Gawker: valleywag, jetblue

JetBlue's Wi-Fi crashes on way to San Francisco

Nicholas Carlson — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 13:20:48 EST

Like one of those brave chimpanzees NASA sent to space before humans, CNET's Caroline McCarthy today took to the heavens aboard the inaugural flight of "BetaBlue," JetBlue's new onboard Wi-Fi service. It's supposed to allow passengers access to email and IM via their BlackBerrys and Yahoo accounts.

But, according to McCarthy's account — "It all reminded me of an ultra-low-end mobile browser" — the service failed to meet even our modest expectations for it, crashing at least twice during the intrepid reporter's journey.

JetBlue puts crappy, restricted Wi-Fi on some planes

Jordan Golson — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 19:41:13 EST

JetBlue is starting to enable its planes with Wi=Fi. Come Tuesday, you'll be able to check your email and IM while in the air — if you use Yahoo Mail, Yahoo Messenger or a Wi-Fi-enabled Blackberry. No iPhone? No Gmail? Count me underwhelmed. Just let me use any Wi-Fi device to surf the Web and check email and I'll be happy. Until then, why bother with this nonsense? At least it's free, and a beta. I'm holding out for a 1.0 — or Virgin's promised Wi-Fi, with added Xeni Jardin. (Photo by AP/Rick Maiman)

Virgin America kicks off service to San Francisco

Owen Thomas — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 16:23:13 EDT

There's nothing sexy about air travel today, and despite Virgin founder Richard Branson's best efforts, we really don't think Virgin America's new service is going to change that. But lower airfares between JFK and SFO? That sounds superhot to us.

What JetBlue left unfinished in its battle with United and American over the transcontinental route, Virgin is sure to finish; no wonder the dominant airlines squawked so much about Virgin's launch. Whatever it takes to make the Gotham-to-Bay Area Babylon shuffle less expensive, we're down with. And we'll give Branson this much: He throws a hell of a publicity stunt. Cheerleaders, aging chorus-line dancers, and surfer girls adorned the party he hosted for the arrival of Virgin America's inaugural flight in San Francisco. Gavin Newsom, the supernaturally handsome god-mayor of San Francisco (bow down and worship, fools!) was on hand to greet him, and a Valleywag lenser was on the scene.

–Photos by Randal Alan Smith for Valleywag