No longer do you have to fly on more expensive airlines like Virgin to be able to enjoy internet access mid-flight.

Currently sporting Wi-Fi (as of July 2009):

Virgin America
American Airlines

Southwest is currently testing WiFi on four planes, and American Airlines isn’t quite offering WiFi across its entire line. Right now it’s about two dozen flights, including the one I’m on currently… right now… writing this post. This is freakin’ awesome. The Gogo service costs $12 for computers and $7 for mobile devices like the iPhone, etc.

Later this year we can expect WiFi on Air Canada, United, Delta, and Northwest (owned by Delta). Southwest is also currently testing the service, during which time the service is free.

For those of you hoping for a nice 12-hour flight to London surfing the internet, think again. Only aircraft equipped with the Row 44 system, or something like it, will be able to serve internet over the water. This service leases internet from the HughesNet Satellite, and is able to cover most of the globe. Others won’t be so lucky.

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Tags: WiFi