The Southwest Wi-Fi Guide: Everything You Need to Know 2025

Enjoy free entertainment and messaging in flight. Additional Wi-Fi access costs $8 per device per flight. Did you imagine twenty years ago that you would be scrolling through social media on your smartphone while 30,000 feet above the ground? Most likely not. Now, more than ever, airlines are installing Wi-Fi in their aircraft. While the connections are different, all of them have one common goal: keeping you connected. Southwest Airlines follows suit. There is Wi-Fi available on most of the airline’s fleet.

southwest wi-fi

However, whether you pay or not depends on the type of internet you require and your activities. Southwest Wi-Fi and its cost are explained, along with the entertainment options that you can enjoy on your flight. Families Travel Free has partnered up with CardRatings in order to offer coverage of credit cards. Families travel free, and CardRatings can receive a fee from card issuers. Opinions, reviews and analyses are solely those of the author. These opinions, reviews and analyses have not undergone any review, endorsement or approval by these organizations.

Looking for Southwest Wifi

Southwest Airlines has WiFi available on ALL flights. Southwest is a frequent flyer for me. I travel at least six times per year (FREE!). I frequently use the WiFi on flights to check work or to send personal emails. You can use my advice on how to make the most of Southwest’s WiFi by using it yourself.

Learn how you can fly free of charge by collecting travel rewards and redeeming them. Our premier online program allows you to save thousands by following our SIMPLE, step-by-step process. You will also enjoy 1-on-1 assistance, a vibrant travel community, timely webinars, and travel alerts. It has allowed hundreds of thousands of people to travel MORE with less spending, all the while creating priceless moments with their families. You shouldn’t delay travelling with your family anymore.

Read: FintechZoom Best Student Credit Cards: A Comprehensive Guide for Students

Does Southwest have Wi-Fi?

The airline may not offer completely free WiFi, but you can still purchase it at a reasonable price. You can access Southwest’s in-flight media network by bringing your device on board. , the free entertainment network, allows you access to live TV from many networks as well as some TV shows on your smartphone or iPad. (see complete list of supported devices ), as well as FREE movies, including the TOP NEW releases. Southwest has updated its inflight media options. They now offer movies, music and TV. Streaming media can be done directly on your smartphone, laptop, or tablet without downloading an app.

I often work when I fly Southwest (I view it as my flying office :)),), so I take advantage of the Southwest WiFi service to browse the Web and check email. But I still have to pay the $8 per day fee to access the WiFi. Top Tip – WiFi Southwest has a daily rate of $8 for all the WiFi services, including email and web browsing.

Learn how you can fly free of charge by collecting travel rewards and redeeming them. Our premier online program allows you to learn our SIMPLE and step-by-step system while saving thousands of dollars. The app has enabled hundreds of families to travel more and spend less while still making precious memories with their families. You shouldn’t delay travelling with your family anymore.

Acquire appropriate details for WI-FI service Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines operates as a budget airline to many destinations. You can make your flight more exciting and enjoyable by choosing the WI-FI service. Inflight Entertainment and Internet services are offered by this United States-based airline. They can be selected to make your flight experience more pleasant. Southwest will offer you free internet if A-List members or business select passengers authorize you. Southwest’s WIFI will allow you to connect three technical devices. The service is easily available during your flight.

Southwest Airlines provides free Wi-Fi

Southwest Airlines provides free Wi-Fi if you qualify as an A-List member or Business Class passenger. Southwest Airlines Wi-Fi is free, and you can access it to enjoy in-flight movies, music, and other entertainment. To stay connected, you can use the internet service for your inflight entertainment as well as free texting using iMessage, WhatsApp and other apps on your device. When you use the WIFI service on board, especially below, you will gain more.

  • Internet access will cost $8 per device for the duration of your flight. However, A-List members and Business Select customers will receive this service free of charge.
    Southwest Airlines does not offer headphones or seatback screens for rent. For your comfort, you are welcome to carry your headphones. They are required when a passenger is listening to audio.
  • You will receive the Southwest Celebrates Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage tip specifically, and you can also check out the TV series during your tip. Southwest Airlines also offers a new film to watch while you fly.

How do I get WI-FI on Southwest Airlines?

The internet connection is always good for emailing, browsing and light streaming. You can still use the in-flight WiFI service to stream high-definition video or do bandwidth-intensive tasks, but they may not work optimally due to bandwidth limitations. Follow these simple steps to enable the WI-FI on Southwest Airlines.

  • Open the browser and connect to Southwest WI-FI.
  • Visit southwestwifi.com and select the WIFI option from the menu.
  • Click on Next after you have logged in with your correct ID and password.
  • You can surf the web on your device immediately after connecting to the WIFI service.
  • You can ask a flight attendant or cabin crew member for help if you are having trouble with the internet.

The Key Takeaways

  • Inflight entertainment offers free access to movies on demand, live TV, music and messaging apps such as iMessage or WhatsApp.
  • Southwest Airlines offers WiFi for $8 per device, but it is only available on domestic flights.
  • Members of A-List Preferred and those with a Southwest Rapid Rewards Credit Card get free Wi-Fi.

Previously, flights were much less enjoyable. You had to wait for a movie to be playing on your flight when you wanted it. You had to bring your iPod (or Discman, Walkman or other portable music player) with you if you wanted to hear some music. You were out of luck if you wanted to watch TV live. Things have improved.

Inflight entertainment is a popular feature on many airlines today. This includes movies, flight tracking, and TV programs.

Southwest Airlines offers a wide range of inflight entertainment options and Wi-Fi. Southwest Airlines is often categorized as a budget airline, but it offers a surprising inflight entertainment system that includes movies, live TV and on-demand television.

What Activities Can You Do on Southwest WiFi?

Southwest Airlines features an entertainment portal inflight that is free of charge. You can enjoy live and on-demand TV, music, movies, and a flight tracker that will let you know how long the flight is.

Southwest Inflight Entertainment

The free entertainment options, such as TV, movies and music, are not available for the duration of international flights. WiFi can be used until you reach an international border.

Southwest Airlines WiFi: How to Access It

  1. Please turn on your WiFi-enabled devices and put them in aeroplane mode. Make sure you have your WiFi on, even if in aeroplane mode.
  2. Connect by selecting “Southwest WiFi” in your wireless network list.
  3. You can also type Southwestwifi.com directly into your browser’s address bar.

Southwest’s inflight portal features a flight-tracking feature, free live television, free on-demand TV, music, movies and access to the Internet for only $8 per device and flight.

What is the Cost of Wi-Fi on Southwest Airlines

You can get internet access on a WiFi-enabled plane for $8 per flight per device. It allows you to surf the Internet, check email or access social networks. Southwest offers a few free options for inflight entertainment.

Hot Tip: Southwest charges $8 per device every day but changes to $8 for each device on flights starting February 2023.

Free Live TV

Southwest’s inflight entertainment system offers you a range of free entertainment, including a live TV channel.

  • ABC
  • CBS
  • CNBC
  • CNN
  • ESPN
  • FOX
  • Fox News
  • HGTV
  • NBC
  • NFL Network
  • TBS
  • USA

Get Free On-Demand TV

You can view a number of TV shows for free during your flights. The selection changes from time to time, but includes popular shows such “Parks and Recreation,” The Office,” Chopped,” and Cocomelon.

Tip: Southwest will be adding USB-A/USB-C power outlets to its latest planes in 2023 and improving the WiFi speeds and bandwidth.

Movies

During your flight, you can access movies free of charge in the browser.

Musicians

iHeartRadio offers you the opportunity to listen to music while on a flight.

Get Free Texts

If you want to keep in touch with your family and friends on your flight, you are able to do so for free via iMessage.

Bottomline: The Southwest portal for in-flight entertainment offers free live and On-Demand TV, music, movies, and texting. WiFi access costs $8 per device per flight.

Southwest Flights offer FREE WiFi.

Inflight Wi-Fi is great… but what’s better than free? Southwest provides two different ways for passengers to receive free WiFi.

Earn A-List Priority Status

Southwest Wi-Fi is available for free to A-List Preferred Members.

To qualify for A-List status after a calendar year, you have to complete 40 one-way flights that meet the requirements or earn 70,000 points.

The purchase of a revenue ticket or the use of a Card for Southwest Rapid Rewards.

Southwest Card (r). Rapid rewards card (r). Performance business credit card

The Southwest Performance Business credit card offers complimentary WiFi as an added benefit. It doesn’t provide unlimited WiFi, but it is pretty close.

Each year, this card will give you 8 WiFi Credits. If you use your Southwest Performance Business cards to purchase Wi-Fi, you’ll get a statement credit for the cost.

Bottom LineSouthwest Airlines offers 2 ways to earn free Wi-Fi. Either you can achieve A-List Preferred, or you can use the Southwest Performance Business cards to pay the fee, and it will be reimbursed.

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Final Thoughts

Southwest does many things well, including No charge for checked-in bags and Not charging any fees for changes or cancelling flights.

You can also enjoy free movies, live TV and music on the plane.

Southwest Performance Business Cards and A-List Preferred Status holders get this fee waived.

Top WiFi Southwest Tips

  • Download WhatsApp before your flight if you wish to benefit from free texting.
  • This also works with iMessage between two iPhones connected via WiFi.
  • To gain access, you will have to accept the terms of the messaging page on the portal.
  • You and the other person who you want to text must both have iMessage installed (i.e. an iPhone – you can tell by the blue bubble).
  • Ensure that all devices have the latest software installed (and are charged! ).
  • Southwest now has outlets for charging devices on SOME planes. I’ve been on some of their planes. It’s really cool!
  • Inflight entertainment is also affected if the WiFi does not work.
  • If the in-flight entertainment fails, make sure your kids have a few movies that you’ve downloaded through services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and iTunes (all of these will allow you to download selected movies). You can also give them a book or some other activity.

FAQs

How much does cost of Southwest Wi-Fi Airlines Flight?

You can purchase Wi-Fi for $8 per flight per device.

How Can I get free Wi-Fi on a Southwest Flight?

Southwest flights with Wi-Fi enable can offer free movies and TV to anyone. A-List Preferred members can waive the $8 Wi-Fi fee. You can get credit for up to 365 charges per year if you charge the $8 Wi Fi fee to your Southwest Performance Business Card.

Is Southwest raising fees?

Southwest will change the price of Wi-Fi on February 21, 2023 from $8 per day down to $8 per flight. If you are traveling with a companion, you will need to pay an additional $16 to get Wi-Fi for both flights instead of the $8 you paid before.

Can you FaceTime on a Southwest Flight?

Southwest restricts the use of certain high-bandwidth websites, applications and videoconferencing services like FaceTime. Also, content that could be offensive may also be restricted.