Airlines Install Wi-Fi on Planes, but Customers Are Reluctant to Sign On - WSJ.com

See the full article for more details.  I’ve used Gogo on a few American Airlines flights – definitely habit-forming, but also not a great option without in-seat power.

"There's a very substantial decline in passenger usage the minute you start charging for the service,'' said Michael Planey, a consultant specializing in in-flight passenger technologies. "It really begins to invalidate the model on which this service is being built for the next 10 years."

Another potential obstacle: lack of power ports on planes. Many road warriors already carry extra batteries for their computers and battery life has been getting longer. But connecting wirelessly can drain power, and airlines have been slow to retrofit power outlets into aircraft.

Airlines Install Wi-Fi on Planes, but Customers Are Reluctant to Sign On - WSJ.com