Southwest Airlines is giving Rapid Rewards members free Wi‑Fi on all flights between August 8 and 14, 2025. This one‑week test means you can surf, stream and stay connected without paying the usual $8 per device. Just sign in as a Rapid Rewards member when you access the portal and the charge drops to zero.

Southwest’s trial is more than a nice gesture. The airline is measuring system performance and the impact on sign‑ups – this is its second free Wi‑Fi trial, signalling a push toward permanent connectivity.

Why it matters

Free in‑flight Wi‑Fi is becoming the norm. JetBlue has offered it for years, Delta is rolling it out fleet‑wide, and American and United plan to follow by early 2026. For airlines, connectivity isn’t just a passenger perk: it’s a way to convert casual flyers into loyal programme members. Offering free Wi‑Fi in exchange for logging in creates an incentive to join Rapid Rewards—and it lets the airline monetize your attention through shopping and partnerships.

This trial could be a game‑changer if Southwest upgrades its entire fleet to Viasat hardware (which supports faster speeds). Until then, performance may vary depending on whether your plane uses Anuvu or Viasat equipment.

Want to take advantage? Make sure you’re signed up for Rapid Rewards before your flight.

Bottom line

Southwest’s free Wi‑Fi trial is a small window into a future where connectivity comes standard. Whether it becomes a permanent perk will depend on performance, costs and how many travellers sign up. But if you’re flying this week, don’t miss the chance to catch up on emails or stream a movie – for free.