Wow! It seems to me as if the author has a bias in presenting the information for a vote. "What's bad about Wi-Fi," he asks? Porn, censorship, VoIP calls (something you can't do today on *any* Wi-Fi enabled plane), the "annoyance" factor (unsubstantiated) and the fact you're no longer free to not work.

Where does he offer up the potential benefits of Wi-Fi?

I love the idea of trying to determine if passengers love or hate the idea of Wi-Fi in planes, but I hate any kind of research that is so completely unbiased and leading.

(Also, it would be great if the poll results listed the number of people responding.)

Posted By Dawn on July 29, 2009, 2:05 PM

Thanks for your comment. I have to say that the obvious benefit of Wi-Fi is indeed presented, right up front: "You can now pass the time on board by surfing the web with a laptop or personal device." It didn't seem necessary to explain all the different things someone can do with an Internet connection. The potential downsides of Wi-Fi on board planes seemed to require more explanation. We'd love to hear whether you (and lots of other travelers) love or hate Wi-Fi on board planes. Care to weigh in?

Posted By Brad on July 30, 2009, 10:01 AM

I don't see why surfing a porn site is any more or less a problem than a passenger reading a pornographic magazine. Either way, it's bad manners and disrespectful of your fellow passengers.

I have a problem with people yapping away on phones in any public place. I don't care to hear their personal or business issues but that's not a reason to say wifi is bad.

In both cases, either the passengers offended or the steward(ess) needs to tell the offending passenger that they are bothering someone else firmly but politely.

There needs to be a cure to people sitting partially in my lap, kicking me in the back, shouting obscenities in their phones, or displaying people having sex with chickens. Airlines need to explain to their customers that a ticket is NOT a license to annoy everyone around and have some sort of penalty for people who refuse to behave.

Posted By Jimmy on July 30, 2009, 10:53 AM

I'm against Wi Fi & phones - it would be worse than having screaming kids for the entire flight. Can you imagine everyone around you trying to talk into a phone. I like to disconnect and relax during a flight, not listen to someone talking for 2 hours.

Posted By Becky on July 30, 2009, 11:14 AM

ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS LIKE THEY DID IN THE OLD DAYS OF SMOKING. HAVE A WIFI/PHONE SECTION AND A NO WIFI/PHONE SECTION. EVEN THOUGH THERE WILL BE SOME WIFI SPILLOVER ACROSS SECTIONS LIKE SMOKE DID BEFORE. THIS WAY THE WIFI/PHONE USERS CAN ENJOY (?) THE COMPANY OF OTHER WIFI USERS OR HANG WITH THE PEOPLE IN THE NO WIFI SECTION WHO WANT TO CHILL OUT (IF THEY CAN).

Posted By BOB on July 30, 2009, 12:18 PM

Sounds to me like my worst nightmare - I like to rest, sleep, and read in peace on airlines. It's hard to think of any more annoying happening on a plane than the potential in this time bomb. I can also imagine the strong potential for fights (verbal and physical) that would take place if Wi Fi and phones are instituted. It would certainly prompt me to explore alternate ways to travel.

Posted By jody israel on July 30, 2009, 12:28 PM

Flying is the only time when I can disconnect and decompress for just a few hours. Constant yacking and the glow of the compuer, etc. is just as bad as someone doing it in a movie theater. So much for peace and tranquility. There is a certain pleasure in not being reachable for a while. Even God had a day of rest.

Posted By france on July 30, 2009, 1:11 PM

I think wifi in flight is great. I find it very stressful to be cut off from the world for 5 to 20 hours while en route some place. No way to keep up with critical items like telling a family member about a delay or change in plans. For example, last year I went to india with my extended family. We all departed from different locations in the US, and were trying to converge in one place in India. Well, air travel being what it is, we got diverted and delayed and had to re-book flights and ground transport. It was a nightmare, in part because we didn't have access to all the online tools that could have helped us. It was also a nightmare because we couldn't communicate with one another about the changes and options. We were coordinating three different travelling parties, using 6 different airlines. If we had had wifi, it would have been a much less difficult and stressful experience.

Posted By nathan on July 30, 2009, 3:20 PM

I would be interested to see how many of the poll respondents have actually USED in-air Wi-Fi.

I did on a Virgin America flight to and from DC. On the outbound flight, I used it to get a whopping amount of work done, so I didn't have rush to catch up like I usually do when I land.

On the way back, we hit terrible weather. Normally I have a fear of flying, but I was able to tune it out by surfing the web and IMing with my mom and husband (who were both at home). So needless to say, I LOVE it.

Posted By Slangevar on July 30, 2009, 3:27 PM

I vote to not let the "out of control" ruin it for the unbothering. I travel a lot for work. I've tried the airline on line services more than once and it was nice. When I am not flying, I am working. I was able to pay bills, write papers, do research, attend my on-line university, etc. During a time in which I would normally not be able to do anything productive. Do I talk loud on the phone, NO. Do I surf porn, NO (at least not on an airplane). However, if someone was surfing porn beside of me, I have a choice not to look. Shouldn't be in someone else's business anyways. It's rude. Close your eyes, read a book, get some sleep. For those who commented about resting, and peace, and bothering computer screen glows.. they make things to help with this.. like earplugs and eye covers. Flying is... what it is.. public transportation, not a spa. Moderation is key. Allow, but apply some control/guidelines.

Posted By Becca on July 30, 2009, 3:54 PM

I'm not very concerned about negative impact. Many people now use computers to work on documents, so screen "glow" would not be any greater. "Constant yacking" to fellow travelers happens now; it's called conversation. People who believe they must shout into their phones yet use a normal tone for face-to-face conversation might need a few etiquette lessons (from flight attendants?). The benefit of wi-fi, especially if traveling alone on long flights, seems pretty great to me.

Posted By Carol on July 30, 2009, 4:07 PM

In response to the don't look at someone else's business- If you happen to notice someone watching porn, it's hard to look away. On the other, people can watch porn on their laptops without wifi- alot of people have it readily available already downloaded on their laptops where wifi isn't needed.

I think it would greatly pass the time on those long flights to Europe, or even longer flights to New Zealand. You are able to keep in touch with people, and get work done if you are on a working vacation.

For those people who like to "relax and decompress" just because the wifi is there doesn't mean you need to use it, or it's physically bothering you in anyway. If potential talkers are a worry for you, pack some headphones or earplugs and bring a book. People shouldn't be expected to be silent on airplanes because they might bother someone. And also, if you don't want to be reachable, don't respond. You can always just tell people the wifi wasn't working.

I also agree, that if people want to use the wifi for chatting on Skye and whatnot, there should be a small area where they can do it without running the risk of bothering other people. Perhaps an enclosed space that has 8 booths or so like in cyber cafes.

I think that people are just averse to all the new ways that technology can be useful and implemented.

Posted By Melissa on July 30, 2009, 4:19 PM

I am such a hard case when it comes to cellphones. I wish we could ban them almost everywhere. I cannot stand listening to other people's conversations in public spaces. If you have to use them, step off the sidewalk into a doorway or something, use them in your car, take them into an adjoining room, SOMETHING--don't hold the rest of us captive audience to your conversations!

Posted By Susan on July 30, 2009, 4:37 PM

Sorry, but if you are human you don't have a choice to NOT watch what people sitting next to you are watching. You will be unable to avoid the moving images. Your brain can't help it.

Having said this, I don't know if people who will watch porn will not already have it on their laptop. Other's have mentioned it and unfortunately I know way to many people who fit this criteria. :o

I do agree that I would rather hear screaming kids than people going on and on using their cell phones. Help us all....

Posted By Brian on July 30, 2009, 5:54 PM

Wi-fi recently saved my vacation to Puerto Rico. The ability to work remotely for two hours on the way to San Juan allowed me to take my vacation - as my trip was nearly called off so that I could do an urgent tasking for work. I am absolutely in favor of wi-fi.

Posted By Stephanie on July 30, 2009, 10:48 PM

WI-FI is a health hazard, do us all a favor and faze it out of public places. Google for more info.

Posted By lb on July 31, 2009, 1:00 AM

On the issue of being disturbed by VOIP calls, such as Skype calls, one possible solution could be to have these websites blocked for large time portions of the flight. I'm not sure this will prove necessary, as in my experience many people like to relax on flights and when they converse with other passengers, most keep the volume reasonable.

It's hard to judge at this point, being that wifi on planes is new and most people have not had much experience of it.

Posted By latex mattress on July 31, 2009, 1:16 AM

what the heck wi-fi on plane? and so why should we need to travel? for business? is it really the time when you need wi-fi, then it will be something wrong before you need. frankly i don't want to usnig Wi-Fi & Cell phone on plane...

Posted By vonchio on July 31, 2009, 2:12 AM

I agree with Brian. TOO many completely rude and insensitive people happen to own cell phones and they use them anytime or anywhere without concern for others. They often talk loud and have an irritating voice. A one minute IMPORTANT communication during a flight might be valuable but almost any issue could be covered in a short conversation. With laptops just no sound; porn with sound should result in a smashed computer. Noise pollution, like smoke or body odor, is really bad and all be easily eliminated by anyone with reasonable intelligence.

Posted By Rah on July 31, 2009, 6:56 AM

I just wanted to chime in a "ditto" for the against side because of the rudeness of people with their cellphones and how downtime in planes is necessary in this "always on and available" culture we now live in.

Posted By Sarah on July 31, 2009, 11:38 AM

I like Wi-fi on planes.
I also think that cell phone use....is a bit different. People can get really disrespectful. I have a friend who is really rude about his cell phone. And when he's told about it, thinks everyone else is rude for asking him to stop talking...like in a movie theatre, live theatre, concert, restaurant, etc. And no, I'm not kidding. So,I think that there are people out there like him. So, I'm not so keen on cell phone use in planes
BUT WI-FI -- why not? I see no downside. Personally, I found it difficult to use. I flew Virgin recently, and it was super expensive to use the wi-fi -- they have their own screens. I had my lap-top, but I couldn't use it cause it has blu-tooth. And they wouldn't let me/us use any device that has blu-tooth (receive input) because that would ''disrupt'' the ability of plane to fly or something. So, I couldn't use my blackberry either, cause it's a phone too. So, I just watched TV. And got NO work done. I'm sure it'll get better as time goes on.

Posted By Kelly on July 31, 2009, 8:45 PM

Is there no place safe from the intrusions of technology or the inane conversation of others??!! What some people view as important or urgent or even necessary just amazes me...all you're doing is paying money for personal intrusions!! Do you never long for peace and quiet? Are you that miserable in your own skin that you cannot stand to be alone and out of touch with everyone except YOU??! Really..others around you don't find you or your technology that enthralling!!!

Posted By Karen on August 3, 2009, 12:12 PM

Cell phones in airports are bad enough, I can't imagine phones in flight. While waiting for a flight I have heard couples break up (at least one side of the conversation), people firing people, intimate discussions and plenty of work related information. I don't want to hear all this in the air too. Enough!

Posted By Jean on August 4, 2009, 11:57 AM

I am totaly ambivalent about WIFI but against the use of cell phones on airplanes. I don't like trying to use my computer on planes as it is uncomfortable and I can't adjust the screen position because there is not enough room, especially if the person in front of me has the seat reclined. The cost is too inflated and my battery life won't allow that much anyway so what's the point?

In all my flights, I have never seen anyone engaged in viewing porn. Either it didn't happen, or they were good about concealing it. Anybody that would engage in that type of activity outside their home is crude and rude at best and I would not hesitate to tell them so if they were doing it on a plane. Rude people on cell phones have simply become a fact of life. I would prefer that the use of phones be prohibited on flights. The VoIP would fall in the same category as cell phones. If the captain has an announcement, how can you hear it if people are talking into phones or computers all around you?

Posted By T. Buqo on August 4, 2009, 6:56 PM