JetBlue TrueBlue - When will Jetblue get fleet wide Wifi?

After being teased with the launch of betablue, Jetblue has been passed by AA, Delta and Virgin America to name a few. They all have GoGo internet, which works fairly well for just $7.95.

Anyone have any info about what happened to betablue and what JetBlue's wifi plans are?

Customer service says "stay tuned for future annoucnements".

Thanks

jetBlue is still planning on implementing the LiveTV KiteLine system - the same as is currently operating on BetaBlue - on an expanded basis. It is expected to be much more functional in Q4 this year, according to what they've told folks at CO who are also awaiting the service. That is when the broader implementation would happen. CO expects to have 30 planes outfitted by the end of January 2010.

As for the gogo pricing, there are many models and price points. It isn't only $7.95 all the time for everyone. ;)

Thanks for the info.

I know Gogo's price flucuates, but the service works and is great. I fly transcon and having internet and email is a huge difference.

Inflight wifi is becoming a critical thing. It is hard for me to justify 6 hours offline on JB, even though I prefer Jetblue.

Jetblue needs to get on this fast - Virgin has it on every plane. Don't underestimate how important 6 hours of productivity is to transcon pax.

Inflight wifi is becoming a critical thing. It is hard for me to justify 6 hours offline on JB, even though I prefer Jetblue.

Jetblue needs to get on this fast - Virgin has it on every plane. Don't underestimate how important 6 hours of productivity is to transcon pax.A year ago it simply wasn't possible and millions of people flew transcons. Now you're saying it is critical in your carrier selection?

You will survive without the connectivity just fine. And I find it hard to justify the rates that they charge - even the $8/flight for an iPhone is pretty steep, IMO.

They are sticking with the LiveTV solution for now, with only one aircraft (more are going to be getting the upgrade soon). Dave has been quoted that the email push technology suits them fine.

A year ago it simply wasn't possible and millions of people flew transcons. Now you're saying it is critical in your carrier selection?

You will survive without the connectivity just fine. And I find it hard to justify the rates that they charge - even the $8/flight for an iPhone is pretty steep, IMO.

Yes, it is. It is getting to be an expectation for people that work that they are available on the plane, just as it is the expectation that many of us are available at all hours of the day, even though that was not the expectation just a few years ago. Your comment shows a total lack of understanding about how business travelers work and think - especially those of us who are young.

So does Jetblue's lack of progress in this area.

Your comment shows a total lack of understanding about how business travelers work and think - especially those of us who are young.
Except that I am one of those; I do understand it. ;)

The actual numbers that have been released from gogo or their customers do not show a universal adoption nor demand for the service. You manage to fly transcons without having your cell phone on, too, and have for years. Not too much different at too many levels.

i'm guessing your a consultant whose firm wants billable hours for your flight. I applaud your enthusasm as I was much the same way out of college. Now just a few years into it, I told my boss no crackberry ever and no work while on vacation although I do break the second rule occasionally. I'd advise you to make your mark and then make your rules.

While work and your life may be the same thing right now, you'll likely discover in time the pleasure of seperating the two. Also, the fact that once you do this, your employees and the rest of the world become more capable knowing they can't come to you with every issue.

I travel regularly for work and enjoy not having connectivity. It lets me catch up on reading HBR and books; this actually helps my employer more than if I continued with whatever the project of the month is. I actually set my Out of Office to notify I'm offline and unplug my ethernet while at work at times to avoid the interupt driven work most people follow.

While I agree with sbm12 that in-flight WiFi is far from a necessity, I don't really understand why B6 would forge ahead with a far inferior offering when even USAir (!) is jumping on GoGo. By the time they've completed their rollout no one will care.

I don't really understand why B6 would forge ahead with a far inferior offering

Because it is free. If they can meet the 80% threshold of business folks looking simply for email access and do it for free where everyone else is charging $8-14/flight there is an advantage there. I'm disappointed that it is happening so slowly, but such is life.

And US is only putting it on the 321s right now. Only VX, DL and FL have committed to fleet-wide deployments, I believe.

A year ago it simply wasn't possible and millions of people flew transcons. Now you're saying it is critical in your carrier selection?

You will survive without the connectivity just fine. And I find it hard to justify the rates that they charge - even the $8/flight for an iPhone is pretty steep, IMO.

Well if live tv, 36 channels of direct TV, is Jetblue's competitive advantage, you can say the same thing. Before Jetblue it wasn't a neccesity to have live tv on a plane. But Jetblue introduced it, it became a big hit and to this day is their big differentiating factor. But now other carriers are starting to introduce it.

Internet on planes will be the same thing. Yes it is important for business travelers, but also the younger crowd will want to use the internet for social networking, etc. I see plenty of non-business travelers, using gogo on other airlines. They spend entire flight they are just chatting with friends on facebook, twitter, etc. Think of all the business and non-business things you use the internet for....why wouldn't you want to browse online while trying to kill 6 hours in a crammed in seat?

And as far as the $8.00 cost, not really a big cost IMO, when compared to the other ridiculous fees that all of the airlines are charging these days.

My point is, that although I understand your point that internet on planes may not be for everyone, it doesn't change the fact that it will soon become very commonplace on most major airlines. And Jetblue, took a major misstep when they started the trend with "Betablue" and then basically stood still as gogo and other airlines passed by them with better technology.

Well if live tv, 36 channels of direct TV, is Jetblue's competitive advantage, you can say the same thing. Before Jetblue it wasn't a neccesity to have live tv on a plane. But Jetblue introduced it, it became a big hit and to this day is their big differentiating factor. But now other carriers are starting to introduce it.
But not the biggest ones. UA, AA and WN are skipping it. CO is using B6's product (and LiveTV keeps most the money). DL and F9 have the other product out there. I do not think that it is pervasive at all.

why wouldn't you want to browse online while trying to kill 6 hours in a crammed in seat?

That makes sense for transcons, but not as much for the 2-3 hour flights. And that's the lion's share of B6's network. Average stage length is shrinking at B6.

And as far as the $8.00 cost, not really a big cost IMO, when compared to the other ridiculous fees that all of the airlines are charging these days.

Not bad for one flight. But I wouldn't want to pay it every time. Moreover, you've mentioned social media and email. I think that the KiteLine solution has a very real potential to meet those needs without full internet access. Sure, you might not be able to watch the movie that a friend tweets about, but you can definitely keep up on the majority of the communications. In that regard the KiteLine solution doesn't seem all that horrible to me, especially at the free price point.

And Jetblue, took a major misstep when they started the trend with "Betablue" and then basically stood still as gogo and other airlines passed by them with better technology.
I think that the mistake they made was not pushing the development and deployment of KiteLine faster, not that the technology is sub-par. Of course, I say that having not yet had the opportunity to experience it since it is only on the one plane and I don't fly B6 all that much. That will change in September (I'll be flying more) and I hope to find that plane one day during the month.

Also, because I like throwing fuel onto fires, WN announced yesterday that they will begin a fleet-wide implementation (http://www.wanderingaramean.com/2009/08/luving-wifi-at-southwest.html) of the Row44 Internet service (the other major player besides Aircell). The timing puts them at starting to deploy right around the same time that CO thinks that KiteLine will be ready to go, so that means B6 will potentially have it running on more planes by then. Interesting, no?

[/QUOTE]But not the biggest ones. UA, AA and WN are skipping it. CO is using B6's product (and LiveTV keeps most the money). DL and F9 have the other product out there. I do not think that it is pervasive at all.[QUOTE]

But let's be honest, although LiveTV is making money, JetBlue is losing its differentiating factor. As the planes get older and the crew larger, the JetBlue advantage of brand new planes and super friendly/caring crews is going away. Live TV was the only true advantage they had remaining. No others are catching up and LiveTV is helping CO.

I think you are underestimating people's use of the internet. 2-3 hours is a long time if you need to be in communication with your office or a client, etc.

I think compared to all of the riduclous fees that Jetblue and all the other airlines are charing, paying a few bucks each time is not a big deal. Look at what they charge for extra luggage, changes, pets, extra leg room, pillows, etc.

Its tough to say without knowing the kiteline product. I fly 3-4 times a month with Jetblue and only once was I on Betablue. And the product didn't work for anyone. I have flown with gogo on Delta, AA and Virgin America and it worked perfectly. And quite a few people were using it. even on the redeye.