Ed Bastian confirms in the Barron's Article that free WIFI will be available on all Delta flights. Delta, which viewed as the best managed major U.S. airline, also plans on spending 4.5 billion on CAPEX this year, mostly for new airplanes.

Delta Air Lines is spending billions to upgrade its terminals, technology, airplanes, and in-flight experience in order to help cement its relationship with its 200 million annual travelers, Delta CEO Ed Bastian told Barron’s in an interview.
“Our strategy is to become a trusted consumer brand and not just an airline,” Bastian said.

Wonder if UA/AA will follow. They usually do but this time around, not so sure about that.

Full article below

https://www.barrons.com/articles/delta- ... 1552081099

They didn't follow on free messaging, so I doubt they will on WiFi.

Hasn't JetBlue had free Wi-Fi for years?

Notice it says “their goal is to make WiFi free...” it never said it’s happening and it’s certainly not imminent.

Wonderful. Will it actually work?

Looking forward to using it on my nonstop DL flight to BOM in 2019.

Doug Parker doesn’t do anything for free. He’ll still make it available for purchase, then blame marketing when revenues tank.

maps4ltd wrote:

They didn't follow on free messaging, so I doubt they will on WiFi.

I free message on every Delta flight I take?

That's not a confirmation. That's a confirmation of a maybe, one that was already stated before. There's nothing stopping DL from implementing free WiFi right now except $$$.

MSPNWA wrote:

That's not a confirmation. That's a confirmation of a maybe, one that was already stated before. There's nothing stopping DL from implementing free WiFi right now except $$$.

Within a year to two years might not be a confirmation but its definitely a commitment. More than what your getting from UA/AA. If Bastian says within a year or two, it will get done. He isnt the kind of CEO to say something like this and not follow through. He's not DP or OM.

And the last 8 DL flights I have been on, I enjoyed free messaging all flight long. Maybe its something your doing wrong?

Anyway, this was previously mentioned and the wordage used was DL would like to some day add free WIFI, not at least we have the commitment and some sort of a time frame.

PWMRamper wrote:

maps4ltd wrote:

They didn't follow on free messaging, so I doubt they will on WiFi.

I free message on every Delta flight I take?

He’s saying that UA/AA didn’t follow Delta and offer messaging.

twinotter wrote:

Hasn't JetBlue had free Wi-Fi for years?

Yes, and I love it.

Cointrin330 wrote:

Wonderful. Will it actually work?

On how many of the ~450 narrowbodies with 2Ku satellite wifi have you actually tried it? Gogo had been talking about further increases to 2Ku bandwidth even from the start of the rollout a couple of years ago.

I will guess that free wifi will be bandwidth-limited, with a higher speed (necessary for streaming) available for purchase - the way many hotels do it.

bradyj23 wrote:

PWMRamper wrote:

maps4ltd wrote:

They didn't follow on free messaging, so I doubt they will on WiFi.

I free message on every Delta flight I take?

He’s saying that UA/AA didn’t follow Delta and offer messaging.

I free message on UA all the time

B737900ER wrote:

bradyj23 wrote:

PWMRamper wrote:

I free message on every Delta flight I take?

He’s saying that UA/AA didn’t follow Delta and offer messaging.

I free message on UA all the time

Ditto. Even Instagram messaging works.

MSPNWA wrote:

That's not a confirmation. That's a confirmation of a maybe, one that was already stated before. There's nothing stopping DL from implementing free WiFi right now except $$$.

What's stopping them now is not dollars, it's bandwidth. Once it's free and everyone uses it, it needs to have much broader bandwidth. It is being improved now in preparation for the free service.

B757Forever wrote:

What's stopping them now is not dollars, it's bandwidth. Once it's free and everyone uses it, it needs to have much broader bandwidth. It is being improved now in preparation for the free service.

B6 has had free, fast WiFi for years. The technology has long been there. Only thing stopping airlines is doing it. DL wants you to believe otherwise.

B737900ER wrote:

I free message on UA all the time

So only AA doesn't have free messaging of the majors...just my luck

MSPNWA wrote:

That's not a confirmation. That's a confirmation of a maybe, one that was already stated before. There's nothing stopping DL from implementing free WiFi right now except $$$.

Yes there is, GoGo and their bandwidth issues.

777Mech wrote:

Yes there is, GoGo and their bandwidth issues.

Yet again, nothing has been stopping DL from making the changes needed to offer free, fast WiFi. DL isn't chained to GoGo. Money can do wonders. DL just wants you to believe it's out of their hands.

I fly DL a lot and there's a huge improvement on the planes with the faster wifi technology. I can work effectively; just this morning, I was online and editing MS word document, collaborating with colleagues, that was stored in the cloud. I lost connectivity once for about 5 seconds.

I also love the free messaging on flights.

From a pure product standpoint, it's interesting to watch the evolution of unbundling/bundling over the past decade or so. If you don't have status, you'll have to pay to check a bag, but wifi is free and seatback entertainment and personal device entertainment are free.

LHUSA wrote:

B737900ER wrote:

bradyj23 wrote:

He’s saying that UA/AA didn’t follow Delta and offer messaging.

I free message on UA all the time

Ditto. Even Instagram messaging works.

Really? How long has UA had this?

Flew TPA-BOS on Thursday (3/7) and the wifi was great!

jumbojet wrote:

More than what your getting from UA/AA.

It’s actually literally the same I’m getting on UA/AA since it’s still pay to play on all of the above. Promise in one hand as they say...

MLIAA wrote:

Doug Parker doesn’t do anything for free. He’ll still make it available for purchase, then blame marketing when revenues tank.

That's what we customers want! Don't you dare forget that.

MSPNWA wrote:

B757Forever wrote:

What's stopping them now is not dollars, it's bandwidth. Once it's free and everyone uses it, it needs to have much broader bandwidth. It is being improved now in preparation for the free service.

B6 has had free, fast WiFi for years. The technology has long been there. Only thing stopping airlines is doing it. DL wants you to believe otherwise.

I wonder what wifi your beloved Northworst would have had if they were still around?

maps4ltd wrote:

LHUSA wrote:

B737900ER wrote:

I free message on UA all the time

Ditto. Even Instagram messaging works.

Really? How long has UA had this?

It works on 737 aircraft only from what I remember.

Old news...

https://skift.com/2018/09/28/delta-ceo- ... is-coming/

MSPNWA wrote:

B757Forever wrote:

What's stopping them now is not dollars, it's bandwidth. Once it's free and everyone uses it, it needs to have much broader bandwidth. It is being improved now in preparation for the free service.

B6 has had free, fast WiFi for years. The technology has long been there. Only thing stopping airlines is doing it. DL wants you to believe otherwise.

No, you want us to believe otherwise.

Hard to believe that an airline actually invests in the customer experience. tough pill for you to swallow that its Delta.

I would imagine this news is the last thing Parker and Munoz needed to read. They might actually have to invest their product in the customer experience. As always, monkey see monkey do. Maybe not in this case.....To be continued....

airliner371 wrote:

Old news...

https://skift.com/2018/09/28/delta-ceo- ... is-coming/

it is old news, by 6 months. And if you read my initial post, you would see where I put that Bastian previously said there was no time frame for the implementation of free WIFI. Now, we have something more concrete. I believe my new thread passes Anet rules for starting a new thread on a similar subject matter. If not, the mods can merge them.

Thanks for that

LHUSA wrote:

Looking forward to using it on my nonstop DL flight to BOM in 2019.

UA will get free Wifi before AA ever does. Dougie hates giving out anything for free.

Delightedly surprised at this news! 2-3 years from now, I'll be thinking about how nice it was to be disconnected in flight.

MSPNWA wrote:

B6 has had free, fast WiFi for years. The technology has long been there. Only thing stopping airlines is doing it. DL wants you to believe otherwise.

Not with the supplier DL chose. Gogo's technology is far behind the times. B6 went with Viasat. Even if DL wanted to right now, it would take months or likely years to retrofit an entire fleet with a new technology.

jumbojet wrote:

Ed Bastian confirms in the Barron's Article that free WIFI will be available on all Delta flights. Delta, which viewed as the best managed major U.S. airline, also plans on spending 4.5 billion on CAPEX this year, mostly for new airplanes.

Delta Air Lines is spending billions to upgrade its terminals, technology, airplanes, and in-flight experience in order to help cement its relationship with its 200 million annual travelers, Delta CEO Ed Bastian told Barron’s in an interview.
“Our strategy is to become a trusted consumer brand and not just an airline,” Bastian said.

Wonder if UA/AA will follow. They usually do but this time around, not so sure about that.

Full article below

https://www.barrons.com/articles/delta- ... 1552081099

Would rather airlines refrain from connectivity. It is a time to unwind and relax.

Probably cheaper to give free WiFi than maintain IFE.

9w748capt wrote:

MLIAA wrote:

Doug Parker doesn’t do anything for free. He’ll still make it available for purchase, then blame marketing when revenues tank.

That's what we customers want! Don't you dare forget that.

This is part of their strategy to never lose money again!

Super80Fan wrote:

UA will get free Wifi before AA ever does. Dougie hates giving out anything for free.

AA goes the extra mile by having three different Wi-Fi providers so you might have to buy another Wi-Fi pass on your connecting flight because the all day passes don’t transfer between providers.

I just flew DL first class on an award ticket and kinda shocked that free Internet surfing wasn’t available for that crowd. Free msging only goes so far, IMHO. Although to be fair it may be what many customers would prefer.