As Delta prepares to deliver on its long-standing promise to provide free Wi-Fi to everyone on board, travelers with Delta Medallion status may be able to connect for free on their next flight.
The airline confirmed on Wednesday that it now allowing its loyal travelers with status to connect to free in-flight Wi-Fi on certain flights as part of the latest round of connectivity tests. The news was first reported by The Points Guy.
Whether you’ve just achieved Delta Silver status or achieved Diamond status, simply visit Deltawifi.com during the flight and look for the option to connect for free. Simply log in with your SkyMiles account to unlock free access.
But you won’t see this option on all routes: Free Wi-Fi for status travelers is only available on Delta aircraft with enhanced high-speed Internet access. That should get easier as the Atlanta-based airline previously pledged to equip the vast majority of its domestic fleet with upgraded Viasat Wi-Fi by the end of 2022.
Connecting on these flights is usually only $5. However, free is better.
It’s the latest step toward unleashing free Wi-Fi in the sky for everyone, a goal Delta first set out in 2018. Thrifty Traveler announced this summer that Delta plans to launch the Free in-flight Wi-Fi – at least on most domestic flights, not those operated by Delta Connection regional carriers. At the time, the airline hoped to provide follow-up with free internet on long-haul international routes by the end of 2024.
A Delta spokesperson did not comment on the status of those broader plans.
Tests like these are Delta’s way of ensuring it can open doors to unlock in-flight connectivity without throttling speeds. The airline restarted testing over the summer on some domestic routes. But with the number of travelers who have Delta status these days after years of pandemic extensions and promotions, this should be an even more accurate measure of how resilient internet speeds are.
“Bringing our vision for the future of travel to life requires rigorous testing of our technology, examining every detail to ensure customers get speed and reliability that exceeds their expectations,” said Glenn. Latta, Delta’s general manager for inflight connectivity. a statement over the summer.
Delta currently offers free in-flight messaging to passengers, but charges between $5 and $16 or more to connect during a domestic flight. No matter when it hits the skies, Delta still won’t be the first US airline to offer free onboard Wi-Fi.
JetBlue has offered complimentary door-to-door Wi-Fi to its passengers for many years. Other airlines, including American Airlines and Southwest, have been piloting free in-flight internet on select flights this spring. And Hawaiian Airlines is also moving to offer free Wi-Fi onboard its transpacific flights from the mainland to the Hawaiian Islands.
American airlines large and small have increasingly focused on expanding and improving in-flight Wi-Fi connectivity in recent years. Few have been more optimistic than Delta, with CEO Ed Bastian declaring “We’re going to make it free” more than four years ago.
But a brief test in the spring of 2019 led to slow, even unusable speeds on board. These issues eventually led Delta to end its exclusive relationship with Wi-Fi provider GoGo and integrate Viasat, equipping more and more of its national fleet with this technology over the past year in search of a free Wi-Fi connection.
Conclusion
Delta status occasionally gets you a free upgrade, free checked bags, a few extra SkyMiles and, maybe, free Wi-Fi on your next flight.
The airline recently began offering free in-flight Wi-Fi on select flights to travelers with Medallion status. It’s part of Delta’s longstanding drive to make Wi-Fi free for all – and that goal seems closer than ever.