Bring free wifi to your flights and attract more riders, probably equalling any money you might receive from charging for wifi access. I'm not that addicted to network access, so if I "have" to fly those airlines, I'm not buying network access. I'd rather have a couple of special beverages instead. ;)

You're making a common mistake: "Give it away! You'll make it up on volume!" This is rarely true, and it definitely isn't true in a sector like the airline industry which relies on razor-thin margins. A couple dozen people buying wifi and one or two other add-ons (a $5 cocktail, a $50 second checked bag, in the case of United, a $39 Economy Plus seat, etc.) often makes the difference between a flight breaking even or losing money.

You gain a whole new appreciation for the airline industry when you know a few people who work at the highest levels of airlines, especially those people who do things like set schedules and determining pricing spreads: The smallest mis-prediction can sink an entire quarter. It makes what Apple and other technology companies do to maintain healthy profits seem like a cakewalk.

$13 for a few hours' worth of WiFi access is highway robbery. That might fly for business customers who need to get work done and get reimbursed by their company, but for everyone else, I would expect this service to go largely unused. On the plus side, I guess they're going to finally have to allow iPhones in Airplane mode, rather than saying that cell phones are prohibited regardless as they currently do.

On an airplane with 200 people on it that paid $200 for a ticket, you are bringing in $40,000 in gross income on that flight. There is no way that margins are so thin that 10 people paying $8 for internet access on that flight is going to make a lick of difference.

Why not charge $202 for the flight and give away internet service for free?

I'd GLADLY fly the airline that gave better service and didn't make me feel like I'm being nickel and dimed every time I turn around. I'd pay 20% higher prices just to feel better about it.

Bjojade, you haven't a clue what you're talking about. None. I don't talk smack about how things work in your industry, don't spout utter nonsense about mine.

WTF is it about people on MacNN? Everyone's got an opinion, no one bothers to actually research what they're talking about.

Three days ago, Delta handed out cards for a free Gogo trial from Milwaukee to Atlanta, so I took one. I was excited to try it out, but unfortunately, the network didn't function properly, so no one had net access.

High price + unstable network = No Sale.