In-flight Wi-Fi experience
 

Thought I'd share this FWIW:

Yesterday (6/17) on the MDW-SJC nonstop I sprung $5 for the in-flight Wi-Fi. It worked great. I did a speed test using toast.net and measured 894 kbps downstream. The only problem I had was when downloading an email with a large (6+ Mbyte) attachment -- no matter what I did, the attachment would only partially download.

This is the second time I've tried WN in-flight Wi-Fi. The first time cost $10 and was only slightly better than useless. But yesterday was the best $5 I ever spent. Could be that the plane was full of tourists rather than business travelers, though...

I too spent the $5.00 recently on a New York to Fort Lauderdale flight. I was very happy with the wifi. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

I had wifi on Saturday (HOU-OAK) and it worked okay (maybe 200k with high lag). Not great, but I managed to do what I needed to do and pass the time.

I think lag time is the nature of the speed of transmitting your internet to outer space and back. I doubt that can improve much.

How does the bandwidth and lag time compare to what Gogo offers?

That's to be expected with a satellite-based system. Gogo usually runs at about 1-1.5Mbps.

But can you hook up to it via a secured connection (password prompt before connecting)?

Because if not (if it's an "open" WiFi service like AA's GoGo), per this thread:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/south...-security.html

you shouldn't access My Southwest while on a Southwest plane.

I'm AL+, so don't have to pay. It's definitely SSL when I connect via our "special page".

FWIW, I've had great experiences with the on-board WiFi (the 4 times I've had it, that is). My only problem (other than sparsity of equipped aircraft) is it's only ~30 mins between departure and arrival checks SNA/SJC so I don't get to use it that much :).

I've used it on several flights and never had a problem--I even was able to watch one of my class lectures. The only problem I have is that none of my recent flights have had wifi

Wi-fi didn't work, where's my $5?
 

Paid for Wi-Fi on a June 21 SNA-MDW flight 271. Within 10 minutes, the Wi-fi was no longer operational for the rest of the flight. Instead of fighting with CC company over $5, e-mailed WN asking it to either refund the money on the Southwest Visa listed on my account, or give me extra RR points to make up for the loss. Still have not gotten any answer from WN.

Just got reply from Southwest, which is crediting the $5 Wi-Fi charge

Used it a few times and very hit and miss for me. One time on the way from SJC to SEA, I was able to hold a VoIP call over VPN with no issue, to my surprise. I figure they dont allow VoIP call so they would disrupt continueous data stream but as soon as I VPN'ed in, the probelm went a way. I think there is traffic monitor system can't decipher or discriminate VPN data. However, on the way back from SEA to SJC, I couldn't even sync Outlook successfully. I used a Wi-Fi tool to sniff the RF and there were active connections for over 20 systems, probably more than system can handle. My guess is it will be hit and miss depend on how many active users are on the same flight.

SW Wifi is still in its infancy from my experiences. Plus very few aircraft have it. That' such a pain. I have found Gogo to be much better than SW Wifi. Dont know the exact bandspeeds for both but what finally matters is whether you are connecting to the internet fast enough and reliably. in this aspect SW Wifi has some kinks to iron out. Same goes for gogo too. but SW is further behind than Gogo and hence,more catching up to do.

need more planes with it
 

I tried it once and found it nice. Problem is, on the last 30 planes, only 1 had it. That is pathetic. Too slow of a roll out. As an A+ member, don't brag to me about something that is available less than 5% of the time.

This! How are they going to use that as one of the big "perks" of A+ when you can't even get it on most of the flights? It's been a while since I've seen it on any of mine...

Gogo is downright slow. I just used it on my AS flight today, and it is painfully slow to send any attachments. It took me 5 minutes to send a 2.1 MB file today. The only bonus to Gogo is it's a lot easier to install on aircraft--it goes in an unused antenna port--whereas the Row 44 system requires a hole to be cut in the fuselage and test flights to be done.

I've seen more and more WN wifi planes floating around. Saw plenty in PHX, MDW, STL and HOU over the last few weeks.