The flat fee for the Gogo Inflight Internet service will set you back $12.95 per session and gets you standard access to the Web. Internet offerings will be limited to passengers flying from New York to California on any of United's fleet of Boeing 757s that fly between JFK, LAX and SFO.
Jack Blumenstein, Aircell President & CEO had this say about today's announcement, "I can't think of a better way for Aircell to usher in 2009 as the year of Inflight Internet than by announcing our partnership with United ... Passengers love Gogo Inflight Internet service and the freedom it gives them to be productive, connected and entertained. Forward-thinking airlines like United are putting the power of Gogo in their passengers' hands and reaping the revenue and customer loyalty benefits that it brings."
That's a lot of marketing-speak that boils down to the fact that the Gogo service, provided by Aircell, is starting to give people what they've wanted for years.
There seems to be some healthy competition in the broadband-in-the-air space, which means that airlines have a choice between providers, but consumers will have to create multiple accounts depending on how they travel (think AT&T vs. T-mobile hotspots). Southwest Airlines has also announced plans to test inflight Internet via Aircell competitor Row 44.
With Virgin America's big wifi splash, and the plethora of airlines starting to offer inflight internet service, travelers across the US can start to be more selective about who they choose to fly with.