Southwest to offer live TV on select planes

[dfergie]

Southwest has contracted with Row 44 to provide the service, which will expand to 20 aircraft by mid-July.

Southwest to offer live TV on select planes - USATODAY.com

 

[isaacmorseMI]

I had something similar to this on a plane recently... 35 channels or so of Dish or Direct.

 

[TheForce]

I would rather they offer wifi broadband.

They are also redesigning the seats and squeezing in 6 more seats per plane by squeezing the seats closer together and making the backs much thinner.

The one thing I liked about SWA is that their planes had more leg room and the seats were more comfortable. Guess that will now be a thing of the past.

People over 6 ft tall have trouble with the present seat density. This makes it worse. People weighing over 200 lbs have trouble sitting in these cramped seats and often take up 1/3 of the seat either side of them. I once submitted a suggestion that they redesign the new aircraft cabins with variable seating sizes and people of a particular size would be assigned a seat size accordingly.
I see they didn't like my idea.

 

[Foxbat]

I would rather they offer wifi broadband.

I was surprised back in March when the SWA 737-800 we flew to Denver offered Wi-Fi. Since the flight was only two hours from Chicago I didn't pay the fee, but it still let me access flight information and travel destinations in Denver. I grabbed a screen capture on my iPhone while we were over Iowa.

 

[dfergie]

My flight back from CES had wifi, but like you it was a short flight so I didn't mess with...

 

[TheForce]

What do they charge to use the wifi?

I use a couple programs that use my GPS, not internet, to track the flight path anyway.

 

[Foxbat]

According to the SWA web site, they charge $5 for all day. There are a number of free sites available:

The Southwest Airlines WiFi 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 to you!

 

[yourbeliefs]

Yeah I second the wifi. Personally I think it's BS that more planes don't offer free wifi. If I'm paying $50+ for 2 checked bags I think that getting free access to the internet is the LEAST I should get to help soothe the pain from the raping I just received from the airline company. FYI I'm not referring to Southwest since they let the first 2 bags fly free, but lord knows there's plenty of other airlines that don't do that..

 

[jrp]

I was surprised back in March when the SWA 737-800 we flew to Denver offered Wi-Fi. Since the flight was only two hours from Chicago I didn't pay the fee, but it still let me access flight information and travel destinations in Denver. I grabbed a screen capture on my iPhone while we were over Iowa.

Not to pick nits, but that's Illinois. Didn't think I'd heard of a Shabonna around here.

 

[TheForce]

FYI I'm not referring to Southwest since they let the first 2 bags fly free, but lord knows there's plenty of other airlines that don't do that..

Actually SW allows 3 bags included in your ticket.
One checked up to 50 pounds
One for overhead bin in the cabin
One "personal" bag or purse or animal carrier, that must fit under the seat in front of you.

I take advantage of all three with a roller bag for overhead and large camera bag for under the seat.

 

[Foxbat]

Not to pick nits, but that's Illinois. Didn't think I'd heard of a Shabonna around here.

Of course you're right. I was trying to recall how soon after take-off I grabbed the screen. Sooner than I thought, obviously.