Delta Makes In-Flight WiFi Messaging Free for All

Over the years, airline customers have certainly felt the pinch as fee after fee pushed up their total cost while legroom kept shrinking smaller and smaller. Well, finally travelers seem to have a rare win in the form of a previously paid amenity being provided gratis. Delta has just announced that, beginning October 1st, passengers will be able to message friends and family while aboard Wi-Fi equipped flights free of charge!

The new offering will allow you to utilize apps like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp while in the air. Better yet (for Apple users, at least), iMessage is also included in the free messaging program. Previously, Gogo β€” which partners with several other airlines including American and Delta to provide in-flight WiFi β€” offered free in-flight texting to T-Mobile customers while the rest of us had to shell out $2 for messaging privileges. Now any flyer with a WiFi-equipped device can connect to the “gogoinflight” network, open their browser to airborne.gogoinflight.com, and select the free messaging pass to get texting.

While this a pretty awesome development in my eyes, sadly the full-blown WiFi is still as pricey as ever. However, if you do plan on using the Internet on an upcoming flight, I definitely recommend purchasing a pass from Gogo while you’re still on the ground. For whatever reason, the plans you can buy in the sky are elevated, so you’ll save a considerable amount of money by pre-buying, especially if you have multiple flight segments in a day. Currently, a pre-purchased domestic day pass will run you $16 while a global day pass goes for $28.

It’s also worth noting that Delta has actually been working to upgrade their current WiFi and make it faster. Their 2Ku Gogo WiFi claims speeds up toΒ 15 Mbps and is available on select flights and aircraft types. So hopefully in the near future, the in-flight WiFi will at least be worth the money you end up spending on it.

In reality, saving $2 on a flight amenity is a small step forward, especially when you consider how much consumers have lost to airlines in the past couple decades. Still, at this point, I’ll take what I can get. It’s also nice to know that some airlines are still thinking about amenities and customer satisfaction as opposed to what other fees they can stick us with. Well done, Delta β€” keep ’em coming!

Author
Founder ~ Moneyat30
Kyle is a freelance writer - including being the head writer for Fioney.com. He also serves as editorial director for the Disney fan site LaughingPlace.com and the founder of Money@30.com. In 2015, Kyle and his wife Bekah moved from Los Angeles to Springfield MO in pursuit of greater financial freedom. Together, the pair enjoy travel, coffee, and spending time with their dog Rigby. Additionally, as of 2023, they become first-time homeowners.
Other Articles by Kyle Burbank
Delta Main Extra features
Travel Tuesday: Delta's New "Extra" Fares Join "Classic" Options
In marketing, there's the "good, better, best" concept. For example, think of how Old Navy, Gap, and Banana Republic are all different brand tiers of one company or how Apple has a budget iPhone 16e, the standard iPhone 16, and then the top-end iPhone 16 Pro. Well, it now seems as though Delta is taking...
Aven app and Starbucks coffee
I've Racked Up $75 in Free Starbucks from This App
A few months ago, I came across an ad on Instagram that said I could get free Starbucks each week just for 1) being a homeowner and 2) having good credit. Naturally, I was skeptical. In fact, although I started to fill out the information needed to get this deal, I put it aside for...
PupRing pendent
PupRing Review: Is it Legit? Worth It?
Since my wife and I got our dog Rigby, we've slowly but surely come to fit every stereotype of a modern pet owner. Yes, 90% of the photos on my phone are of her. My wife and I constantly send each other videos of dogs that remind us of Rigby. And somehow our dog spends...

Leave a Reply

Featured Articles
Travel Tuesday: Delta's New "Extra" Fares Join "Classic" Options
In marketing, there's the "good, better, best" concept. For example, think of how Old Navy, Gap, and Banana Republic are all different brand tiers of one company or how Apple has a budget iPhone 16e, the standard iPhone 16, and then the top-end iPhone 16 Pro. Well, it now seems as though Delta is taking...
I've Racked Up $75 in Free Starbucks from This App
A few months ago, I came across an ad on Instagram that said I could get free Starbucks each week just for 1) being a homeowner and 2) having good credit. Naturally, I was skeptical. In fact, although I started to fill out the information needed to get this deal, I put it aside for...
PupRing Review: Is it Legit? Worth It?
Since my wife and I got our dog Rigby, we've slowly but surely come to fit every stereotype of a modern pet owner. Yes, 90% of the photos on my phone are of her. My wife and I constantly send each other videos of dogs that remind us of Rigby. And somehow our dog spends...
Apple Card is Adding an Uber Perk (While Losing Another Benefit)
For months, Apple Card customers and observers have been waiting for updates on the card's future. After all, reports that the tech company and Goldman Sachs have been looking to end their partnership have been swirling for some time. Plus, if/when the product does change hands, it's expected that some major adjustments to its offerings...