Delta pushes in-flight WiFi plans ahead, Gogo to hit 2,000 planes in 2009

Here's something that doesn't happen everyday with legacy airlines -- an announcement that something is actually ahead of schedule. After hearing that Delta would equip its entire US fleet with Aircell's Gogo in-flight WiFi in 2009, along comes a release from Aircell that says otherwise. In fact, it proclaims that "Delta Air Lines is expected to launch service before the end of 2008." Furthermore, the company has confessed that "most major US carriers are in advanced discussions with or are already contractually committed to Aircell," which certainly bodes well for avid travelers who take issue with long periods of disconnection. Aircell is hoping to have its in-flight internet tech installed in 2,000 commercial aircraft by the end of 2009 -- talk about making the friendly skies "friendly" again.

[Image courtesy of Gadling]

[KAIKAI @ Dec 10th 2008 9:56PM]

awesome
now couple this with a sub $200 netbook
and then we got a thing going :D

[Yankees368 @ Dec 10th 2008 10:06PM]

The first MB will be free
The second MB will be $50
Every MB after the second will be $250

[Isaac @ Dec 10th 2008 10:18PM]

I doubt that. It will probably be something like a flat rate (around 15 bucks I would guess). Similar to Virgin America's implementation.

[Jacob @ Dec 10th 2008 10:21PM]

and taking your laptop onboard is $5. Turning your laptop on is another $15. Oh yeah, and you'll want to open the tray table, which is another $25 fee.

[KeegdnaB @ Dec 11th 2008 1:01AM]

Hey be nice.....this is Delta we're talking about.



Not US Airways

[zioncat @ Dec 10th 2008 10:22PM]

Is there really a big need or want for the internet during a flight. Even if your flying from the west to east coast what can you do on the internet with down/up they are offering not that fast.

[Chase @ Dec 10th 2008 10:23PM]

and watching pr0n will cost an extra $200.

[yopladas @ Dec 10th 2008 10:52PM]

Better have good streaming on the bathroom...

[Hashbrown Hunter @ Dec 11th 2008 7:01AM]

Will your laptop even fit in the bathroom? Better take your iPod Touch to be on the safe side ;D

[a ham sandwich @ Dec 10th 2008 10:41PM]

"no don't! the plane will crash!" they said.

the whole time the engadget reader in you was laughing. "those frequencies won't interfere!" you thought. and when you thought this aloud, you were pretty much chastised.

in flight wifi F.T.W. about time!

[-slycooper_rocker- (lorddshadow the amazing) psn: shahanasalam @ Dec 10th 2008 10:42PM]

airplane flight: $500
airport meal:$10
in-flight wi-fi: $100
overstepping the 50 MB limit: $50
seeing the hot flight attendant's face when she sees you watching some hardcore pr0n: priceless.

[a ham sandwich @ Dec 10th 2008 10:56PM]

let's be honest here. how many flight attendants nowadays are actually good looking? seriously!

[Game_playa @ Dec 10th 2008 11:02PM]

They look back when they notice we're staring

[CL @ Dec 10th 2008 11:21PM]

@a ham sandwich
you need to travel with a foreign airline more often, especially the asian ones ;-)

[a ham sandwich @ Dec 10th 2008 11:35PM]

touche

[iKurt @ Dec 11th 2008 2:09AM]

Singapore Airlines FTW!!!

[kingofdaberbz @ Dec 10th 2008 11:02PM]

I haven't been on a plane in almost 8 years, so I pose this question:Do planes have in flight ports for me to charge my laptop?

[slibus @ Dec 10th 2008 11:14PM]

They better block all VOIP ports, and software like Skype, and any other software that allows voice chat.

I am going to kill, if I have to listen to people talking to their friends the entire god damn flight.

[dosguy @ Dec 10th 2008 11:22PM]

I'll second that. I'll gladly pay the attorneys' fees to defend the first person accused of tossing a loudmouth obnoxious cellphone yacker out of a plane at 30,000 feet.

[CL @ Dec 10th 2008 11:20PM]

I just flew on a Delta flight yesterday, and I have to say out of all the legacy airlines, they are the one that's trying the hardest to improve and make themselves more like the "cool new kids". Starting from the inflight entertainment systems, they now have touchscreen LCD on every seat and on almost every plane from the biggest 777 to the little 737. All the content are on demand as well, you can pause/fast forward/rewind anytime you want. Although I have to say charging $2 for an episode of HBO series was stupid especially on a 12hr + international flight, but on domestic flights, you do get live dish network tv with about 10 channels. Besides this, they are also installing USB and 110v power ports on many planes (imo, it should be on every seat on every plane).

Now that being said, I still prefer a foreign airline when I am traveling overseas or Southwest/Jetblue/Virgin America when I am traveling within the US, but if I have no other choices but legacy airlines, I will pick Delta in a heart beat.

[alex1jam @ Dec 10th 2008 11:24PM]

ipod touch here we gooooooooooo.

[Adlyb1 @ Dec 11th 2008 12:12AM]

No fanboi of airlines these days with their copying of banks with a fee for everything model, but I do have to say, Delta has one of the better Tech implementations in the business and they seem to be able to roll these large programs fairly quickly.

Now, if they could just keep up with my luggage.

[Nick J @ Dec 11th 2008 1:03AM]

Got a AceCombat4 flashback when I read the "friendly skies" line. Man, I got the urge dogfight a SU-37....

[TrevorTheGreat @ Dec 11th 2008 1:20AM]

First person to make a skype phone call sitting next to me gets a boot up their ass.

[seanchk @ Dec 11th 2008 2:35AM]

Please explain to me the difference between the person next to you talking to you or talking to the person next to them and that same person talking to someone that isn't actually sitting there (i.e on someone on skype).

Also blocking Skype stops people using it for text chat.

[KeegdnaB @ Dec 11th 2008 1:48AM]

Of the 2 times I've flown this year, one was on Delta and one was on Northwest (who is now Delta) and I'd pick them (even with a stopover in Atlanta or Detroit) over United or American (who I can fly just about anywhere nonstop) almost any day. Such a better product (second only to Continental, or so I have heard....haven't flown them yet but have only heard good things) and the WiFi fleetwide makes things that much better, particularly on planes like the MD88s and the newly inherited DC9s which don't have the fancy entertainment systems.

Does anyone know if they're putting this on Delta Connection flights too? That would be even better (and a dream come true for alot of people with an irrational fear of small planes). I wouldn't think they'd have any reason not to.

[default.aspx @ Dec 11th 2008 5:35AM]

Not bad! But then, I never travel by air anyway.

[drew @ Dec 11th 2008 6:16AM]

here's some links to additional info and photos:
http://blog.delta.com/2008/10/01/sent-from-33000-feet/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/delta_airlines/sets/72157607642712087/

[Jocko @ Dec 11th 2008 9:24AM]

Does anyone know if we can buy a membership to use this? I don't want to sign in every time. Besides, if all these planes will have this wifi service from Gogo (?) I suppose I can use it on every airline.

Where can I find what airlines are getting it?

Sweeeeeeeeeeet!

[Chavisa Woods @ Dec 23rd 2008 2:54PM]

How the Delta stole (my) Christmas

Twas three days before Christmas and my flight was canceled. I live in New York. I see my family once a year. I took vacation days off from work for the trip. They said it was bad weather, but what is this? All the other airlines at JFK had flights going out to St Louis that day. I know. I called and checked. They told me they couldn’t get me on a plane till Christmas afternoon. That’s no good I thought. Two days in St. Louis isn’t worth the money for the flight, and what good is it showing up Christmas night? Fine I’ll cancel it. They said to pick up the black phone and they would refund my fee. But call back tonight or tomorrow, they might have something flying out earlier, maybe a seat would open on a connecting flight that would work for me. I called and got the money refunded then headed down to get my luggage, full of Christmas presents my computer charger and most of my clothes. I’m a heavy parker. But hark! What is this.? My luggage is lost and I never even left the airport.

I spend four hours in baggage. They tell me it could be today or the next day. The woman gives me a number to call to have my bags delivered. She informs me that it will be a thirty dollar delivery fee since I didn’t actually travel with them. I ask if they are at least going to refund my $15 baggage check fee. She says she doesn’t know. She gives me three numbers to call. One number is directly to storage where she believes my bag is. That number I have to call to request the COD delivery. The other number is to get the money refunded and the third is a general baggage number.

I return home and call all the numbers for several hours, never receiving an answer. The phone just rings and rings or is busy. I also want to check and see if there any new flight info. I look online and call the Delta reservations number. I speak with the woman four a half an hour. She tells me that there may be an opening on a St Louis flight the next day, but since I already had my ticket refunded, I would be buying a ticket anew. So the cost would be upward of $1,000. She also informs me there is nothing she can do about my luggage and gives me one of the numbers that has been busy for hours.

The next morning I call the local storage number that the baggage woman gave me. I speak with a woman who is very rude from the get go, asking me how I got this number and telling me that it is not protocol for customers to call this number. I finally give her my bag number. I don’t have a file number because the baggage woman has told me my bag is not technically lost since it is in the airport, and I don’t get a claim number since I didn’t fly. The woman on the phone informs me that if I didn’t fly I will have to pay for the delivery. I respond that “I am aware of that!” I raise my voice when I say this. she tells me not to raise my voice at her and hangs up on me.

I have spent the last four hours calling these numbers just trying to request my luggage be delivered. Still no answers.


This Christmas. I lost:

Three hours waiting after my plane was delayed before the cancel.

Half an hour on hold on the black phone getting my money refunded.

Four hours in the baggage area.

Five hours of time spent speed dialing the company to find my luggage and place a delivery order (so far).

two vacation days from work

$40.00 for a cab to the airport

$15 in baggage check fees

$30 (if my bag is delivered)

The chance to see my family this year and the chance to spend Christmas with my family.

All confidence in Delta. Not only did they cancel my flight and leave me no options to get to my detonation that day or the next, and loose my luggage they were beyond rude to me, they were malicious, like they were getting off on having the ability to hurt someone. Getting off on having a bit of power.

I understand cancellations and delays. But charging me for my lost luggage, yelling at me and being rude on top of it all is unacceptable. I hope they go out of business. I am NEVER using them again. I don;t care if they have wifi.