Facebook bans Breakup Notifier
The social networking site has stalled the popular application Breakup Notifier REUTERS/Thierry Roge

If “boarding the flight” happened to be a travelers’ last status update on Facebook before flying to any destination, now they get Facebook access even at hundreds and thousands of feet above in the air – for free.

Gogo Inflight Internet is offering fliers of seven of the airlines in the United States free access to Facebook for the month of February to enhance the traveler experience, Gogo said. Airlines offering the promotion include AirTran Airways, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, US Airways and Virgin America.

Why only Facebook?

“Facebook continues to be the number one website visited by travelers using Gogo at 30,000 feet,” Jim Berrien, Chief Revenue Officer of Aircell, which owns the Gogo brand, was quoted as saying in media.

The service, which is accessible on all Wi-Fi enabled devices, including laptops, smartphones and PDAs, is available only for a month, Berrien informed, adding that Gogo hopes if travelers enjoy free Facebook access, they might be willing to pay further for accessing other contents.

For Wi-Fi access to any site other than Facebook, users are charged $4.95 in short duration flights and the charges can go up to $13 in longer duration flights, the company said.