Gawker: valleywag, the red-eye

The coming inflight Wi-Fi nonapocalypse

Mary Jane Irwin — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 15:40:17 EST

With airlines preparing to unleash Internet access upon the skies, we're entering what Web evangelist Vint Cerf calls "a ticklish area." Confined airplane cabins has generated concern that flights are going to transform into nonstop phone discussions of the latest online porn releases — so much so that airlines are considering employing content filters and banning VOIP calls.

Right. As if frequent fliers don't already view air travel as a fantastic voyage into hell. There are screaming toddlers, 8-year-olds kicking your seat, and that damn guy who won't share the armrest. Phone calls might actually help muffle the din. No, any real road warrior's concern will be the new scramble for scarce power outlets. Using Wi-Fi nonstop will drain a laptop battery faster than just watching a porn video you downloaded before takeoff.

Richard Branson gets a bit wet over Virgin America

Owen Thomas — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 18:36:08 EDT

We missed this the first time around: Virgin founder Richard Branson, touting the new San Francisco-based airline Virgin America, drenches Colbert Report host Stephen Colbert with a bottle of water. Whatever it takes, Sir Richard, as long as you keep provoking United and American into suicidal fare wars on the SFO-JFK route.

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