I was reading Michael Fabey’s recent article in Travel Weekly about how airlines are now rushing to add WiFi to their airplanes.  (Read full article) While WiFi has been available on a limited basis on international and some domestic, long haul flights, it seems we have reached the “Tipping Point” where we are so addicted to being connected, we must have it for even the shortest commuter flights.

Fabey reports that every domestic airline is in the process of outfitting their aircraft with WiFi or at least testing it and that AirTran has already equipped it’s entire fleet with it – becoming the first U.S. carrier to offer the service on every flight.   Wouldn’t you think it would be someone else other than AirTran to be first?  JetBlue maybe. Even Delta or America first.  But AirTran?  Go figure. 

AirTran charges $5.95 for flights under 3 hours and $9.95 for flights 3 hours and longer.  Seems like a fair price when one beer can cost you $5.00, and that only lasts me about 8 seconds.  Other passengers look at me funny when I’m using my car keys to cut a hole in the bottom of the can, but that’s a different story.

I’ll admit, I’m one of these people who will gladly pay the $5.95.  It will save me $10 for every book I buy in the gift shop that I start but never finish.  Using the 2 or 3 hours to catch up on a little work is important to me.  Besides that, the thought of surfing the web while in flight still amazes me and reminds me of a routine I heard by this comedian on Conan O’Brian.  Check it out. The relevant part is about 2 minutes into it, but watch the whole thing. Cracks me up everytime I watch it.