VentureBeat

A couple weeks ago, I complained about the lack of Internet availability on airplanes. There is some positive news on that front — it’s coming, and maybe in a matter of weeks, according to PC World. Also, if you happen to be a user of the Internet access unifying service iPass, rejoice, because it may just be free for you.

IPass is teaming up with Aircell Gogo, the company that is expected to be the first in the United States to offer Wi-Fi service on planes (there are others working in this space as well). Users of iPass pay a monthly fee to gain access to the Internet via Wi-Fi, Ethernet or dial-up at over 100,000 locations throughout the world. Later this year, Internet access on flights with American Airlines and Virgin America will be included in those packages as well, and the price isn’t expected to go up.

For everyone else, the price of airplane Wi-Fi will be $9.95 for flights that are three hours or shorter and $12.95 for all other flights. As PC World notes, this is really not bad at all compared to similar rates at airports and hotels. If it makes me forget about how uncomfortable I am in my seat, I would pay in a heartbeat.

[photo: flickr/spcummings]

I’ve been flying on Virgin America up and down the California coast quite a bit recently. It’s great because of their in-seat entertainment consoles where you can listen to music and watch live television. There is a glaring absence however: the Internet.

If airlines and regulators can ever get their acts together and start offering the Internet on flights, the hassle of flying for me will go way down. I truly believe that it will even make me care less about leg room.