飞机乘客宁可不上厕所也要上网

    坐飞机曾被认为是件挺奢侈的事，许多看似微不足道的小事令旅客尽享舒适，比如全机舱膳食服务、免费酒水，以及更宽敞的腿部空间。不过，过去几十年来，随着汽油价格上涨，以及航空公司普遍节省开支，种种好处已经一一消失，而乘客们倒也安之若素。

    随着时代发展，飞机的舒适度变得越来越不重要，但旅客们对网络服务重视程度却与日俱增。有调查显示，高达90%的乘客为了WiFi，宁愿放弃一项、甚至多项飞行服务。

    今夏早些时候，科技巨头霍尼韦尔（Honeywell）旗下的航空部门发布了一份调查报告：绝大部分飞机乘客认为每架飞机都应该提供WiFi接入服务。而且，被调查者希望不仅仅能上网，他们对稳定性和速度都有要求——至少不逊于家庭和办公网络。飞机WiFi要能支持Skype通话和聊天服务，可以连看多集《绝命毒师》（Breaking Bad）这样的网络视频而不至于卡顿。

    不过，更令人感兴趣的是相比于其它服务，乘客们更看重机舱内WiFi连接的价值。霍尼韦尔公司为喷气客机生产各种零部件，其中包括用于提供机舱内WiFi连接的通讯设备。这家公司进行的调查显示，飞机乘客们确实需要更好的网络连接。它的调查还表明：乘客们对上网十分关注，大部分人都愿意为了网络放弃其他所有给人带来便利和舒适的设施，甚至包括卫生间。

    虽然只有三分之一的受访者（有大约3000人接受了调查，其中大部分是美国人，也有少部分来自伦敦和新加坡的旅客）表示WiFi是第一需求，但有约80%的受访者（美国人中的比例高达90%）声称在飞行旅途中WiFi应随时可用。WiFi对于长途飞行尤为重要，54%的美国人、39%的英国人和30%的新加坡人都表示，如果不能上网，他们甚至连5个小时的飞行也无法忍受。

    不过，真正有意思的，还是受访者被问及Wi-Fi与其他传统的飞行服务谁更重要时的回答。受访者的回复可谓充分体现了如今正风生水起的随时在线文化。

    近90%的乘客愿意牺牲一项或多项飞行舒适度以换取更稳定更快速的WiFi连接。约有60%的乘客认为WiFi的价值高于能躺下的座椅。同样比例的乘客表示，为了更快更稳定的网络，它们愿意放弃优先选座权。三分之一（英国人中为四分之一）的乘客宁愿坐在嚎啕大哭的婴儿身边，也不愿经常断网。70%的乘客可以忍受迟钝的飞行餐饮服务，却无法忍受缓慢的WiFi连接。

    The little things that used to make air travel seem so much more luxurious -- the full-cabin meal service, the free booze, those precious few extra inches of legroom -- have largely disappeared over the last couple of decades as rising fuel prices and general belt-tightening by airlines have eaten into the comforts passengers now consider extras.

    But it turns out many modern air travelers are less concerned with physical comforts than with connectivity. In fact, some 90% of airline passengers would give up at least one other onboard convenience for one single in-flight amenity: Wi-Fi.

    A survey conducted earlier this summer by technology giant Honeywell's (HON) Aerospace division found that the vast majority of airline passengers think Wi-Fi should be available on every flight. And not just any Wi-Fi -- those surveyed want the kind of stability and speed they've come to know in their homes and offices. The kind of Wi-Fi that supports Skype calls and chat services. The kind of Wi-fi that can stream three back-to-back episodes of Breaking Bad without freezing up.

    But what's more interesting is how passengers value their connectivity over other in-flight amenities. For its part, Honeywell -- which, it should be noted, manufactures all kind of jetliner components including the kinds of communication equipment that enables in-flight Wi-Fi -- conducted the survey to demonstrate a real passenger demand for better airborne online access. What it identified in the offing is a culture so concerned with connectivity we're now largely willing to forgo all kinds of other comforts and conveniences -- up to and including a working lavatory.

    While only a third of respondents (the roughly 3,000 passengers were mostly from the U.S. but also included some passengers from London and Singapore) said that Wi-Fi is the No. 1 amenity they need, roughly 80% (and nearly 90% of Americans) said Wi-Fi should always be available during flights. That's especially true on long flights; 54% of Americans, 39% of Brits, and 30% of Singaporeans say they wouldn't be able to go even five hours on a flight without connecting to the web.

    But where the numbers get really interesting -- and perhaps where they begin to plumb the collective psyche of a culture that's virtually always plugged in -- is when the survey asks respondents to value Wi-Fi in comparison to other traditional in-flight conveniences.

    Nearly nine in 10 passengers would forgo at least one conventional airline amenity for a faster and more stable Wi-Fi connection. For roughly 60% of passengers, having no connection is worse than having a seat that doesn't recline. The same number would rather have access to fast, stable Internet than to be able to sit in their preferred seat. One in three (one in four among Brits) would rather sit next to a crying baby for the duration of a flight than repeatedly lose the Wi-Fi connection. Seven in 10 would be more frustrated by a slow connection than by slow food or beverage service.