We live in a world where people are glued to their electronic devices, whether it’s on the streets, in the car or in a cafe, so it's not surprising in the least that people want to have reliable access to Wi-Fi while traveling in the air.
A new study by Honeywell (News - Alert), one of many companies that offer in-flight connectivity for airline passengers, reveals that the desire for a smooth Wi-Fi connection is now so strong that many are willing to give up certain so-called accommodations on the plane, even legroom.
Almost 90 percent of the more than 3,000 individuals surveyed in the United States, United Kingdom and Singapore, expressed that they would trade in something on their flight in exchange for a reliable Internet experience. One-third of US respondents said they would give up the ability to recline their seats, while 38 percent said they would give up their preferred seat, 42 percent would give up complimentary snacks, and almost 25 percent would give up drinks.
Americans crave an Internet connection, as 86 percent of them said that every flight should make the opportunity available to them.
For all passengers in the study, the reasons behind wanting in-flight connectivity include personal and professional needs. The majority of US passengers, 55 percent, said that they mostly use Wi-Fi on the plane for personal reasons, compared to 22 percent who use it for professional reasons. On the other hand, passengers from the UK and Singapore said that they use it for more professional means.
Even when passengers are given access to Wi-Fi, it is not an ideal experience as roughly 90 percent of those surveyed said they are frustrated with the in-flight connectivity. Honeywell will attempt to decrease this frustration in the coming years with a new satellite-based system that will offer airline passengers traveling over land or water reliable live-streaming capabilities. The system is expected to be available by 2015.