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Good news, Southwest frequent flyers. The airline has announced that it will offer free, unlimited Wi-Fi for Rapid Rewards members beginning October 24, 2025. The connectivity will be provided by T-Mobile and will be available on all of Southwest's more than 800 aircraft. Here's what you need to know.
Southwest is the latest carrier to announce free Wi-Fi for its members. Now, almost all of the largest U.S. carriers either already have or are in the process of implementing free Wi-Fi for passengers. It's exciting that this is becoming the standard, but only time will tell if the Wi-Fi will actually be usable.
When Wi-Fi is free, more people connect, which means slower speeds for all. Although the connectivity will be provided by T-Mobile, you won't need to be a wireless customer to connect.
How to Get Free Wi-Fi on Southwest Flights
To access the free Wi-Fi once it rolls out, you'll need to register for a Rapid Rewards account if you don't already have one. Ahead of the launch, Southwest tested free WiFi for about a week fleet-wide to see if the broadband could handle the increased usage. According to Southwest, user reports were fantastic. However, actual reports vary.
That said, JetBlue just announced a partnership with Project Kuiper to provide fast Wi-Fi to all passengers, so maybe faster speeds for Southwest passengers are in the works down the line.
According to a representative for Southwest, free Wi-Fi is one of many changes that frequent flyers will notice in the coming months. Southwest is undergoing a major brand transformation and has started charging for checked bags and introducing variable award pricing. Ideally, future changes will be beneficial to loyal travelers, but we will see.
Related: Southwest Rapid Rewards Guide: How Recent Changes Are Reshaping the Program
If you have a Southwest flight before the free Wi-Fi implementation on October 24, and you wish to get online, you will continue paying $8 for an in-flight Wi-Fi pass. Make sure to charge it to a credit card that has a travel credit for airline incidentals.
Final Thoughts
Although free Wi-Fi is largely good news, it isn't helpful if you can't charge your devices. The vast majority of Southwest aircraft do not have power outlets, although Southwest has announced plans to retrofit its fleet with USB-A and USB-C ports. Until then, you'll want to make sure your device is fully charged before boarding if you wish to fully utilize the Wi-Fi on longer flights.
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