AirTran, Delta, Virgin America: Free Wi-Fi for Holidays

Contributing Editor Carl Unger believes that every trip is worth taking. He loves an extended trip to Europe as much as he enjoys exploring the towns and landscape near home. Basically, you'll find him wherever there is good food, fresh air, and plenty of stories to bring home.

Carl has been writing for SmarterTravel since 2005. His travel writing has also appeared on USA Today and the About.com Boston travel guide.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "It's not revolutionary, but a small Moleskine notebook is my one travel must-have. It's great for noting things you want to remember and it takes up hardly any space in your bag."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Japan. I'd love to take a month off and visit the cities, temples, and countryside. I'm fascinated by the country's juxtaposition of ancient traditions and modern ambitions."

Travel Motto: “Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.” –Terry Pratchett

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Window."

See recent posts by Carl Unger

AirTran, Delta, and Virgin America all announced they will offer free wireless Internet access this holiday season. This is the second year in a row Virgin will offer free access for the entire holiday period. Last year, Delta offered free Wi-Fi for Thanksgiving only.

All three offers extend from November 20 to January 2, and all three are sponsored by Google Chrome. Last year, Google sponsored free Wi-Fi at various airports throughout the country.

With in-flight Wi-Fi still in its nascent stages, it seems reasonable to expect more airlines will follow suit. Most airlines are still working though the installation process, meaning many customers haven’t been exposed to in-flight Wi-Fi just yet. As for the passengers that have, well, let’s just say there hasn’t been a stampede to use the service. General estimates suggest only around 10 to 15 percent of travelers use it.

Readers, would you use in-flight wireless if it were free, or do you need a break from the computer/smartphone?

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