Delta Air Lines is adding YouTube onboard to its in-flight-entertainment library, a practical upgrade that matches how people like me actually watch videos today.

Delta Adds YouTube And YouTube Premium Access In Flight

Delta has rolled out a new partnership with YouTube that will bring streaming content directly to passengers through both seatback screens and Delta Sync Wi-Fi. The airline says SkyMiles members on equipped flights will also receive a complimentary 14-day trial of YouTube Premium, which includes ad-free viewing, background play, and offline downloads.

At launch, Delta will feature curated YouTube content across its seatback entertainment system, which already includes more than 165,000 screens across 930+ aircraft. On the connectivity side, passengers on domestic flights with Delta Sync Wi-Fi can log in to their SkyMiles account and unlock the YouTube Premium trial without having to enter credit card details.

To be clear, it won’t be like visiting YouTube itself. Instead, there will be programming collections available from many YouTube content creators.

Delta is also expanding its integration with YouTube Music. Boarding music has been updated with a new instrumental playlist designed in partnership with flight attendants. Longer term, the carrier says YouTube will play a role in its next-generation Delta Sync seatback platform, expected to debut in 2026, which will use a cloud-based architecture and allow faster updates to keep content fresh.

My Thoughts

I realize that with free high-speed Wi-Fi, passengers can already access YouTube on their smartphones or computers. Even so, this makes it easier and will include some of YouTube’s biggest starts.

This seems to be a smart move by Delta because it lines up with how people actually consume media. While most airlines still load up their seatback systems with movies and TV shows (and Delta will continue to do this too), YouTube remains the dominant platform for shorter content and music. Offering it onboard in an easily-accessible way makes sense, especially on domestic flights where passengers may not want to commit to a full movie.

Whether it’s music, podcasts, sermons, or shorts, I live on YouTube…I’ve paid for YouTube Premium for years and cannot imagine having to endure ads before videos or not being able to play videos in the background. I have no TV in my house, but I certainly have YouTube on my phones and computers.

I also appreciate that Delta is not hiding this behind an extra paywall. The Premium trial is offered as a perk to SkyMiles members, which is consistent with how Delta has positioned its loyalty program…free Wi-Fi is something that American and United still do not offer.

CONCLUSION

YouTube programming is now available on Delta, both through seatback entertainment and Delta Sync Wi-Fi. With a free Premium trial, passengers will be able to enjoy ad-free YouTube content in the air. It is a logical step for Delta and another example of how the airline continues to invest in inflight entertainment as a differentiator. Other U.S. carriers should take note…YouTube is the future.

image: Delta