You know you want to buy inflight Wi-Fi for your plane, but you aren’t sure what to do next. We’ve pulled together a quick four-point checklist to guide you on the next steps to choose and purchase your Gogo AVANCE inflight connectivity solution.
Need help choosing the right Gogo AVANCE system or want some support to confirm that you’ve made the best choice? Try our interactive solution finder to get an instant recommendation, or connect with a Gogo inflight connectivity consultant - our experts are ready to help you select the system that offers you the best inflight Wi-Fi solution for your needs.
Be ready to answer the following questions to help us determine the right inflight connectivity solution for you:
Where do you fly and on what type of aircraft? How long are your typical flights?
Depending on your mission profile, we can provide connectivity solutions for both global and domestic travelers, for aircraft from turboprops through to heavy iron, and for short flights as well as long hauls.
If you mostly fly within the continental U.S., our AVANCE systems now connect at just 3,000ft AGL so you can maximize your inflight Wi-Fi time and stay connected to family, friends and your office back on the ground.
How many devices do you want to connect?
Consider the typical number of passengers that fly – and, don’t forget the crew. Remember that on average each person may have 2 or 3 devices they want to connect. With flexible and customizable options available for your AVANCE setup, you can easily accommodate the right number of devices and have more control over your costs and your connectivity experience.
Click through this interactive comparison to see if an AVANCE L5 or L3 is the right system for your needs.
Here's the number of devices (laptops, phones and tablets) that can simultaneously connect to the cabin Wi-Fi.
Browsing and secure connections such as corporate VPN access, email, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, search (Google/Explorer/Yahoo/Etc), checking online accounts (banking, etc).
Streaming services such as HBO, ESPN, Netflix, Spotify, YouTube.
Stay in touch using SIP/H323, Gmail Video/Skype Messenger Video, Wi-Fi Calling.
What do you want to do?
How you plan to use your inflight internet and entertainment helps us determine which product will deliver the best performance that you require. Whether you need inflight Wi-Fi that simply keeps you connected to cockpit apps and everyone on the ground - via voice, texting, and emails, or you need Wi-Fi that enables a true office in the sky with video streaming for conference calls and large file uploads and downloads, we offer solutions that can accommodate your needs.
Think of all the different things passengers, crew, and the pilot may be doing at any given time, such as:
Note: with advancements in connectivity technology, you can offload some of these data-heavy tasks like inflight entertainment with services such as Gogo Vision 360, which is built into every AVANCE system. Vision 360 provides premium entertainment without using your data plan. Anyone who wants to relax with a movie can easily do so without slowing down the connection for those around them.
What Wi-Fi speed do you need?
To support the different activities in the cabin and cockpit you also need to consider what level of broadband performance best suits you, like Gogo Biz 3G, 4G, and the eagerly anticipated Gogo 5G. Gogo Wi-Fi systems like AVANCE L3 are great for smaller aircraft with fewer passengers and essential needs (like email and text) when it comes to Wi-Fi and will do just fine with 3G internet. Whereas AVANCE L5 greatly accelerates your Wi-Fi performance to 4G now (streaming capability), and is your gateway to Gogo 5G when it launches.
What level of connectivity management do you need?
Not all data is created equal. For example, a simple email with attachments can account for 300KB of data, but one photo upload to social media can account for 5,000KB. Having the ability to monitor and directly manage data consumption and your services is vital to controlling your inflight Wi-Fi experience. When you use Gogo AVANCE, that functionality is built right in with the self-service toolkit of Gogo DASH. This dashboard gives you the tools you need to manage your connectivity, see what's going on with your system, and set up new networks and passwords. Of course, our 24/7 support team is always here to assist you.
How you and your passengers plan to use the onboard Wi-Fi will heavily influence choosing a service plan that fits your needs. Consider the following:
Look at the number of passengers that typically fly and how often.
And, consider what data requirements they may need on each flight. Will they transfer their on-ground internet habits to the aircraft? Will they want to send emails, download large files, connect with work by phone or text, watch movies or stream live audio or video to stay up-to-date with what’s happening on the ground?
All these habits translate to “megabytes used” that can be costly when connected in the air. We can consult with you to help you optimize performance and budget with our available services and flexible service plans.
Determine how much you want to pay per month. And, set your usage strategy around how to stay within those costs.
This may be easier said, than done – as you may not realize how much data is being consumed by all connected devices. Every attachment in an email or device app updating or running in the background may be using data that you’re not aware of when you fly.
Knowing how to manage or turn off services that you don’t need in flight can help you manage the amount of data consumed by you and your passengers. Understanding data usage ensures that you pick a plan that can accommodate your needs, and not subject you to potential overage costs.
Choose a plan for initial use and adjust as needed.
When you first activate, we recommend that you pick a plan that you’re comfortable starting with. You can track your usage for the first few months, and then adjust as needed. We’re willing to accommodate customer changes to be sure your plan matches your onboard internet activities.
Certified, reliable Gogo Business Aviation dealers are available worldwide to support your product and installation needs.
These dealers are Gogo-certified and experienced in installing our inflight connectivity systems and can help you feel confident that you’ve made the right decision. Additionally, they can help you get up and running as you prepare for your first flight with onboard Wi-Fi.
We recommend installing your equipment at your next maintenance event for greater efficiency and to control installation costs. Your dealer can help you plan your installation based on what additional work you may need to get done.
For example, are you planning an interior refurbishment or taking your aircraft in for a maintenance event or inspection? If so, installing or upgrading your internet solution would be an easy add-on. Typically, an aircraft is down for two weeks to install an internet connection. Depending on the jobs you’re having done, it may not add to the work scope required.
Finally, activate your system and service plan that you chose in step 3 to start flying connected.
Want the guidance of a connectivity expert as you plan your Wi-Fi installation? Simply select your state to find your local sales rep.
Looking for global sales? Click here.
