Google is going to make a lot of frequent flyers, and Virgin America, happy this holiday season. As a gift to people who fly on Virgin America’s WiFi-equipped planes, Google will be footing the bill for everybody on board between November 10, 2009, and January 15, 2010.
For Google, this is a smart marketing move because it generates tons of good will among everyone who flies Virgin America. But Google is really giving a gift to Virgin America in the form of yet one more incentive to fly its planes over competitors’. Will American Airlines and others with WiFi on board have to respond with their own freebie giveaways? I hope so.
Not that I mind paying the $13 per flight to use WiFi on Virgin America flights. In fact, I go out of my way to try to fly on Virgin America, just so that I don’t waste 6 hours going from coast to coast. But giving it away free makes it even more appealing. In fact, as I’ve suggested in the past, I wonder if Virgin America would be better off giving the WiFi away for “free” to everyone on board regularly, but charging more per flight. I’d certainly be willing to pay $25 to $50 more per flight if I knew there was WiFi. But that’s just me.
The only thing that worries me is whether the in-flight WiFi system can handle everyone on board surfing the Web at the same time. At least with the $13 fee, there is a natural cap to how many people use it at once.
I’m not sure how this deal benefits google.
Also, Virgin needs to ramp up and get a Philadelphia terminal.
it generates more warm-and-fuzzies for the brand among consumers, plus, more searches!
Although I am not sure if this is part of the plan, but one other way for this to benefit Google would be if Virgin agreed to make a google.com property the default ‘first destination’ for users of the service.
Just like many public/free WiFi hotspots, no matter what URL you enter, your initial network request is redirected to a pre-determined starter page.
But I do agree with Erick – this is mostly a good-will generator for Google.com, and most of the benefits will accrue to Virgin.
This also highlights the need for service providers to make those pages instantly engaging vs. the typical throw away experience found at a Starbucks (yes, I’m looking at you AT&T). That said, they have to be careful about the network demands on that initial page load as well. Let’s hope that there are some folks thinking big thoughts about on board localize asset cache (i.e. coffee, tea, milk, or akamai)
Could say so, but one way or another you will see the benefits
I don’t know how you hate google in the past, but I think this offer is really sweet – There are still a dozen of airports who doesn’t have wifi support coz of a tight budget .. It’s good Santa BIG G is there to the rescue.
http://bit.ly/thanks-google
I’m definitely all about free WiFi when in the air. It does help out the coast to coast commute but sometimes I realize there is only so much that the internet can provide me with to take up my time. Granted, I commute almost on a weekly basis, so it’s a little difficult.
Thanks Google!
Will Google extend this to other airlines also? If so it will be great news for holiday travelers.
GoGo WiFi on American has been free recently with a number of promotions. Details have been on the GoGo information board at the gates.
so I wonder what info google wants to collect from this. browsing habits in the air, to better target ads in planes and airports perhaps.
With the seat pitch on United Economy, wifi is not a problem because you can’t actually open your notebook anymore.
Time to get yourself a netbook or iPhone then
I knew someone would say that, as we speak I am hackentoshing Mac OSX onto a HP Mini 1000, but it’s like shoehorning an LS6 engine into a Kia Spectra.
It’ll only be a matter of time before the service is rolled out completely free surely?
In the UK you can use free wifi on lots of lengthy train journeys, so I can’t see why the same won’t be applicable soon for flights.
Google founders and Richard Branson are good friends. Larry had his wedding on Richard’s Necker island. I would suspect more collaborations like these will come in the future…
Wouldn’t that make this illegal?
“I wonder if Virgin America would be better off giving the WiFi away for “free” to everyone on board regularly, but charging more per flight. I’d certainly be willing to pay $25 to $50 more per flight if I knew there was WiFi.”
As you said, the cost is $13 per flight to use WiFi – why would you be happy to pay more ($25 to $50), if you can pay $13!
I haven’t found a route where VA was the cheapest, anyway… You’re already “paying for the privilege”, despite not actually getting anything other than a brand new plane…
Still, free, or now that I think about it “Sponsored” WiFi would really get me to switch. In fact, airlines could totally spread this idea to the rest of the flight. Meals/snacks sponsored by Windows 7 in a little snack box, the flight times/weather/map feature logo-ified with an ad for an upcoming movie, etc.
It’s kinda like ads paying for youtube vids, versus charging users a tiny fee to view each one… Eventually, you might find that that extra piece of luggage is going to cost you $75, or a “20 minute consultation with Allstate about life insurance”.
Sign me up for the freemium flyer program!
One note: I just flew coast to coast on Virgin America and the wifi cost was $7.95
It’s safe to assume that passengers will land on a Google-sponsored landing page (or the Google homepage itself) when they begin their “free” inflight Web experience. This is a great way to feature the Google brand, create buzz around a small marketing spend (compared to TV, etc.), and increase the chance that passengers will perform their searches via Google.
It’s so cheap anyway lol, can’t be costing much for Google to do this.
Other than a certain percentage of geeks, I, probably like most regular folk, wouldn’t choose a flight based on whether or not they offered wifi. I think the most important factors will still remain price, airline and the # of layovers; I’m not gonna choose to do an extra 2-3 stops on a flight just so I can respond to techcrunch posts on the air.
First, this can’t cost much. Second, by next year every airline will have free wifi (thanks to some sponsor). Third, Virgin America still charges you for everything except using the bathroom on the flight. Great publicity though.
This is a great idea. I’ve been talking about free WIFI on flights for the longest time. I’m not sure why all these airlines charge a surcharge for it when they can just add it into the cost of the flight. I doubt it cost the airlines more than $200/month per plane for the wifi. They need to start providing better customer service with value added rather than trying to poach each flyer with extra fees for services that should be included. It cost me .33 cents to login to a wifi hotspot at starbucks, barnes & noble, or mcdonalds via my t-mobile cell phone data plan which allows me to hop on a WIFI network for 9.99/m or .33 cents per day if I decide to activate it for 24 hours only. I think it’s an outrage that 80%+ of the airlines don’t offer WIFI and the ones who are pioneering it are trying to price gauge. In the era of free media, sharing, and open source, I think these airlines can be a bit more creative and start offering WIFI with all flights instead of making everyone feel it’s only for the ‘elite.’
Wonder if there is way to tie-in chrome to this? Must be some sort of “presented by Google” eye-blaster included.
you guys talking about how airline companies are just give out wifi need to realize that they are on razor thin margins. Most airlines would be unprofitable without adding the surcharges. They got screwed over by the unions years ago before 9/11. I know one guy who is in his 60s retired and making 90k/year as a retired pilot. Think about that…being retired and still getting 90k from your company!
Check your facts about airline unions. Every pilot working has had his/her pension taken away post 9/11. The pilots that safely landed the plane in the hudson last winter both had their pensions taken away.
Will it effect the airplane controls, or is that made up? I would just prefer to watch a movie or listen to books on tape. Not everyone will be doing work.
I liked it. So much useful material. I read with great interest.
Very nice offer for passengers on VA. I was one Delta recently and they didn’t have Interent access available yet. Looking forward to more airlines providing the services.
Anyone else concerned about voice-enabled apps? I’m definitely a fan on WiFi on planes, so long as manners are kept.