Southwest Airlines has joined the airline industry's free Wi-Fi trend, offering its Rapid Rewards members some positive news following months of dramatic changes to its business model.
All Rapid Rewards members now have complimentary access to unlimited onboard Wi-Fi. The offering is in partnership with T-Mobile, although you don't need to be a T-Mobile customer to gain access.
Southwest has also begun installing Starlink Wi-Fi onboard its aircraft, with its first Starlink-equipped plane taking flight in June 2026. Southwest has said it aims to have Starlink on more than 300 planes by the end of 2026, and across its entire fleet by fall 2027.
If you don't have a Rapid Rewards account, you'll still need to pay for Wi-Fi.
Here's a look at Southwest Wi-Fi, its costs and the different entertainment options you can expect on flights.
Does Southwest have Wi-Fi?
Southwest offers Wi-Fi on its flights, but the speed and connectivity will vary based on the aircraft you're flying, the type of internet service it provides and where you're going.
Most Southwest flights feature some form of Wi-Fi. However, Southwest also operates an all-economy class fleet that doesn't feature seatback entertainment.
This means that if you want to watch movies on board (that you haven’t already downloaded to your device) you’ll need to connect to Southwest’s Wi-Fi system to access its entertainment options.
What about Starlink Wi-Fi?
One of the best ways to find out if your flight has Starlink is to head over to travel search engine Kayak. They have a filter for flights that use Starlink Wi-Fi, making connectivity something you can compare before booking, alongside price, departure time and stops. The filter is built into the site's Ask AI tool, so you can ask something like "Find me nonstop flights from Boston to Miami in December with Starlink" and get results filtered accordingly.
» Learn more: Best airlines for onboard entertainment
How much is Wi-Fi on Southwest?
Rapid Rewards members have access to free Wi-Fi on Southwest flights. Passengers can sign up for a Rapid Rewards account before or during their flight.
However, if you don't want to sign up for an account, you'll need to pay. Wi-Fi costs on Southwest depend on your needs. Several online activities can be accessed without paying out of pocket, including:
Live TV.
On-demand entertainment.
Music via iHeartRadio.
While Southwest previously offered iMessaging and WhatsApp for free, you now need to connect to the free Wi-Fi as a Rapid Rewards member or purchase Wi-Fi access to use messaging.
To make sure the in-flight Wi-Fi remains stable, Southwest automatically blocks high-bandwidth applications such as Netflix, HBO Max, Zoom and Microsoft Teams.
» Learn more: In-flight entertainment — broken down by airline
Wi-Fi comparison across U.S. airlines
In our most recent analysis of the best onboard Wi-Fi services, we ranked the major U.S. airlines on various factors, including cost, availability and whether there were discounts for co-branded card holders or elite members. Here's how the results stacked up:
If you want Wi-Fi on your Southwest flight
Whether you’re a leisure traveler or a business mogul on the go, having Wi-Fi during your flight can be a huge boon. Southwest offers free Wi-Fi on its flights, as long as you're a Rapid Rewards member. It's free to sign up and you can do so before your flight or while you're in the air.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2026:
Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Luxury perks: American Express Platinum Card®
Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
