Whereas airways like Delta at the moment are providing free Wi-Fi for all passengers, Southwest is about to extend Wi-Fi pricing for a lot of.
Southwest will cost for Wi-Fi per flight, quite than per day
As famous by View from the Wing, Southwest might be adjusting its Wi-Fi pricing as of Tuesday, February 21, 2023. Presently the airline costs $8 per day for Wi-Fi, that means that you possibly can pay that quantity and use Wi-Fi throughout a number of flights, within the occasion that you just’re connecting.
With this variation, Southwest will begin charging $8 per flight for Wi-Fi. In different phrases, for those who’re on a connecting itinerary, your price to make use of Wi-Fi will (at the least) double.
This received’t affect many shoppers, as Southwest operates tons of point-to-point flights. Nonetheless, it completely will affect numerous passengers, as Southwest additionally operates connecting service in lots of markets.
Why is Southwest altering its Wi-Fi pricing mannequin?
Why is Southwest abruptly adjusting its Wi-Fi pricing? Properly, Southwest is engaged on upgrading its inflight Wi-Fi, because the service will begin transitioning many planes to Viasat (this is similar Wi-Fi supplier as on American, Delta, and JetBlue, and is the perfect that you just’ll discover).
By charging for Wi-Fi per flight quite than per day, Southwest will have the ability to use two Wi-Fi distributors with out having to combine the 2 cost programs. Southwest additionally claims that charging per flight will provide an expertise that many shoppers are acquainted with, since that is just like the pricing mannequin you’ll discover on many different airways.
Even with this variation, Southwest’s Wi-Fi pricing will stay aggressive. Whereas JetBlue and Delta paved the way by an extended shot (with free Wi-Fi on many planes), Alaska additionally costs $8 per flight for Wi-Fi. United, in the meantime, costs $8 per day, whereas American has variable pricing.
Backside line
For those who’re used to Southwest’s present day go system for Wi-Fi, be ready for that to vary as of subsequent week. Southwest will go from charging $8 per day to charging $8 per flight, and clearly that’s a damaging growth.
Nonetheless, in equity, the swap to Viasat ought to signify an enormous enchancment to Southwest’s inflight Wi-Fi providing. I may also respect the complexity of utilizing totally different Wi-Fi distributors, and the way day passes may be difficult with that. That is one thing different airways have struggled with as nicely.
The Wi-Fi was nearly unusable on my final Southwest flight, so I’m trying ahead to the introduction of Viasat Wi-Fi.
What do you make of those Southwest Wi-Fi pricing modifications?
