OMG! Computing at 30,000 Feet isn't Safe?!

Stop the presses! An infosec consultancy firm told the press that <gasp!> personal computer information can be easily hacked while in flight.

As a result of [the in-flight hotspot's] lack of encryption it is easy to intercept and record all data sent and received by passengers.

Hmm. What's the difference between in-flight and in-Starbucks? It's just another hotspot. The onus is on the laptop user to encrypt any sensitive transmissions. The internet (including the hotspot) should all be considered hostile... What exactly is their epiphany here?