How Important Is In-Flight Wi-Fi

Delta Air Lines has drawn criticism for not adopting Starlink, especially as United Airlines expands it quickly and American has also committed. The article contrasts that Delta provides complimentary Wi‑Fi on almost all aircraft, while United’s free access is tied to flights equipped with Starlink. The author argues that while Starlink’s performance can be “game-changing,” the Wi‑Fi provider itself may not strongly drive airline choice for most travelers. In their view, the bigger deciding factor is whether Wi‑Fi is free or paid, particularly on long-haul flights. The piece ends by asking whether paid vs. free onboard internet truly affects booking decisions.