SWA offering WiFi for free on aircraft

[statesman]

I think this is quite interesting. In a world where the big players are struggling to make ends meet and are charging for damn near everything, SWA is able to provide services that, to my knowledge, no one else can.

Jet Blue for some time has been offering free satellite TV on most if not all of their domestic flights.

http://www.swabiz.com/wifi/

 

[LazersGoPEWPEW]

American, Delta offer wifi onboard some of their aircraft.

SWA is also charging for the service like the other airlines.

 

[statesman]

I read after I posted that SWA will offer with a limited charge... however my friend who flew on one of the 4 a/c enabled with wifi said it was free. Unfortunate that they may start charging.

 

[Brett327]

I read after I posted that SWA will offer with a limited charge... however my friend who flew on one of the 4 a/c enabled with wifi said it was free. Unfortunate that they may start charging.

Next thing you know, they'll start charging for luggage and food service. How dare they.

Brett

 

[scoolbubba]

If people buy into it, which I think they will in the always connected world we live in, this could be a sweet cash cow for SWA and the airlines that offer it. It wins points in terms of PR if it's not ludicrously priced, I would assume adds little to the plane in terms of weight vice something like food and drinks, and lets people be productive during a time they'd otherwise be sitting there, uncomfortably crammed between 900 pounds of fatty split between the adjoining seats. Good call. Innovative stuff like this might actually move the satisfaction rating for airlines above that of Congress.

 

[statesman]

Next thing you know, they'll start charging for luggage and food service. How dare they.

Brett

Im not saying that its not perfectly within their rights. If AA et al want to charge for food service and luggage thats definitely their prerogative. I'm almost as free market as they come and so I'm all about people charging for the services they want to charge for.

That being said I question how good of a business decision it is. I fly SWA because they are cheaper and because they don't charge for amenities like luggage and drink service. The big airlines have lost my business, and I think if SWA did not charge for internet they may bring an even bigger market share their way.

 

[LazersGoPEWPEW]

Im not saying that its not perfectly within their rights. If AA et al want to charge for food service and luggage thats definitely their prerogative. I'm almost as free market as they come and so I'm all about people charging for the services they want to charge for.

That being said I question how good of a business decision it is. I fly SWA because they are cheaper and because they don't charge for amenities like luggage and drink service. The big airlines have lost my business, and I think if SWA did not charge for internet they may bring an even bigger market share their way.

Until you need to fly international....right?

And you know AA won't charge YOU for luggage right? Pop that military ID up and you get free checked luggage. Same with most airlines as I know it.

 

[HAL Pilot]

... however my friend who flew on one of the 4 a/c enabled with wifi said it was free. Unfortunate that they may start charging.

They are offering it for free on those 4 aircraft while they test the system to see its reliability.

Why is it unfortunate that they are going to charge for it? It cost them big bucks to install it and big bucks to provide the service after installation. Why shouldn't the consumer pay for the cost of the service that is being provided?

For the most part, airline ticket prices do not cover the cost of flying. That is why there are extra charges for what used to be provided free. The consumer balks at paying $10 more for his ticket yet will readily whip out the credit card when you tell him its extra to check his bag.

The cost of flying was risen significantly since the end of regulation when the government ensured the pax paid what it cost. Yet the ticket price when adjusted for inflation is significantly lower. Further, where about 10-15% of the ticket price went to taxes, government fees, etc. before 9/11/2001 about 30% goes there today. Until the last few years, the airlines were not able to raise the ticket prices the extra 15-20% and had to eat this.

Since the public wants Greyhound prices on airline travel, they have to accept Greyhound service.

You want all this stuff for free? Buy a first class ticket.

 

[HAL Pilot]

Im not saying that its not perfectly within their rights. If AA et al want to charge for food service and luggage thats definitely their prerogative. I'm almost as free market as they come and so I'm all about people charging for the services they want to charge for.

That being said I question how good of a business decision it is. I fly SWA because they are cheaper and because they don't charge for amenities like luggage and drink service. The big airlines have lost my business, and I think if SWA did not charge for internet they may bring an even bigger market share their way.

SWA has started adding extra charges too. They haven't added luggage charges or ticket change charges yet and those are big ones in their favor.

SWA is also rethinking their business model because they too are hurting economically. Building market share when the ticket doesn't cover the cost of transporting the passenger is not a good thing.

 

[FrankTheTank]

WiFi on plane = Good Deal
Sitting next to fat guy surfing midget porn on plane = Bad Deal

 

[LazersGoPEWPEW]

WiFi on plane = Good Deal
Sitting next to fat guy surfing midget porn on plane = Bad Deal

I think they block sites like that. I seem to recall reading article about that very issue some months ago.

 

[FrankTheTank]

I would assume so but there is always a site missed or a way around blockers... And you could be the lucky one next to Mr Fatso and his erection too

 

[statesman]

They are offering it for free on those 4 aircraft while they test the system to see its reliability.

Why is it unfortunate that they are going to charge for it? It cost them big bucks to install it and big bucks to provide the service after installation. Why shouldn't the consumer pay for the cost of the service that is being provided?

For the most part, airline ticket prices do not cover the cost of flying. That is why there are extra charges for what used to be provided free. The consumer balks at paying $10 more for his ticket yet will readily whip out the credit card when you tell him its extra to check his bag.

The cost of flying was risen significantly since the end of regulation when the government ensured the pax paid what it cost. Yet the ticket price when adjusted for inflation is significantly lower. Further, where about 10-15% of the ticket price went to taxes, government fees, etc. before 9/11/2001 about 30% goes there today. Until the last few years, the airlines were not able to raise the ticket prices the extra 15-20% and had to eat this.

Since the public wants Greyhound prices on airline travel, they have to accept Greyhound service.

You want all this stuff for free? Buy a first class ticket.

Well then it wouldnt be free would it? It would be included.

I say unfortunate (not unreasonable) because as a consumer I want to get the most for my money. I dont travel with a laptop, but if I did I would probably pay the small fee depending on how small it was. That being said if I had the choice between paying and not paying, well I would logically choose not paying.

Out of curiosity what services is SWA now charging for? I havent flown comercical in some time but the last time I did, SWA still had a free drink and snack service etc...

 

[HAL Pilot]

Out of curiosity what services is SWA now charging for? I havent flown comercical in some time but the last time I did, SWA still had a free drink and snack service etc...

Their Business Select tickets which allow you to be the first 15 to board, or if you pay for a cheaper ticket, you can then pay them to check in more thatn 24 hours in advance and get a low boarding number. Unaccompanied minor went from free to $50 each way. Small pet in the cabin.

Those are the ones I can think of quickly off the top of my head.

But I do agree they still have the fewest extra fees.

 

[Bevo16]

I never got the "get on board first" thing. I don't want to be on that fucking bus any longer than I have to. WiFi on the jet would be great. I can bring my own peanuts. Internet, I'll pay for.