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WORTH THE WAIT!

kkrone
Explorer B
We are very excited to offer Customers the ability to stay connected longer while onboard a Southwest flight! You may have heard about the recent FAA ruling allowing Customers to use small portable electronic devices (PEDs) during an entire trip. That’s right, no more stowing smartphones, tablets, e-readers, or handheld computer games for takeoff or landing! Well, effective today, not only can Southwest Customers use PEDs in “airplane mode” from gate to gate but thanks to our Row 44 satellite WiFi, we are the only airline that offers a gate-to-gate connectivity on the majority of our fleet. The extended use of this Southwest service on WiFi-equipped aircraft is available at the low price of $8 per device, all day, including stops and connections. That also means you can now enjoy free live TV compliments of DISH® and $5 movies from the start of a trip to the very end, with no interruptions.  And remember Customers do not need to purchase WiFi in order to access movies or TV.  Click here for more information. So as you get ready to head out for Thanksgiving travel, you now have the ability to stay connected from the time you step onboard a Southwest plane to the time you exit—just one more way we are working to improve our Customer Service for you!
4 Comments
glennja
Explorer C
Yay! If only this announcement could have been made a few days ago, I flew Wednesday and Sunday and it would have been sweet to listen to my ipod the whole time!
dschwarz
Explorer C
Pleeaaase, Do Not allow In flight use of cell phones! It is rude and discourteous to everyone else around.
swinflight
Explorer C

Can Southwest please create a consistent policy when it come to iPad usage in flight?  I fly business select all the time so I can get bulkhead seat.  I have flown hundreds of flights with no issue using my iPad (in airplane mode).  In your post above from 2014, it clearly says "no more stowing tablets" and you can use them from "gate to gate"... your flight atendants on 09/30/2016 on WN 4070 from MDW to SJC (quite rudely) took away my iPad during taxi saying I could not use it in flight until we reached a cruising altitude.  What is your policy?  All of your competitors allow tablet use in flight and the FAA is very clear that it is permissible.  Technically, the flight attendant can impose any rule they want "as a uniformed crew member", but this confrontational approach is very un-Herb.  Please post an update!

Manbearpig
Explorer C

I must have had the same flight attendant.  For the first time in 4-5 years, I was (rudely) told my iPad must be stored during takeoff.  I tried to be polite and mention that I have never been asked to do so and that I have asked, but she was hearing nothing of it.  I was on SW 2233 from BWI to MSY on 3/11/18.