Delta to offer Wi-Fi

[FBN0223]

Delta to offer Wi-Fi on mainline domestic fleet
Tuesday August 5, 8:11 am ET
By Harry R. Weber, AP Business Writer
Delta Air Lines to offer broadband wireless Internet access on entire domestic fleet

ATLANTA (AP) -- Delta Air Lines Inc. said Tuesday it will offer broadband wireless Internet access on its entire domestic mainline fleet by the middle of next year.
The Atlanta-based company said Wi-Fi service will be offered for a fee to customers traveling throughout the continental U.S.

The nation's No. 3 carrier is partnering with Aircell, an airborne communications provider, to install the network on Delta's domestic fleet of more than 330 aircraft.

The system will allow Delta customers traveling with Wi-Fi enabled devices -- such as laptops, smartphones and PDAs -- to access the Internet while in flight.

A flat fee of $9.95 will be charged on flights of three hours or less, and $12.95 on flights of more than three hours.

The service will be offered initially on Delta's fleet of 133 MD88/90 aircraft and will expand to the remaining domestic fleet of more than 200 Boeing 737, 757 and 767-300 aircraft during the first half of 2009. It expects to have the technology installed on its entire domestic fleet by next summer.

Financial terms of Delta's agreement with Aircell were not released. The airline did not say how much it expects to generate in revenue by offering the service on its mainline domestic flights. It also did not say in a statement what its plans are, if any, for offering Wi-Fi service on international flights.

 

[WSurf]

Nice! I think this is a great way to generate some new revenue.

Let's see, spending a little money to make money. US Airways just doesn't get it. They would just rather charge you 3 dollars for you Coke (not even throwing in a smile for it). Also they would rather rip out all the inflight entertainment.


Just think how many more post in a Day General Lee will have!!!!!!!! God Save us all! LOL

 

[Minimaniac]

Did anyone happen to read if the service will have limitations such as only checking email and a select few other sites? I remember Jet Blue originally talked about having a similar limitation due to the limited amount of bandwidth available per aircraft.

As someone who flies a/c for US Airways everyday, I ask you to go easy on rubbing in the coke surcharge. While I do enjoy calling my flight attendants "coke dealers", in all honesty I am just plain embarrassed. I don't think there are more than a handful of pilots who think charging for basic beverages is a smart idea, but it is one we are stuck with. I would comp drinks left and right, but they have removed the captain's comp signature line from the new forms, and the flight attendants are afraid to go out on a limb without written backup from the captain. The whole program is disgraceful. Just please stop throwing it around like it was our idea.

 

[WSurf]

The whole program is disgraceful. Just please stop throwing it around like it was our idea.

How was I throwing it around like it was the pilots/employees idea?

Do you think going Wireless was Delta's Pilots/employees idea. (we'll could have been General's idea)

 

[Minimaniac]

Sorry, reading too much into your words. I get it all day from the passengers, and I begin to assume everyone has the same idea in their heads.

 

[Oh-ryan]

Surfing porn at 35000 feet. That sounds exciting. Sign me up!

 

[BLUE BAYOU]

The broader question here is, will NWA also have WI-FI capabilities? Or will there be further integration in the integration process at the "new DELTA"...

 

[Diesel]

about time they understand the real needs of the business flyer who actually pay the bills, not a family of 6 that shopped the lowest rate.

 

[Sedona16]

Anybody who might be familiar with this wi-fi have any idea if this will also be available on the ground during longer turns. I pack a laptop with wireless internet capabilities in the cockpit. I also wonder if we are going to have a way to waive the fee. I do know the new contract states that we should have free internet at all hotels where we stay. Thoughts?

 

[a320drivr]

Did anyone happen to read if the service will have limitations such as only checking email and a select few other sites? I remember Jet Blue originally talked about having a similar limitation due to the limited amount of bandwidth available per aircraft.

As someone who flies a/c for US Airways everyday, I ask you to go easy on rubbing in the coke surcharge. While I do enjoy calling my flight attendants "coke dealers", in all honesty I am just plain embarrassed. I don't think there are more than a handful of pilots who think charging for basic beverages is a smart idea, but it is one we are stuck with. I would comp drinks left and right, but they have removed the captain's comp signature line from the new forms, and the flight attendants are afraid to go out on a limb without written backup from the captain. The whole program is disgraceful. Just please stop throwing it around like it was our idea.

Arent you more embarassed by USCABA?

 

[OPECJet]

As someone who flies a/c for US Airways everyday, I ask you to go easy on rubbing in the coke surcharge. While I do enjoy calling my flight attendants "coke dealers", in all honesty I am just plain embarrassed. I don't think there are more than a handful of pilots who think charging for basic beverages is a smart idea, but it is one we are stuck with. I would comp drinks left and right, but they have removed the captain's comp signature line from the new forms, and the flight attendants are afraid to go out on a limb without written backup from the captain. The whole program is disgraceful. Just please stop throwing it around like it was our idea.

Surf also flies around with a coke dealer in the back and a flag on the tail.

 

[Captzaahlie]

Nice! I think this is a great way to generate some new revenue.

Let's see, spending a little money to make money. US Airways just doesn't get it. They would just rather charge you 3 dollars for you Coke (not even throwing in a smile for it). Also they would rather rip out all the inflight entertainment.


Just think how many more post in a Day General Lee will have!!!!!!!! God Save us all! LOL

Surf you are getting emotional again and exaggerating by a dollar.......
I agree though charging ($2 for a can and $1 for java & water) for non-alcoholic beverages is a very dumb idea. A straight across the board (every airline) fuel surcharge is the way to go, but that'll never happen because one airline was smart enough to have beautiful fuel hedges in place for another few years.

 

[WSurf]

Surf you are getting emotional again and exaggerating by a dollar.......
I agree though charging ($2 for a can and $1 for java & water) for non-alcoholic beverages is a very dumb idea. A straight across the board (every airline) fuel surcharge is the way to go, but that'll never happen because one airline was smart enough to have beautiful fuel hedges in place for another few years.

Yes, had a hot airplane the other day. Told the FA the drinks were on the house. Kinda sad when you have a pax that spent 400.00 on a flight and the equipment can't keep them cool. So for some reason I couldn't see them reaching into there pockets for ice and drink.

 

[wms]

Sweet, now we have something to do when the "autopilot has it"!

 

[glasspilot1]

Sweet, now we have something to do when the "autopilot has it"!

I was wondering when somebody was going to bring up surfing in the cockpit! The $9.95 charge will keep us from logging on!

I can see it now: FAA: "Ahh, Capt Smith, we showed you checking your email at the same instant you had that high altitude stall. Can you explain this?"