????坐飛機(jī)曾被認(rèn)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(jī)艙膳食服務(wù)、免費(fèi)酒水，以及更寬敞的腿部空間。不過(guò)，過(guò)去幾十年來(lái)，隨著汽油價(jià)格上漲，以及航空公司普遍節(jié)省開支，種種好處已經(jīng)一一消失，而乘客們倒也安之若素。

????隨著時(shí)代發(fā)展，飛機(jī)的舒適度變得越來(lái)越不重要，但旅客們對(duì)網(wǎng)絡(luò)服務(wù)重視程度卻與日俱增。有調(diào)查顯示，高達(dá)90%的乘客為了WiFi，寧愿放棄一項(xiàng)、甚至多項(xiàng)飛行服務(wù)。

????今夏早些時(shí)候，科技巨頭霍尼韋爾（Honeywell）旗下的航空部門發(fā)布了一份調(diào)查報(bào)告：絕大部分飛機(jī)乘客認(rèn)為每架飛機(jī)都應(yīng)該提供WiFi接入服務(wù)。而且，被調(diào)查者希望不僅僅能上網(wǎng)，他們對(duì)穩(wěn)定性和速度都有要求——至少不遜于家庭和辦公網(wǎng)絡(luò)。飛機(jī)WiFi要能支持Skype通話和聊天服務(wù)，可以連看多集《絕命毒師》（Breaking Bad）這樣的網(wǎng)絡(luò)視頻而不至于卡頓。

????不過(guò)，更令人感興趣的是相比于其它服務(wù)，乘客們更看重機(jī)艙內(nèi)WiFi連接的價(jià)值。霍尼韋爾公司為噴氣客機(jī)生產(chǎn)各種零部件，其中包括用于提供機(jī)艙內(nèi)WiFi連接的通訊設(shè)備。這家公司進(jìn)行的調(diào)查顯示，飛機(jī)乘客們確實(shí)需要更好的網(wǎng)絡(luò)連接。它的調(diào)查還表明：乘客們對(duì)上網(wǎng)十分關(guān)注，大部分人都愿意為了網(wǎng)絡(luò)放棄其他所有給人帶來(lái)便利和舒適的設(shè)施，甚至包括衛(wèi)生間。

????雖然只有三分之一的受訪者（有大約3000人接受了調(diào)查，其中大部分是美國(guó)人，也有少部分來(lái)自倫敦和新加坡的旅客）表示W(wǎng)iFi是第一需求，但有約80%的受訪者（美國(guó)人中的比例高達(dá)90%）聲稱在飛行旅途中WiFi應(yīng)隨時(shí)可用。WiFi對(duì)于長(zhǎng)途飛行尤為重要，54%的美國(guó)人、39%的英國(guó)人和30%的新加坡人都表示，如果不能上網(wǎng)，他們甚至連5個(gè)小時(shí)的飛行也無(wú)法忍受。

????不過(guò)，真正有意思的，還是受訪者被問(wèn)及Wi-Fi與其他傳統(tǒng)的飛行服務(wù)誰(shuí)更重要時(shí)的回答。受訪者的回復(fù)可謂充分體現(xiàn)了如今正風(fēng)生水起的隨時(shí)在線文化。

????近90%的乘客愿意犧牲一項(xiàng)或多項(xiàng)飛行舒適度以換取更穩(wěn)定更快速的WiFi連接。約有60%的乘客認(rèn)為WiFi的價(jià)值高于能躺下的座椅。同樣比例的乘客表示，為了更快更穩(wěn)定的網(wǎng)絡(luò)，它們?cè)敢夥艞墐?yōu)先選座權(quán)。三分之一（英國(guó)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(jīng)常斷網(wǎng)。70%的乘客可以忍受遲鈍的飛行餐飲服務(wù)，卻無(wú)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.