DL Offers Free ViaSat Wi-Fi (2/1/2023) - Will AS Respond?
Jan 7, 2023, 6:27 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Seattle
Programs: Alaska airlines 100k
Posts: 923
DL Offers Free ViaSat Wi-Fi (2/1/2023) - Will AS Respond?
“Free” fast Wi-Fi for everyone on flight with equipment stariting February 1, 2023 on Delta flights. “Sponsored” by T-Mobile.
I use the fast speed Wi-Fi on my AS flights for $8 and it works GREAT. However I suspect only a fraction of passengers using. If everyone on the delta flight is connected will this slow down speeds?
Currently pay the $50/month as our family travels about 8-10:flights a month. $600 per year is about 4 one way mid-con flights a year. Free on flights seems quite the value for road warriors.
Is it really “free”? Sort of like mandatory resort fees at hotels that provide “free Wi-Fi “. Process will require logging on by using frequent flier login.
updated edit: WILL AS EVENTUALLY FOLLOW??
I use the fast speed Wi-Fi on my AS flights for $8 and it works GREAT. However I suspect only a fraction of passengers using. If everyone on the delta flight is connected will this slow down speeds?
Currently pay the $50/month as our family travels about 8-10:flights a month. $600 per year is about 4 one way mid-con flights a year. Free on flights seems quite the value for road warriors.
Is it really “free”? Sort of like mandatory resort fees at hotels that provide “free Wi-Fi “. Process will require logging on by using frequent flier login.
updated edit: WILL AS EVENTUALLY FOLLOW??
Last edited by Xrayman; Jan 7, 2023 at 10:09 am Reason: Update
Jan 7, 2023, 6:56 am
#2
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: B6 Mosaic, Bonvoy LT Titanium (x SPG LT), IHG Spire, UA Silver
Posts: 5,844
Delta is finally copying Jetblue which has had free Wi-Fi for years now. Viasat is good enough to get decent speeds for everybody and yes it will be free though DL will require a Skymiles account to login. B6’s allows anybody to access it-after watching a few seconds of an ad.
Jan 7, 2023, 8:45 am
#4
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: B6 Mosaic, Bonvoy LT Titanium (x SPG LT), IHG Spire, UA Silver
Posts: 5,844
Jan 7, 2023, 9:02 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 16,821
It’s kind of a FT tradition that when airline X does something, threads in other forums pop up with “Will airline Y do the same?”
Will UA follow Delta and provide free wifi for premiers?
When does American follow Delta? (Free Wifi)
Here is the other cool thing about FT: the rules don’t require everyone to partake in every discussion. You are allowed to choose your topics of interest and ignore others.
Will UA follow Delta and provide free wifi for premiers?
When does American follow Delta? (Free Wifi)
Here is the other cool thing about FT: the rules don’t require everyone to partake in every discussion. You are allowed to choose your topics of interest and ignore others.
Jan 7, 2023, 9:28 am
#6
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: SoCal,
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro
Posts: 771
It’s kind of a FT tradition that when airline X does something, threads in other forums pop up with “Will airline Y do the same?”
Will UA follow Delta and provide free wifi for premiers?
When does American follow Delta? (Free Wifi)
Here is the other cool thing about FT: the rules don’t require everyone to partake in every discussion. You are allowed to choose your topics of interest and ignore others.
Will UA follow Delta and provide free wifi for premiers?
When does American follow Delta? (Free Wifi)
Here is the other cool thing about FT: the rules don’t require everyone to partake in every discussion. You are allowed to choose your topics of interest and ignore others.
Jan 7, 2023, 9:37 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 16,821
Jan 7, 2023, 10:11 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Seattle
Programs: Alaska airlines 100k
Posts: 923
Didn’t realize this was a grammar class. I’ve updated. Just assumed individuals could infer based upon the fact this is under the AS forum.
Jan 7, 2023, 11:08 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: PDX
Programs: AS 75K, BW Plat, Marriott Gold, IHG Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 10,721
It’s kind of a FT tradition that when airline X does something, threads in other forums pop up with “Will airline Y do the same?”
Will UA follow Delta and provide free wifi for premiers?
When does American follow Delta? (Free Wifi)
Here is the other cool thing about FT: the rules don’t require everyone to partake in every discussion. You are allowed to choose your topics of interest and ignore others.
Will UA follow Delta and provide free wifi for premiers?
When does American follow Delta? (Free Wifi)
Here is the other cool thing about FT: the rules don’t require everyone to partake in every discussion. You are allowed to choose your topics of interest and ignore others.
Jan 7, 2023, 11:56 am
#11
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: SoCal,
Programs: BAEC Gold, AA PPro
Posts: 771
Edit: I’ll speculate, no they won’t. Simply because of their T-Mobil agreement being more mature AS could complain to T-Mobil about it wanting to promote it again for free too. But I’d expect no. Cheers!
Last edited by Tack; Jan 7, 2023 at 2:39 pm
Jan 7, 2023, 12:02 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 16,821
Personally, I think AS will follow. Just like free Wifi has become a standard feature of pretty much every hotel room I have stayed in in recent years while initially it was a pay feature and then became a benefit for elites. So AS might make it free for everyone, or perhaps initially make it an elite benefit.
Personally, I actually enjoy the offline time on airplanes. Itallows forces me to focus on a book or a movie and stops me from the easily distractions of FT, FB, email, news …. I am not a business traveler, so I don’t need/want the ability to be productive or reachable at all times. So in a way I dread the day when that last bastion of mental peace and tranquility falls.
Personally, I actually enjoy the offline time on airplanes. It
Jan 7, 2023, 5:08 pm
#13
Join Date: Sep 2001
Programs: Alaska Tanzanite 100K
Posts: 3,857
Lets not forget that Alaska was *FIRST* out the gate with FREE wifi messaging for everyone, and then the free wifi deal with T-Mo, which then expanded to other airlines....
I still have my GoGo unlimited airline plan from like 2007, except its at $49.95/mo instead of the original $39.95. And it works on Delta. I ended up biting and taking the $59 plan on American though.
I still have my GoGo unlimited airline plan from like 2007, except its at $49.95/mo instead of the original $39.95. And it works on Delta. I ended up biting and taking the $59 plan on American though.
Jan 7, 2023, 9:30 pm
#14
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: SAN
Programs: AS Mileage Plan 100k, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 991