Southwest’s new internet price structure means you’ll pay per flight and not by the day
Delta Air Lines announces upgrades at CES
Wi-Fi on the plane:Here’s how in-flight connectivity is changing (and costing)
The spokesperson pointed out that many Southwest customers take nonstop flights, and internet charges are effectively only going up for passengers who have connecting or stopover itineraries. The statement also emphasized that the onboard entertainment portal will still be available to customers on their own devices for free.
Airlines are increasingly using internet connectivity as a competitive differentiator.
Southwest Airlines set to cut executive compensation in response to December meltdown
Delta Air Lines announced earlier this winter that it’s rolling out free Wi-Fi to SkyMiles members across its network. Many flights already offer the service and the airline makes a point of notifying passengers before and during their journey if it’s available.
JetBlue has also long offered free inflight internet, and many other airlines continue to improve their paid-for internet options onboard.
Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com