nsx

Once logged on, I haven't had any problems with Southwest's Wi-Fi in a couple of months. I have even started watching Netflix on board, virtually hiccup-free. (I thought streaming video was supposed to be blocked, but it worked fine for two 45-minute shows.)

I'm pretty sure something has changed but I don't know what.

Has anyone else seen a major improvement?

smmrfld

Nope, invariably still awful 2-4x weekly intra-CA. In fact, I've had an increasing number of problems just logging on - I keep getting redirected back to the wifi home page when I try to connect for free using A+ info. Truly awful service.

ursine1

Sigh. Every time someone posts something like this I get excited and I pay the $8 and try the wifi again and then I end up disappointed. Again.

On every flight I do a test and try to load the southwest.com page, and I've seen no noticeable improvement recently.

dlaue

The performance has been marginally improved in the last few months until last Saturday, a very heavy travel day. On Saturday I was unable to log into the A+ free wifi. Like smmrfld above, the system just kept looping me back to the main login screen. I had experienced this before, but not in the last 6 months or so.

Tomorrow I fly LAX to MCO and if the A+ wifi is not working, I will pay the $8 and ask for a refund.

It is my belief that the system shuts off the A+ login option when it is overloaded with paying customers.

mek17

I've had this same issue. What I've found is that it appears the "getconnected" landing URL is housed locally on the plane, so it loads quickly. This includes the page where you enter payment info. However, the A+ login page appears to be housed elsewhere (on a server somewhere not on the plane) and therefore does not always load properly when the internet connection (as opposed to the local wifi connection) is acting up. I believe the A+ login page simply adds your MAC address to a list for the day. I have had success on my phone and iPad by disconnecting from the plane's wifi, going to the A+ login page using my cellular connection (AT&T in my case), and logging in. This seems to register the MAC address on the list. Then, I reconnect to the plane's wifi and am able to access the internet--to the extent it is working, which is usually not very well.

Obviously this approach would not work if you are using a laptop, iPad, or other device without a cellular connection. But it has worked for me a few times when I kept getting looped back to the landing page when trying to log in via the plane's wifi.

nineworldseries

In my experience, it is less sucky than it used to be.

mke9499

It looks like different options are being considered.

https://www.runwaygirlnetwork.com/20...-technologies/

dlaue

Aboard 4467. Still not working. Tried your trick, but no dice. Paid $8.😡

alggag

I hope they also add coverage outside of the CONUS. What's the point of having satellite over ground based if you can't use it to any of the Carribean or Mexico destinations?

Wingrider

Still totally hit or miss. Flight from SJC -AUS last. Week the wifi login did the same as above. Flight home-pathetically slow.

SJC - LAX today was marginal but slow.

LAX - SJC right now moderate performance above average.

I'll judge this again after my flights on Friday and next Tuesday.

ursine1

PHX-LAS today; didn't pay because I couldn't get the Southwest.com page to load. Overheard pax across the aisle ask the FA why the wifi didn't work; reply was that she'd have the pilots reset it. (?) Checked again later and still no go.

nsx

Another day, another flight with flawless WiFi. Streamed 55 minutes of Netflix.

smmrfld

What airline?

smmrfld

Same issue w A+ log-in today OAK-SNA. Whole row was complaining about it.

nsx

I haven't flown another airline than WN for a domestic trip in a couple years, and that was a 4500 point next day booking using Avios.

Apparently I've been getting a subset of WN aircraft with high-performance WiFi.