飛機乘客寧可不上廁所也要上網

????坐飛機曾被認為是件挺奢侈的事，許多看似微不足道的小事令旅客盡享舒適，比如全機艙膳食服務、免費酒水，以及更寬敞的腿部空間。不過，過去幾十年來，隨著汽油價格上漲，以及航空公司普遍節省開支，種種好處已經一一消失，而乘客們倒也安之若素。

????隨著時代發展，飛機的舒適度變得越來越不重要，但旅客們對網絡服務重視程度卻與日俱增。有調查顯示，高達90%的乘客為了WiFi，寧愿放棄一項、甚至多項飛行服務。

????今夏早些時候，科技巨頭霍尼韋爾（Honeywell）旗下的航空部門發布了一份調查報告：絕大部分飛機乘客認為每架飛機都應該提供WiFi接入服務。而且，被調查者希望不僅僅能上網，他們對穩定性和速度都有要求——至少不遜于家庭和辦公網絡。飛機WiFi要能支持Skype通話和聊天服務，可以連看多集《絕命毒師》（Breaking Bad）這樣的網絡視頻而不至于卡頓。

????不過，更令人感興趣的是相比于其它服務，乘客們更看重機艙內WiFi連接的價值。霍尼韋爾公司為噴氣客機生產各種零部件，其中包括用于提供機艙內WiFi連接的通訊設備。這家公司進行的調查顯示，飛機乘客們確實需要更好的網絡連接。它的調查還表明：乘客們對上網十分關注，大部分人都愿意為了網絡放棄其他所有給人帶來便利和舒適的設施，甚至包括衛生間。

????雖然只有三分之一的受訪者（有大約3000人接受了調查，其中大部分是美國人，也有少部分來自倫敦和新加坡的旅客）表示WiFi是第一需求，但有約80%的受訪者（美國人中的比例高達90%）聲稱在飛行旅途中WiFi應隨時可用。WiFi對于長途飛行尤為重要，54%的美國人、39%的英國人和30%的新加坡人都表示，如果不能上網，他們甚至連5個小時的飛行也無法忍受。

????不過，真正有意思的，還是受訪者被問及Wi-Fi與其他傳統的飛行服務誰更重要時的回答。受訪者的回復可謂充分體現了如今正風生水起的隨時在線文化。

????近90%的乘客愿意犧牲一項或多項飛行舒適度以換取更穩定更快速的WiFi連接。約有60%的乘客認為WiFi的價值高于能躺下的座椅。同樣比例的乘客表示，為了更快更穩定的網絡，它們愿意放棄優先選座權。三分之一（英國人中為四分之一）的乘客寧愿坐在嚎啕大哭的嬰兒身邊，也不愿經常斷網。70%的乘客可以忍受遲鈍的飛行餐飲服務，卻無法忍受緩慢的WiFi連接。

????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.