Southwest vs United Wi-Fi

Same route, different metal. The tables below are the two carriers' live registry entries, per aircraft type, so the comparison stays current as their rollouts move.

Southwest

Aircraft being fittedVaries by aircraft

Starlink rollout since Jun 2026 (~300 of 800+ 737s targeted by end of 2026); Viasat and Anuvu GEO on the rest

· Free for Rapid Rewards members (free to join) since 24 October 2025
· Non-members pay a flat $8 per device per flight

Starlink rollout underway (United said more than 400 aircraft in June 2026 and close to 1,000 by end of 2026; public trackers count roughly 540 in late August; widebodies complete by summer 2027); legacy Viasat/Panasonic on unconverted tails

· Free with MileagePlus (free signup) on Starlink-fitted aircraft

Southwest vs United Wi-Fi questions

Does Southwest or United have better Wi-Fi?

As of September 2026, Southwest's fleet-level verdict is "Varies by aircraft" and United's is "Varies by aircraft". On mid-rollout fleets the answer changes with the specific aircraft, so check the per-aircraft tables for the plane on your route.

Is Wi-Fi free on Southwest and United?

Southwest: Free for Rapid Rewards members (free to join) since 24 October 2025; Non-members pay a flat $8 per device per flight. United: Free with MileagePlus (free signup) on Starlink-fitted aircraft.

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