fiberguy
I agree with the previous two posters. I think those prices for the most part are very fair. I hope my cross country flight this summer offers in-flight WiFi. |
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morbo
Complete Your Transaction
join:2002-01-22
00000
clubs: | reply to fiberguy
that pricing is reasonable for in-flight entertainment. i think they have it just about right. |
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jefe
Premium
join:2001-05-19
Northport, NY
 ·Verizon FIOS
| reply to Matt
I've flown NY/SFO a few times on Virgin and used their wifi each time. Last trip my wife and I split the use...her on her iPhone and me on my laptop.
Email, browsing, etc. helps pass the flight. Plus, in my case, it reduces the likelihood that when I land I'll find some work related email waiting for me that needs attention and that I could've handled while I was a captive in an airlne seat.  |
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FHBroadband
join:2009-04-15
1 edit | Wifi on Virgin America works with a laptop? Ethernet isn't activated, it goes thru the wireless?
According to Virgin they had ethernet + wireless connectivity but ethernet wasn't activated yet and neither was wireless. Now I take it the wireless is active and ethernet is not?
Also does the wireless work with regular laptops? |
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Rob
In Deo speramus, God Bless the USA
Premium
join:2001-08-25
Kendall, FL
 ·Comcast
| reply to fiberguy
said by fiberguy  :At those prices, I'm sorry to tell them, they're going to have a really hard time getting an ROI on the investment. I predict that unless they drop the price, the service will go the way of the AirPhone. I disagree. I suspect they'll see ROI fairly quickly now that it's available on all their fleets.
The prices are very reasonable.
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CheckSite.us | YourIP.us | Reverseip.us |
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djeremy
join:2004-07-12
San Francisco, CA
| reply to morbo
I'll be paying that $12.95 for my SFO to BOS flight next week on Virgin. That seems totally reasonable for a 5 hour flight.
I'm wondering if all the other airlines implementing WiFi have power plugs in every the seat like Virgin does. Paying that $12.95 without a power port would be somewhat usless. |
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FHBroadband
join:2009-04-15 | reply to Rob
Agree with the pricing. With the power ports + Internet (hopefully ethernet will work with laptops), the question becomes which Laptop is appropriate to use in coach class. |
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Rob
In Deo speramus, God Bless the USA
Premium
join:2001-08-25
Kendall, FL
·Comcast
| said by FHBroadband : the question becomes which Laptop is appropriate to use in coach class. .. the one with no speakers  |
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jefe
Premium
join:2001-05-19
Northport, NY | reply to FHBroadband
What's a "regular" laptop?
Virgin's wifi worked with Dell D620 Lattitude's standard built in wifi card. And, as I mentioned above, it also worked fine with my wife's iPhone. |
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fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20
| reply to fiberguy
WOW! Just incredible!!
Looks like I have some homework for some later finger pointing and gloating to do.
I do recall, some months back, when others, in this very forum posting, stated it was too much.. now it's just fine.. Hmmmm.. Interesting...
I still disagree.. The price point is too high to gain the level of customers they need to support the service on its own...
While people here may find it a value, try stacking that up against regular travelers. Remember, this is a budget airline. People will make a choice to AVOID a carrier over $10 in ticket price, ESPECIALLY when you are to 2 and 3 ticketed passengers. That alone ads up to $60 round trip in the case of three.. and doesn't include baggage fees, etc. Frontier Airlines flies many flights with DirecTV dark becuase people won't pay the $5 for the service.. In this economy, and ala cart add-up-quickly flying, people are going to think twice.. often.
LOOKING AT THE BIG PICTURE, not a niche' group of people like here (sorry, it's the truth) I don't see this as a good price point.. especially for the amount its going to be crippled. Essentially, it's for email, chat, and some web... $13.00 is a lot for that.
I swear, too, I think that people like to disagree with me just to disagree.. so, now off to find post history on those who now love the price today where they hated it a few months back. |
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davoice
join:2000-08-12
Saxapahaw, NC
 ·Comporium
| reply to Rob
said by Rob :said by FHBroadband : the question becomes which Laptop is appropriate to use in coach class. .. the one with no speakers With seat pitches below 34" (most major airlines), as tiny as possible. Anything bigger than 12" screen does not fit on the tray table. Anything bigger than 10" does fit if the genius in front of you reclines.
}Davoice |
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davoice
join:2000-08-12
Saxapahaw, NC
·Comporium
| reply to fiberguy
Also remember there is somewhat limited capacity. So they don't want to price it where every Moe, Larry and Curly on the plane will log on. You're essentially sharing a single EVDO aircard w/ everyone on the plane.
Better to have 1 person at $13 than 2 at $6.
}Davoice |
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FHBroadband
join:2009-04-15
1 edit | Virgin allegedly has ethernet ports but they are not utilized at this time if I recall.
Apparently the wireless internet was finally enabled.
I assume the power ports work. Virgin America has first class but coach prices are significantly cheaper.
It was just a matter of time before Virgin added the features as their aircraft are all fully equipped.
SwissAir ran a plane which had an FAA certified video entertainment system which was rushed and wiring arc'ed and the plane blew up killing all. Other airlines saw the issue and did not use this equipment.
Virgin America's system is fully tested, FAA approved I hope the engineers did their due dilligence with making it all work without safety issues. I assume the final safety certifications came through which is why only recently it came into play.
I wonder when the ethernet will get activated. |
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FHBroadband
join:2009-04-15
| »www.virginamerica.com/va/press/2···iFi.html
Looks like those are the laptops people were using. 
Was that coach I presume? |
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wifi4milez
Big Russ, 1918 to 2008. Rest in Peace
join:2004-08-07
New York, NY
·Verizon FIOS
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·RoadRunner Cable
 ·BroadVoice
| reply to morbo
said by morbo :that pricing is reasonable for in-flight entertainment. i think they have it just about right. Yep, I am flying from NYC to LA in July (on Virgin) and I can assure you I will be purchasing the $12.95 package. Sure, I think $10 would be better (or free!) but their price is fair enough.
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When you can't make them see the light, make them feel the heat.
-Ronald Reagan-
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PhoenixDown
-- Wants FIOS
Premium
join:2003-06-08
Fresh Meadows, NY
clubs:  | reply to FHBroadband
I think the ethernet cables are used to carry the video and music from their on flight server to the monitor in the head rest.
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~ Insert a Funny Sig Here ~ |
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FHBroadband
join:2009-04-15
2 edits | No I mean the in seat ethernet jacks where you can plug an ethernet cable into. It is mentioned on the website. |
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