Travel made for you: Fast, free Wi-Fi with Delta Sync
OVERVIEW
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Delta is carrying out its industry-leading commitment to bringing fast, free Wi-Fi presented by T-Mobile to its entire global fleet.
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First announced at CES 2023, reliable, streaming-quality connectivity will be available from the time the boarding door closes to the moment the plane arrives at the gate, allowing customers to connect during travel and spend their time in a way that suits them – just like they would at home, for free1.
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Delta expects the vast majority of our customers to have access to fast, free Wi-Fi by the end of 2024, and expects select remaining regional and international routes will come online into 2025. Our teams are hard at work ensuring we have the best technology onboard to deliver the experience customers expect at scale and reliably across our network.
DELTA SYNC
Delta Sync is Delta’s personalization brand, powering the future of travel through SkyMiles® membership. It currently encompasses two industry-leading entertainment products that have been rolling out as part of the Wi-Fi experience onboard:
- Delta Sync Wi-Fi brings streaming-quality connectivity to the sky and is available on personal devices – cell phones, laptops, etc. – via the Delta Sync Wi-Fi login page.
- Delta Sync seatback elevates our industry-leading seatback screens to make them feel more like smart TVs.
These new onboard experiences make your seat in the sky feel more like a seat in your living room, giving you new ways to enjoy travel with connectivity and personalized entertainment that is fit for you.
SkyMiles members can enjoy exclusive offers, access and entertainment from mainstay brands they know and love, including T-Mobile, Paramount+, Walmart+, American Express, Atlas Obscura, Resy and New York Times Games.
Delta Sync is seamlessly integrated with SkyMiles membership and the Fly Delta app, creating the ultimate personalized experience in the sky.
Over the next few years, Delta will be rolling out additional Delta Sync products that will enable a more elevated and meaningful customer experience—from booking to arrival and beyond.
DELTA SYNC WI-FI
In a nutshell: Fast, free streaming and so much more for SkyMiles Members
Once connected to Delta Sync Wi-Fi on their laptop, tablet or smartphone, SkyMiles members get immediate access to exclusive content from hand-picked brands that Delta has partnered with to make their onboard time well-spent.
Key features included as part of the Delta Sync Wi-Fi experience include:
- My Exclusives: Customers can enjoy premium entertainment, access and offers from mainstay brands they know and love.
- My Flight: Because customers will be connected to free, fast Wi-Fi, they can also navigate to this tab for inspiration on what awaits at their destination along with what they need to know about their journey.
Delta plans to partner with additional premium brands to refresh and elevate the experience over time.
DELTA SYNC SEATBACK
In a nutshell: Smart TV personalization on the seatback screen unlocked by SkyMiles Membership
Delta Sync seatback is available today on all Airbus A321ceo and Boeing 757-200 (75D) aircraft, and Delta plans to bring the new seatback product to Airbus A319s and A320s, as well as Boeing 737-800 aircraft, by the end of the summer.
The new seatback screen platform aims to change how customer loyalty and in-flight experience work together to the benefit of the customer. Delta has a vision for building a program for SkyMiles members both on the ground and in the air that gives them opportunities to engage with the airline beyond the flight.
SkyMiles members will enjoy a refreshed look and feel, best-in-class content and smart TV features designed to feel like streaming services customers have used at home. These features include remembering where you left off in a movie, listing your favorite movies and series, and more.
Delta Sync seatback also offers a host of day-of-travel tools for SkyMiles members designed to streamline their travel journey. The new My Flight category includes details tailored to each user about their connecting flights, including terminal and gate locations as well as scheduled connection times. SkyMiles members who log in to Delta Sync seatback will also receive real-time notifications delivered directly to their seatback screen about any adjustments to their connecting flight’s schedule or other pertinent trip details.
Logging in to Delta Sync seatback follows a familiar process. Customers simply follow the two-step prompt on their seatback screen to seamlessly connect their SkyMiles account to the personalized experience using the Fly Delta app.
BY THE NUMBERS
Since launching fast, free Wi-Fi in February 2023*:
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Teams led by Delta TechOps have diligently navigated the complex process of outfitting more than 650 aircraft with free Wi-Fi, one-by-one.
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Millions of fliers have joined Delta SkyMiles through accessing Delta Sync Wi-Fi, giving them access not only to free Wi-Fi but also to connected experiences that make travel on Delta unique, rewarding and memorable.
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More than 39 million travelers have enjoyed the aircraft as the ultimate platform for discovery – logging more than 45 million streaming-quality sessions onboard.
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SkyMiles members on more than 185 aircraft have enjoyed Delta Sync seatback. With over 161,000 seatback screens across more than 850 aircraft—more than double that of the nearest domestic competitor—the airline leads the industry in in-flight entertainment.
*As of Feb. 29, 2023.
FAQS
WHY IS DELTA DOUBLING DOWN ON IN-FLIGHT CONNECTIVITY?
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As high travel demand continues to highlight the importance of customer satisfaction across the airline industry, Delta is focused on delivering immediate benefits to customer loyalty. Traditionally, airline loyalty programs have been built on the idea of longer-term benefits—that customers should sign up, enjoy their travel, and over time, receive benefits for the loyalty they’ve shown. Delta’s shift away from this approach to one of immediate value reflects the airline’s commitment to staying ahead in a dynamic industry and keeping pace with evolving customer interests.
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By joining SkyMiles and filling out a profile, Delta Sync automatically uses that information to personalize customers’ experiences on flights. As customers deepen their relationships with Delta through these logged-in member experiences, the airline is able to serve them in new, in-the-moment ways, ultimately furthering their preference for the Delta brand.
HOW IS DELTA PARTNERING WITH SATELLITE PROVIDERS TO BRING FREE WI-FI TO ITS FLEET?
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Delta utilizes best-in-class technology in collaboration with leading satellite internet service providers Viasat and Hughes to make its complex connectivity revolution a reality.
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Viasat technology delivers high-speed connectivity onboard domestic mainline routes today (with the exception of the 74 aircraft in Delta’s Boeing 717 fleet) and is expanding onboard the airline’s international-serving widebody fleets.
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Hughes is bringing streaming-capable connectivity to Delta’s fleet of more than 400 regional jets as well as to the Boeing 717 fleet.
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The technology from both suppliers will replace Intelsat systems (formerly known as Gogo).
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Both trusted partners play a crucial role in providing a consistent and enhanced in-flight connectivity experience for Delta passengers across various aircraft types and routes.
WHEN WILL FAST, FREE WI-FI BE AVAILABLE ACROSS DELTA’S GLOBAL FLEET?
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More than 650 aircraft are in service today with fast, free Delta Sync Wi-Fi, and Delta expects free Wi-Fi availability to represent more than 90% of total available seat miles (ASMs) by the end of 2024. Connectivity at this scale remains unmatched in the industry.
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Streaming-capable Hughes connectivity is on its way to Delta’s fleet of more than 400 regional jets as well as to its Boeing 717 fleet, with the first regional aircraft set to come online later this year. Select regional and international routes are expected to come online into 2025, including those serviced by Boeing 717 aircraft.
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As Delta outfits its widebody aircraft with upgraded Wi-Fi and rigorously evaluates its performance, free Wi-Fi will be phased by market as high-quality, reliable service becomes available. This strategy mirrors the approach taken with domestic installations in 2022 and aims to deliver a premium customer experience.
HOW DO CUSTOMERS KNOW IF FREE WI-FI IS AVAILABLE ON THEIR FLIGHT?
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Customers can visit delta.com/wifi for more information on what Wi-Fi service to expect on their next flight. During booking, Wi-Fi-ready aircraft are identifiable by the “fast-streaming Wi-Fi” indicator denoted on a search result.
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In addition, customers can reference pre-flight emails, app notifications or look for the following decal located near the boarding door:
HOW DO CUSTOMERS CONNECT TO FREE WI-FI?
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Delta Sync Wi-Fi is available from pushback to park. Once the boarding door closes, customers are free to connect to the onboard Wi-Fi network by selecting the “DeltaWiFi.com” network in their device’s settings. After connecting, customers enter their SkyMiles number and password.
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If a customer navigates away from Delta Sync on their personal device, they can return to the dashboard by simply entering deltawifi.com into a web browser on a mobile device, tablet or laptop connected to Delta Sync Wi-Fi.
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A parent or guardian can obtain Delta SkyMiles accounts for children younger than 16 so they can connect to Delta Sync Wi-Fi while traveling.
CAN CUSTOMERS CONNECT ON MULTIPLE DEVICES AT THE SAME TIME?
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Yes. In fact, since the introduction of Delta Sync Wi-Fi, the airline has discovered that many people are actively using multiple screens simultaneously while flying, mirroring the experience in their living rooms. This insight came as Delta learned that offering fast, free Wi-Fi has not resulted in any decline in seatback engagement, something that was hypothesized before the introduction of Delta Sync Wi-Fi.
WHAT IS THE EXPERIENCE FOR SOMEONE WHO ISN’T A SKYMILES MEMBER?
For Delta Sync Wi-Fi:
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Customers without a SkyMiles account can join for free directly from the login page, if needed, to get immediate access to Delta Sync Wi-Fi.
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Customers who prefer to not have a SkyMiles account have the option to purchase Wi-Fi access. They will receive the same fast, reliable connection regardless of how they connect.
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Customers who pay for Wi-Fi access will still have access to the internet but will not have access to the personalized entertainment and offers from Delta’s partners via Delta Sync Wi-Fi.
For Delta Sync seatback:
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Customers who choose not to pair their SkyMiles account to the seatback screen will still be able to enjoy the hours of hit movies, TV series and audio content but will not have access to the personalization features associated with the new logged-in experience.
For more information on Delta’s Wi-Fi, visit delta.com/wifi.
Through the warmth and service of the Delta people and the power of innovation, Delta never stops looking for ways make every trip feel fit for you.
1Wi-Fi Terms of Use Apply. Available on most domestic flights.
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