Delta Airlines starts offering free Wi-Fi
Delta Airlines has announced that it will soon be rolling out WiFi on its international flights, meaning travelers aboard Delta flights will be able to browse the internet completely free of charge at altitudes of 35,000 feet.
According to Travel NewsDelta Air Lines has announced that WiFi will be available on its South African routes from mid-2025, subject to aircraft installation schedules.
“Our continued rollout of fast, free WiFi and the in-flight experiences it enables will enable us to offer new, more tailored experiences to our customers as they travel domestically and internationally,” Ranjan Goswami, Delta’s senior vice president of customer experience design, told Travel News.
“During the airline’s WiFi transition period, unfortunately there will be some coverage gaps where WiFi is not available until additional satellites are installed to provide complete coverage. Until these additional satellites are operational and these aircraft are equipped with upgraded satellite WiFi, paid Intelsat WiFi will be available on some aircraft,” the airline said in a press release.
How can you stay safe when using in-flight WiFi?
While we wait for Delta’s free WiFi to roll out, here are five tips for staying safe while using in-flight WiFi.
1. Use a VPN
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is one of the most effective tools for protecting your online activity when using in-flight Wi-Fi. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic, making it much harder for hackers to intercept your data.
Download and install a trusted VPN app on your device before your flight, then enable the VPN as soon as you connect to the in-flight Wi-Fi, which creates a secure tunnel for your internet traffic, keeping your data private even on a shared network.
2. Avoid accessing sensitive information
In-flight Wi-Fi networks are shared by many passengers, increasing the risk of unauthorized access to your data. To minimize this risk, avoid accessing any sensitive information while connected to in-flight Wi-Fi.
Avoid online banking, online shopping, logging into accounts that contain personal information like email or social media accounts, and do these activities when you are using a more secure network.
3. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security to your online accounts by requiring a second form of verification, such as a text message or authenticator app.
Make sure you have 2FA enabled on all your important accounts, including email, social media, financial services, etc. That way, even if someone manages to get hold of your login credentials, they’ll still need a second form of authentication to actually access your account.
