Delta rejected Starlink for corporate vanity. Now United gets it by 2027, and we get nothing until 2028. Time to email Ed & Allison!
Hey everyone, (FYI I have no affiliation with Starlink or Elon lol, I am simply a Delta Diamond member who owns a small biz and likes to be productive in flight - adding this now as I noticed some folks think I am a bot or working for Elon).
If you're wondering why Delta's in-flight Wi-Fi has been struggling while competitors are upgrading, the latest news that just dropped is going to clarify.
According to an early SpaceX investor on CNBC this week **(**google it, it's all over the news today), Delta explicitly rejected a deal with Starlink. The reason? A branding dispute. Delta was unwilling to compromise on forcing passengers through their "Delta Sync" branded portal. Because Starlink wouldn't play ball with Delta's corporate vanity project, the deal died
For those of us who pay a premium to fly Delta—especially business travelers who actually need reliable internet to work—this is a shortsighted blunder. We just want Wi-Fi that works. Gatekeeping decent connectivity for the sake of a branded portal is the exact opposite of a premium customer experience.
If this bothers you too (I realize it won't for some, that's fine) Please take 60 seconds today to email the executive team. Consider making it clear that prioritizing "Delta Sync" over reliable Starlink Wi-Fi is a dealbreaker that is going to push business travelers to United.
Ed Bastian (CEO): ed.bastian@delta.com
Allison Ausband (Chief Customer Experience Officer): allison.ausband@delta.com
What to include:
- Your SkyMiles number and Medallion status.
- Tell them you do not care about Delta Sync; you care about fast, reliable internet.
- Tell them waiting until 2028 while competitors pull ahead is unacceptable.
Let’s remind them who actually funds their airline.