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Delta Makes In-Flight Entertainment Free For All Passengers

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In an era of excessive fees in all corners of the flight experience, Delta Air Lines bucked the trend last week by announcing its intentions to make in-flight entertainment free for all passengers in two-cabin aircraft. Throughout the fleet, according to its release, that should account for about 90% of Delta's service.

The free entertainment comes through Delta Studio, the airline's entertainment portal that channels content both through seatback screens and streaming wireless internet.

Delta's new offering will be in sharp contrast to many of its legacy carrier contemporaries. Both American Airlines and United Airlines charge for in-flight entertainment on a broad spectrum of domestic flights, though each makes sure to carve out a corner of content that's free at all times. United, for example, charges for movies and television on its DirecTV-enabled flights, while its streaming Private Screening product is available for free on others. In making this move, Delta appears to be illustrating a competitive advantage over its competing peers and also taking a stab at low-cost carriers like JetBlue and Virgin America, which tend to offer a wider spectrum of free in-flight entertainment.

Part of Delta's new offering is also part of an increase in some passenger benefits in the face of a globally devolving domestic economy experience. American, Delta and United are all in the midst of an arms race to enhance their onboard and airport catering experiences, with each one-upping the other on a near-weekly basis. The in-flight entertainment race may be the next chapter in that battle.

At the same time though, carriers have also been in the process of overhauling their economy products to make classes of service more distinctive and some perks harder to get. Led by Delta Air Lines, new "basic economy" fares will soon exclude budget travelers from perks such as complimentary upgrades and waived checked baggage fees, effectively punishing consumers for buying the cheapest fare. While it's easy to see how upgraded catering and entertainment could thus be a benefit, it's also equally possible that the improvements are simply a diversion.

Delta's new free Studio offerings go into effect on July 1.