Guest Author - Julia Reed Zaic
Soon that admonition about keeping your wireless devices in the “off” position for the duration of a flight will disappear on certain trips. Delta will be the first carrier in the United States to offer wireless Wi-Fi services on its domestic flights. The service, called Gogo®, is slowly being phased-in during 2009, allowing those who travel with wireless devices to have access to the internet while in the air.
The program requires that you sign up with the Gogo® in-flight internet service. I have done so, and it is quite easy. Since registering with Gogo®, I have flown Delta three times. Although the sign-up process was relatively easy, none of my flights have actually offered the service. However, here's what to do in order to ensure you are ready as this service is phased in.
In order to use the on-board Delta Wi-Fi services, visit www.gogoinflight.com before you fly. The registration requires the same information that most online services require. First name, last name, email and email confirmation, address, phone number, username with security question and answer, and a password. The service also requires that you agree to the terms of use & conditions of use which include termination rights, fees and charges, proprietary rights, acceptable uses and conduct, privacy and security, and various other legal terms of use which must be accepted before an account can be established.
Once you have gone through these steps and created an account, you may add your credit card information for immediate access, or add it later. Gogo takes Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express, which will likely cover all business and personal credit options. The card number, security code and expiration date is required, like any other online purchase. Also, once you have an active account, you can access it to make any necessary changes and to monitor your charges and time used in your “purchase history”.
Once accessed, this in-flight internet service will allow you to send text and instant messages, and access your email and the internet to make your time in the air more productive. Not to mention the value of sharing information in real time when the need arises. On these flights you will no longer have the limitation of being “out of pocket” while flying to your destination. This could be invaluable on a business trip.
Delta’s website contains pertinent information about costs and availability. Gogo® access will be offered at $9.95 on flights of three hours or less, and $12.95 for longer flights. It seems that the goal is phase in this service on all domestic flights before the end of 2009.
I look forward to reviewing the service once I take a flight with this new option. In the meantime, if you beat me to it, please scroll down to link to my forum and tell us all about it. Looking forward to hearing from you.
