Southwest Free WiFi: What Rapid Rewards Members Get Starting October 24, 2025
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Good news for Southwest flyers! Starting October 24, 2025, if you’re a Rapid Rewards member, you can get free Wi-Fi on every flight. T-Mobile is making it happen, so you can surf the web using Southwest’s Viasat and Anuvu networks. And get this: you don’t even have to be a T-Mobile customer, just sign up for Rapid Rewards, which is free.
How “Southwest Free WiFi” Will Work
Want free internet on your Southwest flight?
- Before you fly, sign up for Rapid Rewards (it’s free!).
- On the plane: Turn on airplane mode and connect to SouthwestWiFi. Then, go to southwestwifi.com in your browser.
- Just log in with your Rapid Rewards info, and you’re all set to surf the web at no cost! (Southwest has said you can even sign up for Rapid Rewards while you’re on the plane if you need to.)
Make sure your Southwest app is up to date, and save your login details for easy access on the flight. (Yep, you can also create an account in the air.) Southwest says that VPNs or Apple Private Relay and some privacy settings might mess with the connection. If things get tricky, turn those off for a second and refresh the page.
What You Can Realistically Do Online
Southwest and T-Mobile say their Wi-Fi lets you surf the web, get some work done, shop online, stream videos, and chat with friends from when the plane takes off until it lands. Southwest has been making improvements to its equipment, and they even tested free Wi-Fi to see how much bandwidth they could handle. You should get good Wi-Fi on most flights within the US, but international flights might have some interruptions depending on the satellite coverage.
“We’re teaming up with Southwest to make staying connected in the air easier for millions of travelers,” said Mike Katz, President of Marketing, Strategy and Products at T-Mobile. “We’re excited for Rapid Rewards Members to experience free in-flight WiFi from takeoff to landing – no strings, no surprises. It’s just one more way we’re helping make travel a little smoother.”
Behind the scenes (why it should be better now)
Southwest is getting its Wi-Fi from two companies: Anuvu (using Ku and some fresh MicroGEO satellites) and Viasat (using Ka). Viasat is boosting its coverage in the Americas. Both companies seem pretty happy about Southwest offering free Wi-Fi, which shows that having enough bandwidth and a dependable signal is super important to them.
What Changes vs. Today
- Before Oct 24: Internet typically $8 per flight per device (with free messaging and free movies/TV still available). Some travelers (e.g., A-List Preferred or Choice Extra) already see complimentary Internet today.
- From Oct 24: All Rapid Rewards members get complimentary Internet on every flight, regardless of wireless carrier.
How It Stacks Up Against Other Airlines
Southwest is joining the broader U.S. trend toward free connectivity.
- JetBlue has long offered free Wi-Fi fleetwide;
- American targets ~90% of its fleet with free Wi-Fi in January 2026;
- Delta and United are in phased rollouts;
- Alaska is also working with T-Mobile as it deploys Starlink.
Southwest will be the largest US airline to offer free Wi-Fi on all flights starting in 2025.
Value Сheck
If you flew Southwest 10 times a year and paid the $8 fee each flight, that’s ~$80 saved annually per traveler—and far more for families who used to buy multiple connections.
Does Southwest Have Free WiFi?
Yes. Starting October 24, 2025, Southwest is offering free in-flight Wi-Fi to all Rapid Rewards members. To use it, connect to SouthwestWiFi, open the portal, and log in with your Rapid Rewards number (or use the confirmation code if it is linked to your account).
If you are not a member of the program, you can still purchase internet access on board (usually $8 per device).
Do I need a T-Mobile plan?
Can I sign up for Rapid Rewards onboard?
Conclusion
This is great news for Southwest fans who’ve been waiting a while to get free Wi-Fi. It’s not complicated, but it works great and puts Southwest where it should be with everyone else. Having to sign up for Rapid Rewards is no big deal to get all the free in-flight internet you want. Plus, signing up while you’re already on the plane is super convenient. If Southwest can keep the internet running fast even when lots of people are using it, free Wi-Fi will really make things better for people traveling for work or just trying to keep their kids happy.
