Southwest Airlines Starts Free Starlink Wi-Fi Rollout, A Total Game Changer - Southwest

Southwest Airlines Starts Free Starlink Wi-Fi Rollout, A Total Game Changer

Ben Schlappig — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 23:52:52 +0000

In February 2026, Southwest Airlines announced plans to introduce free Starlink Wi-Fi for Rapid Rewards members, which is of course an incredibly exciting passenger experience development. There’s now a positive update, as the first plane is now flying with the service, and we can expect a pretty quick rollout, with 300+ planes having Starlink by…

Continue reading: Southwest Airlines Starts Free Starlink Wi-Fi Rollout, A Total Game Changer

Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.

ImmortalSynn — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 22:43:10 +0000

"Where DL has to compete, they struggle. Look at SEA against AS. Look at NYC against UA, where they cut routes to Europe and don’t even bother applying for a route to HND. Look at all the Asian stations DL closed. Look at Texas against UA/AA/WN. Look at LAX, where they will have to divert so many resources just to gain (maybe) a couple of percentage points of share, but" Your arguments make next to zero sense, and are even more flimsy than the stuff Tim is saying. 1. AS' advantage in SEA is simply gates. Not some great competitive strategy/wherewithal. Fairly straightforward there. 2. DL gets a higher percentage of metro NYC O&D traffic, and garners more revenue than United on it. United has more international destinations, and can flow more transfer to fill it. Not sure how you see either one, as some proof of "struggling." 3. DL is already the largest carrier at LAX by revenue, gates, destinations served, and origin traffic. No idea HTF you're getting "struggling" out of that, compared to anyone else. 4. Since merging with Northwest, Delta has dropped Bangkok, Osaka, Mumbai, and Nagoya, while resuming Hong Kong, and intending to resume (confirmed by Hauenstein) Manila, Singapore, Beijing, and Delhi. Great, what does any of that "prove" regarding "struggling"? 5. Delta doesn't do well in Texas, sure. Tell us how well United does in the entire southeast of the country. What does that prove?

Tim Dunn — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 21:35:43 +0000

you just don't realize that every airline sees the same thing. WifFI is not a purchase driver above other factors but it does improve customer experiences. and UA is simply too late to the WiFi party to gain an advantage, esp. given that multiple other airlines are equipping more of their aircraft collectively with Starlink than United

rebel — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 19:36:05 +0000

The most used data managements use to evaluate specific offerings. Sorry you don't like it.

Tim Dunn — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 17:45:49 +0000

there is no data that says that WiFI is a primary purchase driver and none that people will choose an airline w/ Starlink over another carrier that has free WiFI. None. but we wouldn't expect you as a paid UA internet monitor to continue to spew marketing hogwash which has no basis in reality

Tim Dunn — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 17:43:54 +0000

unlike me, and unlike even you, aero comes here solely to trash someone I get that people don't like my facts and even my opinions but yes people are wrapped around my little finger when they can't help but comment on not just my comment but about me. You are capable of providing decent content but you are incapable of refraining from the personal attacks - which shows that you, like so many people, can't counter the facts I bring to discussions so you attack me. and specific to THIS article, I have strongly countered the United marketing non-sense that they would have an advantage and WN's announcement and fast installation proves my point. there will be more non-UA aircraft with Starlink than UA aircraft and Starlink will have half or less of the connectivity on US commercial flights. UA is far behind the industry in getting free WiFi up and running and any advantage that UA might have had will be eliminated by the fact that most of the US commercial fleet will have free WiFI by the time UA completes its Starlink. If an advantage existed for having free WiFI, B6 and DL had it. Those are the facts which you and others simply cannot counter.

rebel — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 15:58:14 +0000

Sorry LTD, the data says otherwise. NPS scores for two-class RJ flights DOUBLED with Starlink. Amazing.

MaxPower — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 15:56:41 +0000

it's funny because it's you, Tim Dunn, that feels the need to reply to everything -- aka. look above my post at your... wait for it... compulsive need to respond to everything. "I have you and a whole lot of people wrapped around my little finger." This kind of statement really does say everything about your mental illness. How anyone could be this obtuse in life about how others view them is beyond me.

Tim Dunn — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 15:45:34 +0000

As others have noted, internet improves the experience but it does so for other airlines as well. that doesn't mean it is a purchase driver about other factors. and the non-sense that UA will have an advantage makes even less sense when you consider that there will be at least 6 US airlines that have or will have extensive or fleetwide WiFi by the time UA completes Starlink installations UA is late to the party and is desperately trying to talk about an advantage that they simply will not have, esp. since so many US airlines will have complete or partial Starlink.

Tim Dunn — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 15:42:35 +0000

I have said for years that alot of people - you included - would be much happier if they did not have a compulsive need to respond to everything I write. and yet they (and you) do so I keep writing. I have you and a whole lot of people wrapped around my little finger. What power that you simply can't break