Delta Airlines will Offer “Fast and Free” Wi-Fi Starting Feb. 1

Delta Airlines announced that beginning on February 1, “fast and free” Wi-Fi will be “available for everyone.” 

The Wi-Fi service will be available on 80% of Delta’s planes starting next month and will continue to be added to more plans each week, according to CEO Ed Bastian. 

Passengers will access the free internet service by logging in with their Delta SkyMiles frequent flyer account. Passengers who are not members of the loyalty program will have to pay a flat fee of $10. 

Although passengers need a SkyMiles account to gain access to free Wi-Fi, becoming a member is free. 

Delta’s announcement was, reportedly, several years in the making. Bastian has been teasing the idea of free Wi-Fi since 2018. He also claimed the airline made a large investment to make it happen. “It’s free. There’s no fine print. We have invested over $1 billion to create this.”

The added amenity of free Wi-Fi is part of Delta’s plan to compete with rival airlines in the travel rebound after the pandemic. According to CNBC, “Most airlines charge for Wi-Fi: United Airlines charges $8 for members of its frequent flyer program and $10 to other customers, and Southwest Airlines charges $8. It’s free on JetBlue, which has some corporate sponsorships for the service, and Hawaiian Airlines is planning to offer free internet with SpaceX’s Starlink this year.”