This Southwest Airways Freebie Expires Thursday—Right here’s Methods to Get It

Southwest Airways Co. (LUV) is giving its Fast Rewards members an opportunity to get on-line without spending a dime throughout their flights this week. Till Aug. 14, the airline is testing complimentary in-flight Wi-Fi for shopping and streaming. The provide applies to all Wi-Fi-enabled Southwest flights, and vacationers can join Fast Rewards earlier than departure or onboard to take benefit.

What is the Deal?

Till Aug. 14, Southwest is providing free in-flight Wi-Fi to Fast Rewards members on all Wi-Fi-enabled flights. Vacationers can join the loyalty program earlier than boarding or throughout their flight to benefit from it, then log in with their Fast Rewards quantity for limitless shopping and streaming through the journey. 

Why Southwest Is Doing This

The free Wi-Fi take a look at is a part of Southwest’s broader push to improve its in-flight expertise. The airline is utilizing the promotion to gather suggestions and efficiency information, which might affect whether or not free Wi-Fi turns into everlasting.

The airline has been rolling out service modifications all through 2025, together with a shift to assigned seating beginning Jan. 27, 2026. Southwest has additionally been making modifications to its baggage charge coverage, too. “The income contribution from bag charges has exceeded our expectations to this point, and we’ve skilled no detrimental affect to the operation,” Bob Jordan, Southwest’s CEO, advised Males’s Journal.

Whereas Jordan was referring to the new baggage charge coverage, his remark underscores the airline’s confidence in testing and refining new initiatives.

How To Get Free Wi-Fi on Southwest Flights This Week

To get free Wi-Fi through the take a look at interval, you’ll must do the next:

1. Ensure that your flight is on a Southwest plane geared up with Wi-Fi by checking your flight particulars beforehand.
2. Enroll in Fast Rewards earlier than boarding.
3. As soon as seated, activate airplane mode and change on Wi-Fi.
4. Select “SouthwestWiFi” out of your gadget’s community listing.
5. Open your browser and the Southwest portal ought to seem mechanically, or you may go to SouthwestWiFi.com.
6. Check in together with your Fast Rewards quantity to begin shopping and streaming.

Southwest’s In-Flight Leisure Choices

Even when Wi-Fi isn’t free, Southwest affords a number of no-cost leisure options. Passengers can use iMessage and WhatsApp without spending a dime year-round, watch dwell TV channels, or entry on-demand motion pictures and music by means of the Southwest app. The flight tracker and vacation spot guides are additionally out there at no cost.

Exterior of the promotion interval, customary Wi-Fi prices $8 per gadget, per day.

The Way forward for Wi-Fi for Southwest

Jordan advised Males’s Journal that Southwest is “open to further changes” in its service choices. He pointed to facilities like airport lounges, premium seating, and long-haul worldwide flights as prospects. “No matter prospects want in 2025, 2030, we received’t take any of that off the desk.”

Whereas he didn’t commit to creating free Wi-Fi everlasting, the present take a look at could possibly be a step towards broader upgrades to the airline’s in-flight connectivity.

Southwest has already begun modernizing its Wi-Fi service by equipping plane with new Viasat expertise, which affords sooner speeds and better bandwidth than the airline’s earlier techniques, in line with an organization announcement. These upgrades are anticipated to develop throughout the fleet within the coming years.

The Backside Line

Till Aug. 14, Southwest passengers who’re Fast Rewards members can stream, browse, and message without spending a dime in-flight. Even when the journey perk is non permanent, it affords an opportunity to attempt Southwest’s connectivity and examine it with what different airways present.