On June 24, Southwest will begin a new testing phase for Inflight Wi-Fi on the four aircraft that are currently equipped with wi-fi technology. In order to match the price of our product with what the market is willing to pay, we will be testing a variety of price points. The connection cost will range from $2 to $12 and will be determined by the distance Customers are traveling and the device they are using to connect. The cost to get online will be displayed when a Customer launches his or her Internet browser and will be applicable to Employees as well as Customers.
Let us know what you think.
Comments
For some reason in the last quarter the wifi has just crashed. It used to be slow, now you can't even do anything. I'm on a flight now and I've been trying to log in for an hour into my A-List Preferred account. It's hilarious how, I can't log into my free ALP account, but if I log in with my credit card, I can get in. So, I did it. I wasted $5 on this crap internet. Now, the only place I can go is to the SWA website. Try to check webmail. Try to use even Google, and forget about it. I fly almost every week and I'm very seriously thinking of moving to another airline. You guys are taking advantage of your loyal customers and I think you are plundering your political capital over the other airlines. This internet is a complete and utter failure. If I was a SWA employee and I was an "owner" as your corprate heads put it, I'd be pissed. Someone should be canned over this. It's just not right.
Ryan, as far as I know, nothing has been decided on permanently. This is just a pricing test.
$12 is a rip off SW. GoGo charges $9.95 max for 3 hours or more. Flights under 3 hours at $4.95 I believe. Why not copy there model? Also, I agree that $49.95 or $99.95 is a great idea for a yearly fee and all Rapid Rewards members should have a discount/free wifi.
One thing to consider is the cost of the technology. One of their satellite antennas alone costs nearly $1000000.
SW Traveler
Please, NO CELL PHONES. Many travelers are weary and like to sleep on the plane. I don't want to hear people on cell phones and I don't want to hear the sound on someone's computer. How do I carry on a normal conversation with my traveling companion when people are gabbing (and, let's face it, they are ALWAYS talking as if everyone is deaf) on their phones? It is just as bad with undisciplined children.
Considering how packed in people are on planes as it is, I will NOT be responsible when I accidentally bump someone either reaching down for something or getting up to go to the restroom, or when the plane is flying through some bad air, and I inadvertently knock their computer. Will the airline tell people to stop all use of their electronic stuff if there is turbulence? Computers generate a lot of heat, so that will not be good for us flyers who are packed in to a small space.
Further, why should I have to pay for YOUR computer use if the the fee gets bundled into the airfare? There are actually some of us who do not feel they have to be reachable and connected 24/7, and there are tons of us who don't carry a computer when we travel or even have a cell phone. (When you get to be on a small fixed income, you will come to appreciate what budgeting is really all about.) There are a ton of retirees out there living on fixed incomes, who are not in the working world where you can't live without a computer or cell phone for a couple of hours. Really. What did you do before computers and cell phones, or perhaps you have never had a life where that existed.
Hey guys - I love all the thought you all are putting into this, and your ideas for different ways we could offer inflight Wi-Fi are very helpful as we evolve our inflight experience! Additionally, each of your suggestions are future product considerations that we will continue to evaluate. For this test, however, we'll just be charging per leg of your wi-fi flight (so yes Drew, Customers on direct flights will have to pay the applicable price for each segment). We definitely hear your concerns regarding the lack of convenience in charging per leg, but rest assured that this test is just the first step in determining how we might offer an inflight Wi-Fi product.
anything more than a couple bucks would be prohibitive. I agree with the posters that say you should just wrap it in the price of the ticket. if you must charge, then offer it free for the business folks....and as a bennie for being a rapid reward member.
bottom line... don't start down the add-ons path the other airlines have been doing.
Thanks for moving forward with this...
I don't understand why other airlines (e.g. DL) charge one fee for smartphones and one fee for laptops. Also, I wish GoGo and other WiFi providers would offer a once a year fee for us road (air) warriors so we don't get nickeled and dimed to death. For WN air warriors, how about that once a year payment option?
Business Select and A-List Customers should get WiFi as a perk (i.e. free). You might also offer it free when someone earns a Rapid Rewards award - as you do with the drink tickets.
Other Customers should get WiFi for a minimal charge - I'd be disinclined to pay more than $5 unless I were going to be traveling all day - and this should be per trip. If the Customer signs in with their PNR, it should be possible to know whether that Customer has already paid on a flight earlier that day and not charge them again (and if you also verify that the Customer is signing in aboard a flight that matches their PNR, then it's harder to cheat - not that we know anyone who would).
Yes, the revenue helps, but this is Southwest. And WiFi is free at Motel 6, the public library, etc.
I disagree about the suggestions for Business Select customers.
There are MANY students/grad students who fly on SWA because of the great prices, but cannot afford Business Select tickets. It would be a pity to have a system of tiered wifi features that are based on the type of ticket you have. Students and travelers who fit into the the "Millennial Generation" use the internet equally (if not more than) Business Select customers, and the offer of wifi would be an attractive draw for student travelers. Not all of us have employers footing the bill on our airline tickets, so I don't like the idea of making wifi rates determinative on the type of ticket one purchases.
Whether it's Fortune.com, Facebook or a financial report (or all three! lol), travelers/users should pay the same rate. Or perhaps SWA should just distribute a nominal cost for all travelers, and the feature can be used as desired (similar to food & beverages).