Delta's free in-flight Wi-Fi test could shame other airlines

It was not so long ago (2000 or 2006, depending on your measurement), being able to access the Internet by plane was a great idea.

When the technology became widely available and the airlines started to equip the aircraft with Wi-Fi service, passengers soon realized that they could not stand flying without it. The latest Inmarsat survey on in-flight connectivity revealed that more than half (55%) of air passengers considered Wi-Fi on board as a crucial element. And almost as many (53%) said they would be willing to give up an alcoholic beverage, tea, coffee and other in-flight amenities in exchange for Wi-Fi access.

As Delta Air Lines takes its first steps towards offering free Wi-Fi with a two-week pilot test that began on May 13, the Atlanta-based carrier could increase the pressure on other airlines to this service is more widespread.

Free courier services are available on Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines, as well as on various international airlines, but most national airlines charge fees for Internet access via e-mail, streaming and other. And the cost to access this Wi-Fi network varies – sometimes dramatically.

Southwest Airlines charges $ 8 a day for its Wi-Fi service, which prohibits access to Netflix and other high-bandwidth applications. Gogo, which provides in-flight Wi-Fi to airlines such as United, Delta, Alaska and Air Canada, sells a variety of "buy-before-you-fly" passes. If you order in advance, you will pay $ 7 for an hour of Wi-Fi access on domestic flights and $ 19 for 24 hours of Wi-Fi access on domestic flights.

Wait until you are in the air to buy Wi-Fi access, and the cost will be much higher for most airlines.

How much higher? "Prices will vary", that's what several airlines will tell you. It's rare, if ever, that buying an hour or a full day of Wi-Fi access costs less once you're in the air.

But the current trend of Wi-Fi charging in flight is turning.

In 2016, JetBlue became the first national airline to offer free Fly-Fi streaming quality Wi-Fi service in all its aircraft.

With Delta's free Wi-Fi test, this service is available daily in approximately 55 domestic short, medium and long-term flight segments.

"Customers are used to having access to free Wi-Fi for almost every other aspect of their trip, and Delta thinks the flight should also be free in flight," said Ekrem Dimbiloglu, Delta's Embedded Product Manager. . "Testing will be the key to implementing this very complex program – it takes more creativity, investment and planning to bring a change to life."

Flight test segments change daily; passengers learn if they are on a free Wi-Fi flight from a pre-flight email or via a push notification from the Fly Delta app. Gate agents and flight attendants also make announcements.

As part of the test, only free "basic" Wi-Fi is offered. As a result, passengers requiring a more robust streaming service will have to purchase the paid service. Currently, a daily Delta North American Wi-Fi pass costs $ 16 if the purchase is made before the flight.

"It's nice to see an airline offering free of charge the desired amenities," said Henry Harteveldt, travel industry analyst and founder of Atmosphere Research Group. "But I do not know if Delta will be able to increase its market share, customer preferences or its turnover high enough to be able to offer free Wi-Fi."

Other industry experts are expecting Delta to continue on the road to free full-time Wi-Fi and that other airlines will have no choice but to follow.

"Delta tends to start with such user-friendly initiatives," said Seth Kaplan, an aviation journalist and author of the book "Glory Lost and Found: How Delta Has Passed from Desperation to Domination in the US." after 11 September ". Kaplan said that American Airlines and United Airlines sometimes matched Delta rather than losing customers, even though they were reluctant to do so. "But the decision made by Delta makes free Wi-Fi very widespread much more likely than it seemed there until recently," Kaplan said.

Another reason why passengers could soon enjoy free Wi-Fi and widespread in flight: the millennium.

"Generations and younger generations expect free Wi-Fi everywhere, especially when they travel," said Kelly Soderlund, travel trends expert at Hipmunk. "Just like hotels, which have been successful in retaining customers with free Wi-Fi, I would expect the airlines to do the same and meet that demand."