IFE on North American carriers

[PHL]

My tablet has airplane mode and I pay for my internet connection, because Wi-Fi is unreliable.

Would I be able to use it on an airline or would it interfere with navigation instruments?

In the air, you won't be able to use your carrier's internet connectivity (ATT, Verizon, etc.) because you won't get a signal long enough (at all) to maintain any reliable connection 35000 feet up in the air.

So, if you want to surf the web on a flight equipped with WiFi, you'll have to pay for GoGo (or find a promo/discount code out there somewhere).

 

[nycbusdriver]

It's all about perception pure and simple. There is a way to be cost effective while not appearing cheap. US doesn't have it down and quite frankly never will. Ya see, to this day the company feels customers receive more than they should. Do any of you believe they were happy about spending more money on Envoy or Domestic FC? Hell no, they HAD to do it to compete. IFE isn't a do or die item but considering almost all have it or affordable wifi US looks like the family owned car lot that sells a few new cars and a crap load of beaters. US....clunkety clunk. 🙄

The Kettles don't need WiFi. They're amazed that they can pick up that telephone thing on the wall of their shack and talk to Sarah down at the phone company....and she's miles away in the back of Sam Drucker's store!

 

[SparrowHawk]

The Kettles don't need WiFi. They're amazed that they can pick up that telephone thing on the wall of their shack and talk to Sarah down at the phone company....and she's miles away in the back of Sam Drucker's store!

That's VERY funny, but not very nice or accurate I'm afraid.

When I was doing the Training thing, I was always amazed at how technically savvy most of the dealers were that were "Out in the sticks". One of the dealers was in Iron Mountain, M! and their "Computer Guy" was one of the best I ever worked with. I asked him about it and he said "Well Bob, no one will come out and help us so we had to learn this stuff ourselves"

The Kettles aren't as dumb as we think they are. They are just not very savvy when it comes to air travel and therefore annoying to those of us who are.