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Southwest Airlines Media Day 2010: WiFi Details (Including Price) Revealed

dridley
Explorer C

In my last WiFi post, I promised that we would reveal the remaining details, including the price, in late October.

Today, I am pleased to announce that, after many months of price tests, Customer surveys, and industry observations, we are revealing a special introductory flat rate of $5! That's right ... for only $5 you can have full access to the Internet from departure to arrival. We plan to stay at a flat rate of $5 for all flight lengths and device types (laptop or handheld) as we continue to add to our growing number of WiFi-enabled aircraft. As of today, we have 32 planes installed with the Row 44 system, and we are adding to that number weekly.



So, how will you know you're on a WiFi plane? During the installation phase, we plan to roll out Customer notification and advance-purchase options. In the shortterm, we will be sending e-mails to Customers scheduled to be on a WiFi plane 24 hours before departure. Once onboard, Customers will be met by our new WiFi signs announcing they are onboard a "Southwest Airlines WiFi Hotspot." And, of course, our wonderful airport Employees and Flight Attendants will be helping us spread the word as well!



Once the Flight Attendants announce it is safe to turn on electronic devices, you simply have to boot up, select "Southwest WiFi" and launch your Internet browser. You will then have access to limited free content including a flight tracker, games, shopping, and all that southwest.com has to offer via the "Southwest Airlines WiFi Hotspot" portal. You can then choose to spend your time exploring the free portal or pay the low introductory $5 to check e-mail, visit Facebook, watch YouTube ... the opportunities are endless! (Please note: VoIP--Voice Over Internet Protocol--is blocked).

At Southwest, we are dedicated to providing the best service at a great value, and WiFi is no exception. We hope to see you onboard one of our WiFi planes soon! For more information about Southwest’s WiFi, visit southwest.com/wifi.

70 Comments
Anonymous1751
Explorer C
Great, now the trailer park pax will be dragging out their laptops.
a-lister1
Explorer C
I second (third, whatever) the motion for trading wifi for drink coupons!
Jim_in_Orlando
Explorer C
Great service!!! I hope its on my flight to Denver next weekend. Well worth the price. Good idea to use a drink coupon for the internet. Still a bit worried about buying Air Tran (former value jet) I think all the employees of Air Tran should re-interview and go through training. Im worried the excellent service and culture maybe lost in this but out...
Susie2
Explorer C
I luv Southwest!
stephanie21
Explorer C
How about letting us us drink coupons we earn for non drinkers?.
Rick20
Explorer C
I chose to not pay $7 for access on a short flight recently. $5 for a flight - the entire trip, not each segment - I'd gladly pay. I agree with the idea of linking it to an account instead of entering a credit card number. That would be so much easier. I don't fly often, but if I did, a monthly or annual fee would be much appreciated. Many would for for that!
Anonymous2700
Explorer C
I kinda wish that SWA would put up a short advertisement on the WiFi to cover for the WiFi fee which in then would be free to the customers... SWA could promote it with their no hidden fee campaign. That way there's no worries on upping the fares (in order to keep a low-fare target) as not everyone uses WiFi but still be free to the WiFi users. Just a thought.
Anonymous1472
Explorer C
SWA for the win!
Denise8
Explorer C
I think it'd be nice to have the wifi be $5.00 per day, in case there are two or more segments (or someone is doing a short RT flight). Denise
Anonymous2815
Explorer C
I agree with other customers that you should be able to pay the $5 for the entire day's itinerary. We often have two stops or a plane change since we travel quite a distance on Southwest. No way are we going to pay $5 for each leg of the trip.
lmoffat
Adventurer A
Hi Walter, Yes, VoIP is the only blocked service. Laurel
lmoffat
Adventurer A
Hi Adrian, We do not currently have plans to offer onboard power. However, with the recent redesign of our gate areas, Customers can charge up at our power stations, where available, prior to a flight. Laurel
Farley
Explorer C
Great news! $5 is a great price. Gotta love SouthWest.

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Angela2
Explorer C
Currently the $5 is per segment so if you have a stop or connecting flight, you'll be required to pay twice. We hope to transition to O&D (covering full flight, including all stops and connections) in early December. Regarding monthly/yearly passes...all that is being considered as part of the long term plan. With only 33 aircraft our options are still limited. We want to make sure that paying for a service means you have access to that service. As we get more aircraft outfitted with the system, we'll roll out more payment options.
Ben__M
Explorer C
Are you guys going to offer and incentives for Rapid Rewards members in regard to the wifi? Do they get a discounted rate? Have you guys worked out the figures out for that yet?
Lisa_R
Explorer C
Have been excited about this for quite a while, but still haven't had the opportunity to try it out! Have to say, though, that if it stays with the $5 per segment, that it would end up being too expensive. ALL my flights have segments (fly out of Love Field) - lol. Please reconsider for one fee for entire trip.
Rob_Foss
Explorer C
Any thought of sending out Wifi coupons instead of Drink Coupons, or making it a part of A-List, now that you are changing the Rapid Rewards rules.
Evan3
Explorer C
Don't expect to do anything that requires real-time updates (like games) on Southwest. The latency ranges anywhere from between 800-12000ms. Yes that is 1 to 12 *seconds*!
chrisp321
Explorer C
Its best to use a vpn for sensitive info on a open Wifi Hotspot
KyleB
Explorer C
What is the percentage of planes that have the Wi-Fi capability at this point? When does Southwest expect to have all planes fitted with the Wi-Fi hardware? It sure seems as if it is moving really slowly! I have only seen a couple Wi-Fi equipped planes over my 30 flight segments in the past two months. You can't use the Wi-Fi as a benefit to A-list preferred members if you don't have the fleet substantially outfitted!