Air-to-ground communications may give people an added incentive to fly this holiday season.
GTE Airfone Inc. of Oak Brook, Ill., has introduced its $25 holiday card that will allow users to make an unlimited number of domestic and international calls during December. Card holders also can use three-way calling, data and fax services. GTE Airfone said the card is available until Dec. 15, and can be used on all airlines with which the company has contracts.
The holiday months also are a great time for GTE Airfone to maintain business. Business travelers are the traditional users of Airfones. They travel less during the winter holidays when general consumers travel more.
The company said it plans to change its domestic rates on a permanent basis. Beginning Nov. 1, GTE Airfone will charge $3 for a set-up fee and $3.28 per minute until the customer reaches the $15 flat rate. In April, the company introduced its flat rate pricing of $15 on any domestic call including voice, fax and data communications.
GTE Airfone holds contracts with most U.S. airlines and a growing number of international airlines. The company leads in the air-to-ground/ground-to-air market, a global market dominated by only three players. In-Flight Phone Corp. and AT&T Wireless Services Inc.’s Aviation Communications Division, known as Claircom International in Europe, Asia and the Middle East, are GTE Airfone’s formidable competitors.
In-Flight Phone said as of mid-October, it is dropping its domestic rates permanently on weekends by charging $6 for a two-minute domestic call, or $10 for up to 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, weekday rates apply. The company charges a $2.50 connection fee plus $3 per minute. In-Flight Phone said the decrease in rates was not designed specifically for the holidays.
AT&T Wireless’ Aviation unit said Alaska Airlines passengers can make free domestic calls on Christmas Eve and Christmas.
Domestically, AT&T Wireless’ AirOne service charges customers about $2.50 per call connection, plus $3 per minute and taxes, said the company.
