The Disconnect In Demand For In-Flight Broadband And Service Success
from the something-doesn't-match-up dept
Boeing's decision to shut down Connexion, its in-flight broadband service, wasn't too surprising, given the few carriers that had rolled out it. But in some sense, it was puzzling, because there's such an apparent interest in in-flight broadband -- something backed up by yet another survey about it. So, if interest is so high, why can't somebody make in-flight internet access work? Connexion has failed, Tenzing's big plans never took off, and Airfone's overly expensive and underwhelming services were never popular. The biggest problem is the tremendous cost of outfitting airlines with the equipment to make the systems work, with Connexion's costs reported to be up to $500,000 per plane. With the airline industry bouncing from one financial crisis to another, and the most successful carriers being those that can hold their costs down the best, this is a pretty insurmountable hurdle. The bigger problem is that the real demand for this service, in all likelihood, isn't as high as all these surveys and media stories would indicate -- or in a world of free WiFi hotspots, demand falls off the table once a fee is introduced. Interest in the services carries on, with several companies participating in a recent FCC auction to secure licenses for air-to-ground spectrum. It sounds like most of these companies will use different technology than Boeing's satellite-based system, which could help them lower costs, but the more fundamental question they've got to answer is whether the demand to pay for this sort of service actually exists. Airline JetBlue was one of the winners of that auction, and it could use free in-flight internet access in the same way it uses its in-flight TV: as a perk to encourage business. That could be a more workable model, but still, an expensive one.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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Its supposed to be about competition...but...
Its NOT a money maker. Its a loss leader to steal customers from the competition. Thats all it could possibly be. I would NEVER spend 20$ to have 2 hours of broadband under the most uncomfortable seating arrangement imaginable. But I WOULD choose a different airline if I knew I would be able to at least get some WoW (or second life for you second lifers..) time in during the flight. that would at least make it more bearable.
But all of that is irrelevant anyways. The way security is going at airports nowadays, its a burden to bring a laptop. Hell, its a burden to travel period. Instead, I video conference, and then go home and play WoW there. It doesn't work for everything, but it certainly works for most things.
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Subsidize it
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What's the point?
Airlines have to realize that seat comfort is a bigger issue than broadband -- so give me a nice big seat without attitude, and then we'll talk.
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Re: What's the point?
Uh, dude.. haven't you ever heard of google? Head on over to the image search and get all the free porn your little brain desires. All you need to access it from an airplane is...
Broadband.
Your other point is quite valid tho.
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If you can't charge for it, its a hobby.
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Re:
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Seat Size
The more people they can fit on a plane the more money per flight they make. If they make the seat bigger then they either have to make the plane bigger or raise prices, and since making the plane bigger isn't very likely the prices will raise.
There is of course the 3rd option where the airline decides they can make up the price difference in volume, thinking they will steal the competitions customers, and that would most likely be true but prolly the most devistating option for the airline in the long run.
Lets say 1 airline makes the seats bigger and keeps costs the same, they steal some customers from the other airlines. The other airlines say "oh shit" at their income loss and so they decide to impliment larger seats with the same cost and regain their customer share. So now we have the majority of the airlines with bigger seats at the same cost, these airlines are now all making less money than they were with the smaller seats because they are charging the same, getting the same customers, and moving less people per flight. What do they do? Raise the price to make up the difference.
There is already a solution for people who are willing to pay more for a bigger seat. It is called first class.
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Re: Seat Size
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Re: Re: Seat Size
You hit the nail on the head about the price difference. Being a big guy (6'3'' 325 lbs) I'm always annoyed at just how small airline seats are (even compared to theater seats, which are notoriously small). What annoys me more is that on the same flight a $300 coach seat exists with a $1200 or so first class seat. Why 3 times as much? The seat isn't 3 times as big. First class services aren't nearly as nice as they once were. Most times I end up just buying 2 adjacent coach seats and wishing I could figure out something to do with the my knees. So you are right, if airlines could price "perks" like first/business class and broadband access in the "not extorsion" level pricing, more people would take advantage of it. Rught now, US airlines are content to pack folks in like sardines and cry poverty every couple of years.
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WiFi in the sky
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There's demand, and there's cost
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with that, the added cost of federal regulations...i.e. maintenance and the amazingly high cost of jet fuel. it's no wonder they cry that they aren't making money...it's true, because it all goes to opperation.
now, the only real way to try an make the money is by making x% more per seat per flight. so a coach seat cost say...$.40 per mile. 400 bucks for a 1000 mile flight. they want to make as much of that back as possible. charge a buck per mile? no...but maybe 60 70 cents.....that'll get money back.
now factor in broadband....up to 50 cents per mile...oops...getting closer to that buck a mile.
i would love to use broadband on a plane...take away from that loud humming jet noise. except i have a BIG problem. i have no laptop. could i bring my desktop on the plane? that'd be fun. some realtime CS:S from 35000 ft. awesome.
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internet access in airplanes
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More STupid Terrorists
If I am going to pay for at ticket which includes a broadband price in it, as someone suggested above, I want to be sure I can bring 50 laptops along and download a ton of movies to sell so I can make back the money I wasted on 1st class...
PS: I only have one laptop and WoW IS engrossing...
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No competition between airlines? Stupid post of the day award goes to that one.
Second, why should there be a $5 or $10 charge on all tickets? Why should I subsidize your broadband access when I don't want it myself?
Fact is, people are too cheap to pay the price. They want it if its free, but would they pay for it?
Thats one huge reason why all the Muni-WiFi projects are either in trouble or will be in trouble. No one wants to pay for it.
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WiFi in the sky
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go wi-fi, not tolken ring with a netware server
putting in a wifi hotspot will cost them next to nothing...... (i was going to say peanuts, but thought the better of it. :) )
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Why would anyone pay such a high fee for wi-fi...
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If the FAA will let them...
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