Delta to add WiFi to all domestic planes in 2009

In a move that's making us re-think our frequent flyer habits, Delta has announced that it will install Wi-Fi on its entire domestic fleet of more than 330 mainline aircraft by the first half of 2009. The Aircell Gogo service will run $9.95 or $12.95 for trips under or over three hours, respectively, and will allow connection of any WiFi device, although we have to think it'll shutter certain open-port services like Skype. Delta will roll WiFi out initially on Delta's 133 MD88/90s next month and then hit its Boeing craft, saying it will be done in first half of 2009. Delta says it chose Aircell because it's lightweight and affordable. We're certainly willing to pony up 13 bucks for a little browsing love at 37,000 feet.

[Adrian @ Aug 5th 2008 9:07AM]

An airline not doing something to shoot itself in the foot? Blasphemy!

[Craig @ Aug 5th 2008 9:33AM]

I know! Delta better fire the guy who thought of this before good ideas become a habit.

[xtole @ Aug 5th 2008 3:43PM]

Sweet, now I can AOE farm my Warcraft mage while I eat my free bag of nuts. Wait they are free still right?

[xtole @ Aug 5th 2008 3:46PM]

Wonder if I can use Bit Torrent.....

[Rick @ Aug 5th 2008 9:12AM]

Great, lets figure out a way to make more money and drive the rest of the passengers nuts with people clacking away on their notebooks.

[Ian @ Aug 5th 2008 9:30AM]

Yeah cuz some of us shouldn't be able to get work done because YOU don't like the sound of typing. Put on the headphones or some ear plugs and mind your own business.

[puhsitch @ Aug 5th 2008 9:53AM]

You should check into these devices called "head-phones." They can feed pleasant sounds into your ears and can even block out unpleasant sounds around you!

[ShadowKain @ Aug 5th 2008 10:04AM]

Most Keyboards on laptop are quite quiet nowadays...:P

[Josh @ Aug 5th 2008 10:35AM]

There definitely are some reasons to why "Wi Fly" wouldn't be a good idea (of course, many others to why it is a good idea) but "keyboard sound" is not one of them.

As this article discusses, http://www.internetevolution.com/author.asp?section_id=539&doc_id=140880&f_src=flffour , what if use gets carried away and people are watching YouTube... or even Skype! they'll probably block those sites because bandwidth wouldn't be enough but I'm sure they'll find a way to abuse the system.

[Jeremy S @ Aug 5th 2008 11:25AM]

You should let me know the next flight you are on so I can bring my old school 1992 IBM spring loaded keyboard.

[THJ @ Aug 5th 2008 1:22PM]

Since people didn't use laptops on planes before wifi, right?

[Bobjim @ Aug 5th 2008 9:20AM]

This is assuming that airport security haven't detained your electronic devices indefinitely for "security" reasons.

[Kazolar @ Aug 5th 2008 9:22AM]

Note to Delta -- Figure out how to get luggage delivered on time first. How about that RF luggage tracking system, I'd actually pay a few dollars to know WHERE THE HELL MY BAG IS. On time flights, courteous airline staff. Knowledgeable and competent airport security. Don't overbook, don't bump people to the next flight. Yea, I love surfing the web and all, but if I get to where I'm going and my bag is not there ...doesn't matter that they had wifi on the plain. The flight still sucked.

[MilesLocMan @ Aug 5th 2008 9:28AM]

w00t my dad just got a job with them so i just when from flying for free to flying for 13 bucks this is going to be sweet if they dont find a way to fuck it up

[brice85 @ Aug 5th 2008 10:18AM]

My mom has worked for Delta for over 25 years. Trust me, it aint "free". You fly "standby" which will turn planning a vacation into russian roulette fast. Also, you still have to pay all of the fees and taxes associated with the ticket (can get upto $90), pay the fee for checking your bags ($15 - $100)... and you don't even know if you make it on the flight until the plane pushes back...

Congrats though... really.

[tigernate9 @ Aug 5th 2008 9:32AM]

i was 50/50 between going American or Delta exclusively...looks like Delta will be the victor!

[Anthop @ Aug 6th 2008 4:33AM]

American is terrible D=.

I always try to fly Northwest as they generally have newer planes and less crappy fees. This would tempt me to switch to Delta. but since they're going to merge anyway, I guess this just means I'll keep flying the same airline :P.

I wonder though, if the "beginning of 2009" deadline includes the Northwest planes, since the merger may not be finished by that point

[joe23521 @ Aug 5th 2008 9:46AM]

Sure beats charging two bucks for a bottle of water.

[Quicksilver4648 @ Aug 5th 2008 9:52AM]

Sweet. I am so buying two seats for me the next time I fly. One seat for myself and the other for my large backup batteries, Xbox 360 with wifi adapter, and flat panel TV on the tray. They can't tell me what to do.

[brice85 @ Aug 5th 2008 10:22AM]

If you can do this, you will be my personal hero. My intuition tells me they will have to close the ports required to play the game anyways, but if someone can figure out how to do this, and document it, it will make for some quality entertainment.

[Ian @ Aug 5th 2008 10:01AM]

Would Sir like:
1) Soft drink?
2) Pillow?
3) WiFi?
All at the cheap rate of $10.00 EACH or $25.00 for the bundle of 3?

[Don Corleone @ Aug 5th 2008 10:10AM]

Go to hell, Delta. Your first & second bag premiums, and now fees for every mother f-ing thing?

[KeegdnaB @ Aug 5th 2008 11:37AM]

Delta only charges for the 2nd bag.....it may be higher ($50) but at least they did that to avoid having to add the 1st bag fee. If you need more than one bag aside from special circumstances (like an extra long trip) then you have a problem.

[Bob @ Aug 5th 2008 10:11AM]

Boo! Make it free. And while you're at it, let me travel with luggage, get a cup of water, and have a pillow for free.

[Isaac @ Aug 5th 2008 11:18AM]

As much I find it disgusting they charge for something as basic as water charging for other stuff is not that bad. Look, airlines are hurting really badly right now and they need a way to make it back. Now they can either run less flights, hike up costs for EVERY passenger or add surcharges to things only some people need. I only take one bag of luggage on a plane.

Also, not everyone needs internet so adding it in to the cost of the ticket would just be unfair to those who don't use it.

[KeegdnaB @ Aug 5th 2008 11:34AM]

@ Issac

You're absolutely right....these things have never been "free" They've always been included in the price of the ticket. the airlines can either charge for them a la carte for the people who use them......or they can hike up fares for EVRYBODY. The reason these airlines keep losing money is because, as much as the flying public doesn't get it, its costs money to fly a plane and with all the competition the last few years from airlines like Southwest....they can't keep the prices high enough to cover their operating costs. People got spoiled by the low fares, but now the airlines can't try and undercut anymore with fuel prices. People complain about the costs, but they're still lower than they reallly need to be to stay afloat.

[Brian @ Aug 5th 2008 10:13AM]

Carry-on only. Check.
Bringing own food on plane. Check.
Wifi for a reasonable fee. Check.

Ignorance is bliss.

[Matt @ Aug 5th 2008 10:36AM]

Seriously, who checks bags nowadays? Unless you're going away for more than a week, you should be able to fit everything in carryon luggage. Regardless, that has nothing to do with WiFi, so I don't see why people are complaining about it in these comments. I think this is a step forward. If I can play WoW for the entire flight instead of sit there and read a magazine (I paid 10 bucks for) 3 times, I'm happy.

[CarrerCrytharis @ Aug 5th 2008 11:39AM]

But I *like* carrying my own toothpaste, shower gel and contact lens solution... I can't do that anymore unless I check my luggage in.

[DT @ Aug 5th 2008 10:24AM]

Didn't inflight WiFi already fail on Lufthansa, ElAl, and several other airlines? Why is this any better/different?

[avester @ Aug 5th 2008 10:59AM]

Since this doesn't cost 99 cents per minute?

[Lloyd @ Aug 5th 2008 10:38AM]

lol if you can tolerate flying on delta. worst airline in the states.

[notangry @ Aug 5th 2008 12:52PM]

Really? Seriously.

Then you haven't flown US Scareways, Northworst, Untied, or Constipational Airlines.

Okay, Northworst is the worst... but really, calling Delta the worst is like calling Applebee's the worst casual dining chain... I mean, really. They're all pretty crappy.

[Phoenix987 @ Aug 5th 2008 9:59PM]

yes, because being told when you're flying over the Gulf of Mexico to "look out your window" and you can see people on a boat is so relaxing.

Come to think of it, the fact I was on a flight from Charlotte, NC to Orlando and was over the Gulf was unnerving enough. Thanks US Scareways.

Not to mention their wonderful takeoffs in foreign countries. I'm never flying US Air again. For 1/2 the price I coulda got a direct flight to the Caribbean, but I'd have had to pay full price for the hotel... wow, worst tradeoff ever.

I'd rather fly Delta.

[Greg @ Aug 5th 2008 10:43AM]

Yawn.

I used wifi over the Atlantic in 2005 on Lufthansa.

Agree with the luggage and on time flights comments.

[rv @ Aug 5th 2008 10:59AM]

I fucking hate flying. The seats are too upright, its sort of like I am falling over forward. And I am not that tall either, only 6'0". For taller people it must be even worse. I cant sleep on those fucking seats, its so uncomfortable. I guess wifi would make it better, but not if it was like $20 more.

[KeegdnaB @ Aug 5th 2008 11:25AM]

Couldn't launch it soon enough.....i'm flying them next week

[Jeremy S @ Aug 5th 2008 12:19PM]

Finally I don't have to stop my torrents just because I am flying to over the pacific!

[Eric @ Aug 5th 2008 12:35PM]

Plane Ticket = $342
Checked Luggage = $57
WiFi At 37,00 Feet = Priceless

[notangry @ Aug 5th 2008 12:52PM]

I've used the buddy passes from Delta employees for several flights, including a trip to Hawaii. Yeah, you take your chances sometimes, but overall the experience has been great. The price was great, too. 250 a ticket round trip for us to Hawaii. Seriously. Awesome.

Hint: travel at miserable times and you're likely to not only get on the flight you intended, but you might get bumped to first class. YAY!

And to those bitching about the a la carte pricing... shut it. Airlines lose money faster than Charles Barkley at the Venetian. If you take a lot of stuff with you, then pay up. For those of us who have no problem using travel-sized toothpaste or, for longer trips, finding a Walgreens in our destination to buy our person hygiene needs, why should I pay your share?

Learn to fly lean... it'll be a better experience. :)

[Jack Chance @ Aug 5th 2008 12:54PM]

If they only allow wifi during cruising but not takeoff and landing, that's about 20 minutes for a 1 hour flight. $10 for 20 minutes of web browsing.... no thanks. Maybe for a long flight, trans-atlantic or coast-to-coast.

[HyperHacker @ Aug 5th 2008 1:53PM]

Wifi, great, but how about an electrical outlet so I can use it for more than an hour?

[JOSE @ Aug 5th 2008 1:58PM]

DELTA = Dont Expect Luggage To Arrive

[billso @ Aug 5th 2008 2:19PM]

They'd better block VoIP or this will be a bust.

[lepton @ Aug 5th 2008 2:34PM]

This is awesome!

If you fly with your spouse and 3 children, you can run a proxy on one notebook and get internet connection for free for the rest 4.

Just a thought. :-)

[engadget @ Aug 5th 2008 3:48PM]

Lol, a total engadget comment!

[OddManOut @ Aug 5th 2008 4:03PM]

Like the man says..."You think pennies, you get pennies...you think DOLLARS, you get dollars."

Why limit your market to something so capricious as DNA or matrimony ? Pay your $13 and hang out your shingle "$6 WIFI"

More than 2 customers my friend, and your WIFI is FREE...

[Totesen @ Aug 10th 2008 1:39AM]

Great Continental is also adding Live TV and WIFI to Domestic and Intercontinental fleet