Southwest Airlines is now offering satellite-enabled Wi-Fi internet access onboard Southwest flights for an introductory price of $5 above 10,000 feet. The service is currently being implemented across the Southwest fleet.
Airline passengers with Wi-Fi-enabled smartphones or computers will have full access to the internet, including email, shopping, and virtual private networks (VPN). Internet access will be available for a special introductory rate of $5, which will be displayed once users launch your internet browser and connect above 10,000 feet.
In the short term, Southwest will be sending emails to customers who are scheduled to be on a Wi-Fi plane 24 hours before departure. Once onboard, customers will be met by new Wi-Fii signs announcing that they are onboard a "Southwest Airlines W-Fi Hotspot."
The Southwest Airlines Wi-Fi Hotspot features a free portal that houses limited content, including a flight tracker, shopping, games, and all that southwest.com has to offer at no charge.
Once the Flight Attendants announce it is safe to turn on electronic devices, passengers have to boot up, select "Southwest Wi-Fi" and launch an internet browser. Users can then choose to spend your exploring the free portal or pay the $5 to check email, visit Facebook, or watch YouTube. They warn that VoIP--Voice Over Internet Protocol--is blocked.