Delta Air Lines made a splash at CES 2023, with them announcing the airline will start offering “free” Inflight Wi-Fi commencing February 2023.
However, there’s more than a little bit to unpick here.
Delta is teaming up with T-Mobile to deliver this, with it being delivered to aircraft that utilise ViaSat’s connectivity. It will be deployed to most domestic mainline aircraft by Feb. 1, with full availability on international and regional aircraft by the end of 2024.
The airline will offer the service on more than 700 Viasat-equipped aircraft by the end of 2023. Delta also announced plans to bring free Wi-Fi on international and regional aircraft by the end of 2024.
Time to break down the fluff – how will this be paid for?
Sponsorship will be key, as T-Mobile will be sponsoring part of the experience. Your personal information will also be paying for this, as you must log in using your Delta SkyMiles account or join SkyMiles on the ground or in the air for free to connect to the wireless network.
However, just logging in won’t make it free to use. You’ll need to hand over more information – through an experience called Delta Sync Exclusives hub.
According to the airline, this is a new “SkyMiles-unlocked mobile platform”, which is coming this spring and aimed at elevating the in-flight connectivity experience with exclusive offers, access and entertainment from beloved brands that are mainstays of everyday life.
So your data, browsing habits and tracking cookies will fuel this. Welcome to 2023.
Delta will launch the Delta Sync Exclusives hub later this spring.
A little more on Delta Sync.
Delta is bringing together an ecosystem of digital services and experiences to create Delta Sync with the vision for personalized travel.
It will use your SkyMiles membership as its base, use the onboard Wi-Fi to push personised experiences and in-flight entertainment, more ways to enjoy onboard food and beverage, and exclusive partnerships with top consumer brands coming this year.
All you have to do is sign up for SkyMiles, create a customised profile and off you go.
Facial Matching services will also be included to aid in the check-in process too (as used in Atlanta and Detroit). Delta SkyMiles Members who opt into Delta Sync facial matching can enjoy seamless baggage drop, security and boarding without the hassle of pulling out their ID or boarding pass.
Deployment
With the first 500 aircraft to go over on the 1st of February, this will include a lot of the Delta Dometic fleet. It will not cover any aircraft fitted with Intelsat equipment (Gogo), Boeing 717 aircraft or Delta Connection partner-operated two-class Regional aircraft (CRJ-700, CRJ-900 and Embraer E170 and E175).
International passengers will have to wait to get their taste of free inflight Wi-Fi a lot later, with the airline aiming to bring it to the passenger by the end of 2024.
Look for a pretty logo like this on the side of the aircraft as you board.
In Quotes
Delta CEO Ed Bastian at CESsaid
“At work, at home and everywhere in between, connectivity is essential to daily life, and your journey on Delta should be no different,”
“Our vision has long been to deliver an experience at 30,000 feet that feels similar to what our customers have available on the ground.”
He adds
“We didn’t just want free Wi-Fi to offer base-level service – we wanted it to be transformative for the entire onboard experience,”
“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.”
Mike Sievert, T-Mobile CEO adds
“At T-Mobile, we believe staying connected while traveling should be an easy, seamless experience,”
“T-Mobile customers already get free in-flight Wi-Fi and now we’re partnering with Delta to bring that experience to all customers — regardless of their wireless provider — so that anyone flying Delta can enjoy online access from takeoff to touchdown.”
Nothing is ever free
I was taught long ago “there is no such thing as a free lunch”. And this is exactly the case here. Delta’s Wi-Fi is presented as “free at the point of use”, but ultimately, the data you generate from using it will be the product.
Whilst Delta will offer its connectivity for “free”, you will be needing to give up some information to use it (at the very least, the barebones of your SkyMiles account) and no doubt, every interaction will be tracked to a point to generate and train datasets to offer you “elevated and personalised experiences” in the sky.
It is commendable that Delta has managed to push forward its vision of offering free Wi-Fi in the air and no doubt, many passengers will be happy to give up information for that sweet connectivity we seek in the sky.
Just be careful what information you give up.
Images: Delta Air Lines.
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