Delta will offer free messaging on flights, but never, never phone calls

Free iMessage, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger.
 By 
Emma Hinchliffe
 on 
Delta will offer free messaging on flights, but never, never phone calls
Free texting. Credit: Branden Camp/AP/REX/Shutterstock

Delta Airlines has a plan that'll totally change the U.S. flying experience. The airline will offer free in-flight mobile messaging on most of its flights starting Oct. 1.

But phone calls?

"Never in my lifetime," said Delta CEO Ed Bastian.

Bastian talked about his airline's plan on CBS This Morning Wednesday. The move makes Delta the first U.S. global carrier—aka the first out of Delta, American Airlines, and United Airlines—to offer free messaging.

Delta's messaging offering will be wifi-enabled, letting passengers send messages via iMessage, WhatsApp, and Facebook Messenger. SMS isn't included, nor is sending photos or videos. Flights that don't already have the Gogo wifi that was previously available for purchase won't offer free messaging.

"We know many of Delta's customers want or need to stay connected in the air and on the ground, which is why we're investing in an easy, free way to send and receive messages inflight through some of the most popular global platforms," Delta Chief Marketing Officer Tim Mapes said in a statement.

Delta flights will be another place you can stay connected for free. Unless you try to text your friend with an Android.

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Emma Hinchliffe

Emma Hinchliffe is a business reporter at Mashable. Before joining Mashable, she covered business and metro news at the Houston Chronicle.

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