Domestic airlines push ahead with in-flight WiFi, 2,000 planes in 2009

After hearing that Delta would equip its entire US fleet with Aircell's Gogo in-flight WiFi in 2009, along comes a release from Aircell that says otherwise. In fact, it proclaims that "Delta Air Lines is expected to launch service before the end of 2008." Furthermore, the company has confessed that "most major US carriers are in advanced discussions with or are already contractually committed to Aircell," which certainly bodes well for avid travelers who take issue with long periods of disconnection. Aircell is hoping to have its in-flight internet tech installed in 2,000 commercial aircraft by the end of 2009.

Delta aligns its fees with Northwest's

Delta said it is making changes in its fee structures to make them consistent with those of Northwest, which will eventually be merged into Delta.

Among the changes:

• For travel starting December 5, Delta domestic travelers will have to pay $15 for the first checked bag and $25 for the second, the same fees that Northwest charges. Delta currently lets passengers check one bag free and charges $50 for the second. SkyMiles Medallion and WorldPerks elite members, as well as first and business class passengers, will be allowed to check up to three bags for free; full-fare coach passengers will be allowed two checked bags for no charge. 
• Effective immediately, Delta is scrapping the fuel surcharges that were instituted earlier this year at both airlines for claiming award tickets in the SkyMiles and WorldPerks programs.
  
• Delta has started selling "Choice Coach Seats" on select flights for a charge of $5 to $25 — the same as Northwest has been doing for some time. The option is offered to persons using self-service check-in, guaranteeing them a preferred seat assignment. The fee varies based on distance and seat location. SkyMiles Medallion members, WorldPerks elites, SkyTeam elites and those traveling on full-fare Y or B tickets can select a Choice Seat for no fee when they check in online or at an airport kiosk.
• Delta has cut the fee for telephone ticket purchases from $25 to $20, the same as Northwest's; the same fee reduction also applies to frequent flyer award tickets booked over the phone.
• Effective December 5, Delta said it will eliminate its $3 "curbside check-in administrative fee" paid by passengers who check their bags with a skycap at airports worldwide.
  

Delta executive VP Steve Gorman said Delta does not expect to be affected by ending its first-checked-bag-free policy, since it is the last of the legacy carriers to add a fee. "The increase in bags being carried on board Delta aircraft this year tells us that customers are not differentiating Delta as the only major airline not charging for a first checked bag," he said.

Some commentary on this... Actually, Southwest is considered a major airline, and it does not charge for a checked bag.

Northwest is joining Delta

It's official !! Northwest is joining Delta.

Just hours after they received clearance from the antitrust regulators at the Justice Department, Delta and Northwest Airlines announced the completion of their long-awaited merger, making Northwest a wholly owned subsidiary of Delta.

The company will be headquartered in Atlanta, and the airlines announced plans to combine their operations over the next year or two—although some changes will come sooner.

Among them:

• Delta will put its code on "nearly all the Northwest system" by the end of this year 
  
• The two airlines will institute "immediate complimentary upgrade reciprocity" for the elite members of their frequent flyer programs, so that a Delta SkyMiles elite member's status will apply when he seeks a Northwest upgrade, and vice versa. 
• Delta and Northwest will roll out "a fully consolidated worldwide flight schedule" by next summer. 
• Delta's staff uniforms, aircraft livery, in-flight entertainment and other amenities will be introduced to Northwest's system beginning in the spring. 
• The two airlines' mileage programs will eventually be consolidated, "ultimately including the ability to combine miles from SkyMiles and WorldPerks accounts at a one-to-one ratio." 
• The two airlines' web sites, passenger kiosks and other "customer-facing technology" will be fully integrated.