Thanks to my pal Andy Abramson for pointing out this story. WiFi on planes for frequent travelers is a real boon to productivity. More and more, we require our connection in order to stay in touch and get our work done. Delivering a network connection with easy access is a smart move by American.

On the flip side, they coupled it with one of the most boneheaded arguments imaginable. Blocking Skype and saying it's "in keeping with the federal ban on phone calls" is nothing more than a black eye and demonstrates complete stupidity. First, there isn't such a ban. That's why airphone services exists and suck money out of your credit card at ridiculous rates. Cell phone calls are another issue.

I'm not really a huge fan of getting on a plane, curling up with a book and having my six nearest neighbors all talking on Skype while I fly. If American had cited passenger comfort due to noise and the closed environment of a plane, I'd agree. But the story they tell just portrays them as cluetards who don't understand what they're talking about.

American Airlines Previews Wi-Fi. But Skype Gets Blocked

Filled with glee at the prospect of
working (and instant
messaging) onboard.
AP Photo

by Barbara S. Peterson

Chances are you'd feel differently about all the new airline fees if you were getting something new for your money--especially if that something were to help ease the tedium of a long flight. Starting today, American Airlines will begin testing that premise with a sneak preview of Wi-Fi connectivity aboard two flights--one from JFK to LA and one in the return direction--allowing passengers to send and receive emails, download and send attachments, and surf the web while aloft. If it works, American says it will roll out the service (possibly in a couple weeks) called Air Cell's "GoGo" on all of its 767-200s that fly on longer routes, such as New York to San Francisco, LA and Miami. Today's experiment will be free, but after that, the charge will be $12.95 per flight.

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