Current wifi status
Sep 19, 2023, 8:30 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2005
Location: TUS
Programs: AA Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 564
Current wifi status
AA flyer with some upcoming WN travel. I searched the forum but didn't see an obvious answer. How is the upgraded wifi performing and is fleet-wide installation more or less complete?
Sep 20, 2023, 2:23 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Central US
Programs: WN CP, HHonors, Hyatt Platinum, IHG Premier,LaQuinta Elite, Amtrak
Posts: 468
Its definitely not fleet-wide from what I can tell. On several flights last week the FA announced that WiFi was not working or was spotty. One FA volunteered that she would not recommend paying $$ for WiFi, just enjoy the freebie stuff that was available. All of these flights were on 737-700s so they are probably the last priority to get the upgrade, if they get it at all.
Sep 20, 2023, 2:38 pm
#3
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: ATL
Posts: 2,013
Yesterday, 737-700 AUS-ATL, the FA announced before takeoff that the internet wasn't working. Sometimes that means the some features still work, like movies, live TV, flight tracker. Yesterday you couldn't see the Soutwest network to do anything. Yet the green light to the right of the forward EXIT light was on.
Oct 18, 2023, 9:52 am
#6
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SNA
Programs: Bonvoy LTTE/AMB, AmEx Plat, National EE, WN A-List, CLEAR+, Covid-19
Posts: 5,011
Thankfully I get it for free, as I figure 25% of the time it's INOP for getting to the outside world, and some 50% of the time when it's up it's spotty, but good enough for E-mail and texts and such. Seems to have gotten worse over time, too.
Oct 18, 2023, 6:18 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Nashville -Past DL Plat, FO, WN-CP, various hotel programs
Programs: DL-MM, AA, SW w/companion,HiltonDiamond, Hyatt PLat, IHF Plat, Miles and Points Seeker
Posts: 11,133
We get it free with our SWA credit cards.
But - it does not always work
But - it does not always work
Oct 20, 2023, 9:44 am
#9
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 63
Over the past 12 months, I have flown about 15 SWA roundtrip flights - I can ony remember wifi working once, and even then it was spotty. I am A-List preferred so using it for free. I noticed that many times I hit the link for free wifi and it doesnt connect, but when I hit the "pay $8" link it goes to the link but I have not actually completed the pay process. I'm in and out of Houston Hobby.
Oct 20, 2023, 9:21 pm
#10
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Baltimore, MD USA
Programs: Southwest Rapid Rewards. Tha... that's about it.
Posts: 4,349
I'm an infrequent flyer, so I only have a few data points from the past twelve months.
In all cases above I used the same device, a 2022 Samsung Android tablet.
BWI-MCO r/t, 2022-11-21 / 2022-11-29
BWI-MCO (Max8, 5AB), used only the IFE wi-fi to track flight progress and watch a movie. No problems throughout the flight.
MCO-BWI (Max8, 5AB), bought the full wi-fi and used for emails and general surfing, plus used the IFE to track flight progress and watch a movie. No problems throughout the flight.
BWI-ALB r/t, 2023-09-25 / 2023-09-27
BWI-ALB (Max8, 5AB), used only the IFE wi-fi to track flight progress and watch a movie. No problems throughout the flight.
ALB-BWI (700 w/ pre-Evolve cabin, 5AB), used only the IFE wi-fi to track flight progress and watch a movie. No problems throughout the flight.
BWI-LAS r/t, 2023-10-04 / 2023-10-18
BWI-LAS (Max8, 27AB), used only the IFE wi-fi to track flight progress and watch a movie. No problems throughout the flight.
LAS-BWI (Max8, 27AB), used only the IFE wi-fi to track flight progress and watch a movie. Flight tracking screwed up throughout the flight, movie cut out multiple times, sometimes for a few seconds, sometimes for up to a minute.
In all cases above I used the same device, a 2022 Samsung Android tablet.
BWI-MCO r/t, 2022-11-21 / 2022-11-29
BWI-MCO (Max8, 5AB), used only the IFE wi-fi to track flight progress and watch a movie. No problems throughout the flight.
MCO-BWI (Max8, 5AB), bought the full wi-fi and used for emails and general surfing, plus used the IFE to track flight progress and watch a movie. No problems throughout the flight.
BWI-ALB r/t, 2023-09-25 / 2023-09-27
BWI-ALB (Max8, 5AB), used only the IFE wi-fi to track flight progress and watch a movie. No problems throughout the flight.
ALB-BWI (700 w/ pre-Evolve cabin, 5AB), used only the IFE wi-fi to track flight progress and watch a movie. No problems throughout the flight.
BWI-LAS r/t, 2023-10-04 / 2023-10-18
BWI-LAS (Max8, 27AB), used only the IFE wi-fi to track flight progress and watch a movie. No problems throughout the flight.
LAS-BWI (Max8, 27AB), used only the IFE wi-fi to track flight progress and watch a movie. Flight tracking screwed up throughout the flight, movie cut out multiple times, sometimes for a few seconds, sometimes for up to a minute.
Oct 21, 2023, 8:48 pm
#11
Join Date: May 2007
Location: DFW
Programs: WN A+, AA, HYATT DIAMOND, SPG
Posts: 1,126
Since you are used to AA wifi (which in my experience is excellent), you will almost assuredly be disappointed in the WN product. I wouldn't count on being able to work on those flights. Even the upgraded wifi that is currently on some of the planes is substantially less than the AA product, imo.
WN just cannot get this right.
WN just cannot get this right.
Oct 23, 2023, 8:51 am
#14
Moderator: Southwest Airlines, Capital One
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: California
Programs: WN A-list preferred, United Club Lietime (sic) Member
Posts: 21,754
This has happened on about 10 percent of my flights for the past few years.