WiFi When You Fly: Where to Get It, What It Costs

It's a multitasker's dream: Internet on the airplane, so you can get work done or watch movies you actually like on that six-hour flight from New York to LA. Airlines are just beginning to roll out the service, and it's not available on every flight yet, but here's what you need to know: So far, Gogo Inflight Internet is the service provider to beat. It provides wireless internet on all AirTran and Virgin America flights and some Air Canada, American Airlines, Delta, United, and US Airways flights (click through for each airline's specific offerings, but in general, wireless is rolled out on certain types of planes first and is limited to flights in the lower 48 states, Canada, and Mexico). Gogo works for laptops and smartphones, including the Blackberry and iPhone. You have to create an account and purchase a session (do it on the ground to save time); Gogo's prices generally start at $4.95 for a flight up to 1.5 hours and go up to $29.95 for a 30-day pass on a single airline.

What about the other airlines? Gogo is expanding: Continental will start rolling it out on some planes this spring, reports SlashGear. Air Alaska will add it to all their planes as well, beginning this year. Southwest is using a different service, Row 44, to offer wi-fi on just a few flights so far. And what about the customarily innovative JetBlue? The airline is offering limited (limited to e-mail providers like Gmail, and Amazon.com) free internet in a trial program on one plane they're calling BetaBlue. Bottom line: If you must have wireless on your flight, make sure you book either Virgin or AirTran.

See also: How to Get Work Done Anywhere and 8 Tips for Clearing Aiport Security Faster