I’m sitting on an American Airlines flight to Orlando, and it’s  first airplane I’ve ever been on with Wi-Fi service. And I take over 100 flights per year.

For years I dreaded this day. I have done at least 10 radio segments (some that I’ve hosted, some that I’ve been a guest on) about hating the very thought of in-flight wireless connectivity.

You see, my many flights have been my last refuge from over-connectedness. In the real world, on the ground, I have far too many high-tech ties.  I am far too connected. Emails and personal “need-to-update Web sites” like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, this blog, and my Web site alone can take up hours of the day. Add in the many news, political, sports, and community message board sites that one can get lost in, and it’s literally possible to spend full days “connected” and accomplish nothing productive. And when it’s not the computer, it’s the smart phone.

Which is why I’ve always looked forward to my flights.

In the air, nobody can reach me. The phone doesn’t work, the spam doesn’t come up this high, and my computer can only be used for productive activities. The only distractions are contained within the pages of newspapers. Basically, there were no distractions.

Until today.

As I sit here writing this, connected to an SSID called GoGo InFlight, I am surprised to find myself not angry about a Skyping neighbor (there isn’t one) or all the other laptop Wi-Flyers (there’s hardly anyone with a laptop out; the airline didn’t make an announcement about the availability of Wi-Fi, and I accidentally stumbled into it.)

Rather, I’m actually kind of pleased. I’ve been very productive on this flight. I’ve taken full advantage of the wireless Internet access, and I’ve worked, focused, through the two-and-a-half hour flight. Why the unusual burst of wi-sky productivity? Probably because I know I only have it for a limited time. (They’ve already asked me to shut down the laptop.)

“The Wi-Fi will be taken from me soon. I must finish my work.”

I think that’s why, anyway. Plus the novelty.

Regardless, it’s a lot less bad than I expected. Wi-Fi in the sky isn’t the devil.

As with any high technology (get it?), however, the devil is in how you use it.