This Major U.S. Airline Plans To Offer Free Wifi

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Last Updated 34 minutes in the past

One of America’s largest airline carriers is providing FREE WiFi to all passengers on board a few of its flights – up till 10 June.

Having begun the trial only a few days in the past (4 May), Southwest Airlines – which is the world’s largest low-cost service – is at present providing free WiFi on board quite a few its Boeing 737 airplanes.

The trial is a part of a take a look at for brand spanking new {hardware} – which has not too long ago been put in on 40 of the airline’s fleet – to see if it may well deal with giant numbers of customers at one time, in addition to present sooner web to all passengers that connect with it.

Which Flights Are Offering Free WiFi?

As simply talked about, the trial of free WiFi is at present happening on board 40 of Southwest’s Boeing 737 planes – with these aircrafts working flights all through the western a part of the United States. 

Will You Be Able To Stream Netflix Using The FREE WiFi?

Passengers which are on board any of Southwest’s flights which are a part of the Free WiFi trial will have the ability to “stream, browse, and engage on the internet,” based on Southwest’s Vice President of Customer Experience and Customer Relations, Tony Roach.

So, it does appear like passengers will have the ability to stream their newest Netflix or HBO sequence while cruising at 30,000 ft within the air.

The airline’s present providing of WiFi – which is obtainable on board Southwest’s WiFi-enabled aircrafts at a price of $8 – doesn't permit passengers to stream films and content material from web sites similar to Netflix, HBO Max, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams.

This is as a result of airline’s WiFi blocking entry to high-bandwidth web sites, functions and video conferencing companies.

How Long Will The Trial Last For?

The trial is about to final for six weeks, with all passengers on board the 40 flights – that has the brand new WiFi {hardware} put in – having the ability to connect with the WiFi without charge.

The trial started on 4 May and can proceed up till 10 June.

Is Free WiFi Available On All Southwest Flights?

At this second in time, no.

However, it may effectively be within the close to future – particularly if the newly put in {hardware} on a few of Southwest’s airplanes can deal with giant numbers of customers at one time.

The airline does at present provide WiFi to all passengers on board its flights at a price of $8 per passenger to make use of it – with the service being free to hook up with for Southwest’s A-List Preferred Members.

Will Southwest Be Offering FREE WiFi On Board All Of Its Flights In The Future?

At this second in time, that is unknown.

However, if the trial is a hit then it may very well be that sooner or later all Southwest passengers will have the ability to connect with FREE WiFi – which might permit them to stream their favourite film or TV sequence while flying excessive within the sky.

Speaking concerning the airline’s trial of their upgraded WiFi, Southwest’s Vice President of Customer Experience and Customer Relations, Tony Roach, defined the corporate’s imaginative and prescient:

“Our goal is to evaluate how the new hardware improves performance while delivering a reliable internet experience used by a large volume of Customers.”

Do Any Other Of The Major Airlines In The U.S. Offer Free WiFi?

Right now, solely one in all America’s main airways – JetBlue – affords free WiFi to all passengers on board any of its flights.

However, only a month in the past we reported that 5 airways within the U.S. had lowered the price of their onboard WiFi companies.

And, simply final week it was revealed that Hawaiian Airlines will turn out to be the primary main airline to offer Elon Musk’s Starlink web service to passengers on board its flights from subsequent 12 months.

Read extra:

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First Major Airline Will Provide Elon Musk’s Starlink Wi-Fi For Free

These 5 Airlines Have Lowered The Cost Of Wi-Fi

Southwest Adds New Routes And Frequencies To Top Destinations

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