Advertisement

Alaska Airlines rolls out new on-board e-chat service — and it’s free

Share via

Want to keep in touch mid-flight but don’t want to purchase a Wi-Fi package? Alaska Airlines rolled out a perk Monday that just might do the trick.

Free Chat, as it’s called, allows fliers to use iMessage, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger on its Wi-Fi equipped planes while in the air, a news release says. And, as the name suggests, it’s free.

A few drawbacks: Free Chat isn’t available on flights over Mexico, the Pacific Ocean (to and from Hawaii) or Latin America. And you can send only texts, no photos or videos.

Advertisement

Alaska also is luring customers with free movies and TV shows through the end of March.

This week the airline is launching new premium upgrades — which cost $15 to $79, depending on the flight — that promise more legroom (4 inches, to be exact), early boarding, and free snacks and drinks.

So far the extras are available only on Alaska flights, not company-owned Virgin America (which it bought last year) and Horizon Air fleets.

Advertisement

Many airlines offer on-board Wi-Fi packages that fliers pay for. JetBlue is one exception, allowing passengers to access the Internet without having to pay.

Info: Alaska Airlines

ALSO

Advertisement

A mini-fare war makes a round trip from LAX to San Francisco cost less than $100

Free cruise upgrade coming soon: A wearable device to meet your every need

Fly round-trip from L.A. to Dubai for $699; Bangkok or Nairobi, Kenya, for $899 with this airfare sale

What happens when a price drops on, say, a hotel, an airfare or a rental car that you’ve already paid for? Here’s how you might recoup some money

travel@latimes.com

@latimestravel

Advertisement
Advertisement