I love technology when it works.....aboard Virgin America at 38,000 feet

So...just had to check in and post from 38,000 feet aboard a Virgin America flight from Boston back to L.A. Outside temp supposedly -77 degree F. Air Speed 540mph. All according to the inflight computer touch screen at every seat. They have their inFlight Wi-Fi working on board. $12.95 for the duration of the flight. The connection seems very fast. I am even streaming from my SlingPlayer back in LA. Occasional hiccups and pauses due to plane's signal losing sight occasionally....but it is working most of the time. Each seat also has a regular 120V power plug so you don't have to run off battery AND a USB plug for charging cell phones and other portables so when you land, you have a full charge to go on your way.

Simply put....they have thought of everything it appears and this is really making the 6 hour flight go by quick. I chatted with some friends on facebook. Checked email. Read the forum...watched some DVR'd Simpsons from back home. Etc..

There is an MP3 server in the belly of the aircraft. So...even if you are not going online on your own computer...you can plug in and listen to pretty much anything in many genres via their system and your own headphones....hundreds of songs. Can also rent movies at your seat with DVR like controls. Pause...go to the restroom...come back and continue. Order food from their touch screen and a minute later they bring it to your seat. Prices are very reasonable. And food was VERY good and fresh. I love this airline. Really. Highly recommended guys if you have the opportunity...you should check it out.

.

Re: I love technology when it works.....aboard Virgin America at 38,000 feet

Parker,

All those features were in coach. Every seat on the plane.

The film has been going through LOTS of changes in a short amount of time and in the end...I ended up not scoring it after being on it for a day. (In the end, a lot of songs are getting licensed to replace stuff). Politics at play..had nothing to do with me. It is the way these things go. But there is hopefully something in the next month or so that I am looking forward to that would be better for me to do anyway.

We flew coach on this trip..but I have flown first on VA once before. What first class gets in addition is of course much larger seats, LOTS of leg room. The seats are actually massage seats with 3 "vibrating and rolling" massage zones. First class gets free food served to them and their own restroom. We had the option to upgrade to first class from coach for about $250...but we decided to save the money. By the time the flight left...people had upgraded as the flight was mostly full and first class was entirely full.

Re: I love technology when it works.....aboard Virgin America at 38,000 feet

I hear you in your concerns Adam. I certainly would not want to sit very close to an individual on the phone for a 6 hour flight....or even a 1 hour flight. BUT...from what I saw on this flight, everyone using the wi-fi were sitting quietly with their headphones on disturbing no one. There were no loud conversations. No movies to be heard from the row behind you. Only the roar of the plane engines which I tried to cancel out via my noise-canceling headphones.

For business travelers...the ability to do some work, answer emails, etc...on a long flight I think it very valuable. I would not buy and use the service on an hour flight up the coast. But crossing the country...it became a more attractive option and I think VA's implementation of it so far (as well as their inFlight "RED" seat entertainment system) is spot on in the digital age.

My girlfriend did say "great, now my boss is going to make me start working on the plane if he hears about this. I no longer have an excuse to get away from it." But at the same time...in my case...I am my own boss and there are times when I need to deal with stuff while traveling long distances. So...having the option on these flights where the cost is reasonable to the passenger...I think makes sense.