Southwest Airlines Takeoff Free In-Flight Wi‑Fi for Rapid Rewards Members
AT A GLANCE: Southwest Airlines to offer free inflight Wi‑Fi to Rapid Rewards members
By Olivia Holt10/17/2019Southwest Airlines is planning to launch free in-flight Wi‑Fi for Rapid Rewards members thanks to a new partnership with T‑Mobile that will eliminate the airlines $8 fee and open up inflight Wi‑Fi to even more U.S. travelers with free connectivity at 35,000 feet.
How the perk is going to work
The benefit will be linked to Southwest’s Rapid Rewards program. A membership number will need to be used to authenticate while onboard, though T‑Mobile customers will not be required. Southwest says customers can sign up for Rapid Rewards in advance, or even in-flight on the onboard portal, simplifying access without the need for additional fees or mobile plans.
T‑Mobile has hawked in‑flight connectivity under its “Coverage Beyond” branding of providing subscribers with at least an hour of free Wi‑Fi on a number of major U.S. carriers. Southwest was the glaring exception in that lineup; this tie-up bridges that gap — and gives no‑charge access to all Rapid Rewards members, regardless of wireless carrier.
Why this is a major shift
Free connectivity has become a competitive battle ground in U.S. aviation. JetBlue, which made its Wi‑Fi free years ago across various types of planes, offers a window into what an entire fleet free of Wi‑fi fees could look like; Delta has introduced free access on most domestic mainline flights for loyalty members; and American has publicly pledged to bring no‑charge Wi‑Fi to most of its fleet. With Southwest following suit, free internet is going from a differentiator to table stakes on many routes.
The scale matters. Southwest has more domestic passengers in many years’ worth of Department of Transportation data than any other U.S. airline, and it ranks near the top by the measure of available seats and of revenue passenger miles. And when a carrier like that takes down its paywall, the portion of U.S. passengers able to log in without swiping a credit card grows by leaps and bounds.
The tech that made the signal possible
Southwest’s Wi‑Fi now piggybacks largely on a geostationary satellite systems, including those of partners Anuvu and Viasat, according to Tucker. Upgrading hardware to boost throughput and reliability is something the airline has been working on, and typical browsing, email and messaging already operate at a fairly smooth clip on most flights. Performance will continue to vary by route, aircraft type and network effort, although the removal of the purchase step typically increases usage, so capacity planning will be important.
All across the industry, providers are running to improve speeds and minimize latency. JetBlue has partnered with Amazon’s Project Kuiper for future service on some of its fleet. In the meantime, Hawaiian Airlines, United and Alaska have all announced or started deploying a SpaceX product, Starlink, a low‑Earth‑orbit network intended to deliver faster, fiber‑like responsiveness. The theme: Airlines are teaming up with partners to combine loyalty and brand strategy with next‑gen satellite technology, making the magic of Wi‑Fi less a novelty and more a utility.
What Southwest is offering now — and what’s changing
Until the Rapid Rewards members’ free-to-add-any-device service becomes available, Southwest charges a flat rate of around $8 per device for internet on most flights. Elite Rapid Rewards A‑List Preferred members have been receiving complimentary access, and the carrier’s entertainment portal — with movies and live TV — remains free. The new policy extends the zero‑cost tier to all loyalty members and eliminates a small yet stubborn point of friction for business travelers who hop on short segments.
One practical caveat: power. Southwest’s cabins are sparsely equipped with AC power outlets and only some of the fleet provides USB ports, primarily on newer Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. More frequent Wi‑Fi use can rapidly drain batteries, so take along a fully charged power bank and store it in your carry‑on, if you follow F.A.A. guidelines for lithium‑ion devices.
How to get the most out of free Wi‑Fi
Sign up for Rapid Rewards in advance, so you can log in without fumbling, and ensure the name on your reservation matches the one on your account. Are actually working Download large files prior to departure, and enable offline access for cloudbased documents; in‑flight networks can become crowded during peak times. That being said, as with all public hotspots, be sure to protect yourself with a VPN, and don’t go handling anything too sensitive from your bank accounts mid‑flight — just basic steps advised by cyber security agencies like CISA.
For companies that maintain travel programs, this shift could result in fewer ad‑hoc Wi‑Fi reimbursements and increased productivity on short‑haul hops, a perk that often materializes in traveler satisfaction scores compiled by companies like J.D. Power. For Southwest devotees, that’s one more reason to include your Rapid Rewards number on every reservation.
The bottom line
That Southwest is now shifting to offer free in-flight Wi‑Fi for Rapid Rewards customers — powered by T‑Mobile — represents a significant change in approach for one of America’s largest airlines. It further aligns the airline with an industry shift toward free connectivity and leaves rivals facing pressure to match on speed, reliability and straightforwardness. For regular flyers, it’s an easy win; one fewer fee, a better chance of remaining connected from pushback to touchdown.
