Delta launches in-flight Internet

By Joe Brancatelli

THE CONNECTED FLYER

Delta (Slowly) Launches In-Flight Internet: When Delta Air Lines and Aircell announced in the summer that Delta would wire its entire domestic fleet for Wi-Fi services, there were grandiose promises: as many as 70 planes in service by the end of 2008 and the entire domestic Delta network wired by next summer. But as travelers have learned whenever in-flight Internet is involved, the hype always exceeds the reality. Delta has finally launched Wi-Fi — but it was only scheduled to have ten wired by the end of the year. Full domestic coverage is now promised for "late 2009" rather than the summer. At the moment, you can find Delta and Aircell’s in-flight wireless on five MD-88s on the New York/LaGuardia-Boston/Logan Shuttle and on a Boeing 757 that roams the domestic network. Prices range from $9.95 for three hours of access and $12.95 for longer flights. As you may know, American Airlines has been testing the Aircell system on about a dozen planes and Virgin America has the service on a single aircraft.

NEED TO KNOW

On-the-Road Intelligence to Help You Travel Smarter: The Department of Transportation (DOT) has raised the minimum domestic lost-baggage reimbursement rate to $3,300, up $300 from the old limit. Of course, most airlines adopt the DOT minimumas their maximum reimbursement rate, so it’s a matter of semantics — unless you sue the airline when it loses your bags. … Thai Airways has reduced the free baggage allowance for coach passengers to 50 pounds a bag from the previous 70 pounds. … The Italian railways have a fast new link on the Rome-Milan run. The new Frecciarossa (Red Arrow) trains connect Italy’s political and financial capitals in three hours and 30 minutes, which shaves an hour off the previous travel time. … Air France has made a free stopover in Paris a part of connecting itineraries over its Paris/CDG hub.

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Joe Brancatelli is editor and publisher of JoeSentMe.com, a non-commercial Web site for business travelers. Copyright 2009 by Joe Brancatelli. Licensed by contract for Orbitz use.

Tagged: Europe