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Good news, Southwest frequent flyers. A few months ago, Southwest launched free, unlimited Wi-Fi for Rapid Rewards members powered by T-Mobile. It's currently available on all of Southwest's more than 800 aircraft. For frequent Southwest flyers, this was fantastic news, especially in light of the many unpopular changes to the Rapid Rewards program in the last couple of years.
However, if unlimited free Wi-Fi wasn't enough, Southwest has just announced it will upgrade its in-flight Wi-Fi using Starlink as early as this summer.
Here's everything you need to know about Southwest Wi-Fi, including how to connect now and what we know so far about the Starlink rollout.
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How to Get Free Wi-Fi on Southwest Flights Now
Southwest joined most U.S. carriers in offering free Wi-Fi to passengers last fall. Now, almost any flight you take either currently offers unlimited free Wi-Fi or is in the process of rolling it out. It's exciting that this is becoming the standard, but user reports vary on whether the Wi-Fi is actually usable. When Wi-Fi is free, more people connect, which means slower speeds for all.
To access the free Southwest Wi-Fi, you'll need to register for a Rapid Rewards account if you don't already have one. Although the connectivity is provided by T-Mobile, you don't need to be a wireless customer to connect.
Don't worry if you don't know your Rapid Rewards number off the top of your head. As long as your loyalty number is linked to your flight reservation, you can use your confirmation number for your flight to connect to Wi-Fi.
If you aren't a Rapid Rewards member, you can still pay $8 for an in-flight Wi-Fi pass. If you go this route, make sure to charge it to a credit card that has a travel credit for airline incidentals. However, considering that it's free to join the Rapid Rewards program, it makes little sense to pay for a Wi-Fi pass.
Related: Southwest Rapid Rewards Guide: How Recent Changes Are Reshaping the Program
What We Know So Far About the Starlink Upgrade
Southwest has just announced that it will use Starlink across its fleet to improve the onboard Wi-Fi experience. Starlink will be used across Southwest's network of 11 countries and will allow passengers to stream at lightning-fast speeds. According to the press release, the first Starlink-equipped aircraft will enter service this summer and will be available on more than 300 aircraft by the end of the year.
According to a Southwest representative, free Starlink Wi-Fi is one of many improvements frequent flyers can enjoy. 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.
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.
