Delta Airlines is making good on its promise made four years ago of offering free WiFi to passengers. We previously reported this, and now we have a date: Feb. 1.
In a time when it seems like you have to pay for everything on a flight, including a carry-on bag, a seat, and even a good snack, Delta is changing the game with this free amenity.
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“Delta will offer fast, free WiFi to all Delta SkyMiles Members on board most domestic mainline flights beginning Feb. 1,” a statement on the company website reads. “[We’re] the first US global carrier to offer free WiFi as a core element of its customer experience.”
JetBlue has offered free onboard internet for the last several years, and Hawaiian Airlines recently announced the company plans to also offer free-high spend internet, The Washington Post reports.
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A Connection Made Possible Through T-Mobile
For those of you with T-Mobile plans, you’ve been able to enjoy free WiFi and streaming for some time on selected flights. But now, this feature will be added to more than 700 Viasat-equipped aircrafts thanks to a partnership with T-Mobile.
If you’ve been traveling with Delta lately, you may recall the company running several WiFi tests for several months before the announcement for frequent flier members.
“We didn’t just want free WiFi to offer base-level service — we wanted it to be transformative for the entire onboard experience,” Delta CEO Ed Bastian stated. “It is imperative all customers onboard can enjoy their favorite content just as they would at home, and we’ve put this system through meticulous tests to make that possible.”
The free WiFi will be on most domestic mainline flights by the end of 2023, and leaders plan to bring free WiFi on international and regional planes by the end of 2024.
How To Access The Free Wi-Fi
Delta tells The Washington Post that passengers can use the high-speed internet to play shows, and movies from streaming services, access social media, read and send emails, browse the internet, and more. Due to federal regulations, one thing that won’t change is access to video chat and voice calls.
There is a catch to using free WiFi: passengers must enroll in the airline’s frequent-flier program known as SkyMiles. This will also help the company’s goal of growing its loyalty base.