Delta offering free texting

Thanks! That is good to know!

Yes, Delta's CEO mentioned it today on "CBS This Morning."

Nice, but I'd prefer a little legroom.

Oh, Eric, you made me laugh. There's a lot I'd prefer above texting, but I'll take the little I can get!

Do you have a link for this? Gogo usually has a fee. Does it work en route to foreign destinations?

Link to info on Delta's website: https://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/traveling-with-us/onboard-services/delta-studio/in-flight-wi-fi.html

Thats a good way to kill time on a long flight.

Free is a relative term. Every time an airline offers something for 'free', you can be sure you are actually paying for it in increased ticket costs/fees.

Cheap gimmicks to make up for the uncomfortable flying experience. Delta is obviously trying to stand out among other mediocre airlines by throwing out shiny objects. Who the heck needs to "stay connected" every minute of their waking hours? Texting just to fill time? At least in the past, being on a flight means you could escape for a while and be off the grid, now it's just like being on the ground.

As a War Baby (born 3 months after D-day) I don't stay connected on flights -- I barely stay awake!

I love to disconnect when I'm flying. I'll listen to music, but I do that on an iPod which does not have an internet connection. Otherwise, I read a book. I people watch. And if I'm lucky, I eat & drink if the flight offers it.

Thanks for the link, Dave. I wonder if "wi-fi enabled" free texting applies across the ocean and internationally.

Who the heck needs to "stay connected" every minute of their waking hours?

People who have jobs that require it. Not everyone on the airplane is going to Europe on vacation.

It seems sad that the airlines have taken away so much that providing free texting feels like a win.

It seems sad that the airlines have taken away so much that providing
free texting feels like a win.

I don't see it that way. Airlines may have "taken away" certain comforts but the airfares have also dropped in the last 2-3 years between JFK and much of Europe and for that, I'm grateful. My husband and I can go on long weekends to Amsterdam during Memorial Day weekend for less than a roundtrip ticket between LGA and Pittsburgh! Thanks also to international discount airlines, crossing the Atlantic is doable enough that we can sometimes travel to European cities 2X per year. My major airline is Delta because I fly it on business and have metal status; Delta is dropping fares enough to make European visits a reality and instead of a pipe dream. So I'm not sad one bit. I'm thrilled and will enjoy this as long as the dollar remains strong and the airfares are competitive.

I'll be on Delta to Europe next week and am curious to see how the free texting will work.

Move and countermoves. American air has decided to add free texting too.

I used free texting roundtrip between JFK and LHR. Not only could I text but I could also access my email in real time!!

A very nice bonus as I could use the time on board by cleaning out the clutter of the inbox. The FAs were not versed in it however. If you are flying in October, just open the Sky Magazine to page 152 for easy instructions.

That's good to hear! I assume you were on iPhone? I have iPhone for work and android for personal so I'll test it out next week...

Celeste, I do have an iPhone. You'll be able to access texting/email when you hear the announcement about reaching 10,000 feet and the access will end sometime between the announcements of the initial and final descent.

Have a great trip.