southwest
Latest
A 5G deadline could ground some US flights starting July 1st
Planes without compatible altimeters won't be allowed to fly in low visibility.
Engadget Podcast: Why is air travel falling apart?
The IT Crowd was right! You really should try turning everything off and on again to make it work. This week, Cherlynn and Devindra discuss how the FAA did just that to fix its NOTAM system, which alerts pilots of potential hazards.
US airlines plan to enforce new rules on smart bags
Travelers looking to use their fancy new smart luggage may soon face a hard time getting the bags on a plane due to safety concerns about their batteries. According to CNN, American, Delta and Alaska Airlines have all announced that starting January 15th, passengers checking smart luggage will have to remove the lithium-ion batteries (or keep them powered down if traveling in the cabin). The site also says that United Continental and Southwest Airlines both plan to announce similar policies soon. That's 80 percent of the US air traffic, according to CNN.
Replacement Note 7 starts smoking on Southwest flight (updated)
A Southwest flight was evacuated in Lousiville, Kentucky when a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 overheated and began smoking on board. Louisville Metro Arson investigators confirmed to WAVE News 3 that a Samsung device was the cause of the incident. All passengers and crew members exited the plane safely via the main cabin door and no injuries were reported. To make matters worse, the device was a replacement following the company's global recall of the handset over the last few weeks.
A traveler's guide to in-flight WiFi
You're on a nice, long domestic flight. In coach. There's a screaming baby two rows up; the pages of the in-flight magazine are stuck together with someone else's chewing gum; and the 9-inch overhead CRT is showing a 2-year-old episode of New Girl that you've already seen a half-dozen times -- without sound, because you always end up in the seat with a broken headphone jack. Oh, and you have five hours left to go to LAX. If you play your cards right (and pack some noise-canceling headphones), your next cross-country haul could be a whole lot more pleasant, thanks to in-flight WiFi. Nearly all of the major US airlines now offer WiFi in the sky. Thousands of passengers flying above North America are online right now, watching adorable kittens meow on YouTube, reading up on their destinations or researching a new device right here on Engadget. But while some carriers offer service on many of their planes, few have it available fleet-wide, making it difficult to plan your travel around connectivity. So, which airlines offer the best service and how can you sort what you'll have on board? Join us here as we explore the turbulent world of WiFi at 30,000 feet.
Southwest, Dish offer free iPad entertainment to travelers
If you're a frequent flier who hasn't yet invested in a tablet of your own, Southwest has you covered: As part of a larger partnership between the airline and television provider Dish, Southwest will now not only provide in-flight entertainment for passengers who have iOS devices of their own, but will now also offer iPads to those without their own compatible smartphone or tablet. The tablets -- which are the iPad 2 model -- will be available for passengers to "check out" at kiosks within terminals at Chicago-Midway, Denver and Oakland airports. If you're flying between any of these cities on a WiFi-enabled flight, you'll be able to loan an iPad and enjoy a selection of live and on-demand content for free during your trip.
Southwest fliers to get TV for free on mobile devices courtesy of Dish Network
Virgin America is often the domestic airline leading the way in in-flight entertainment, but Southwest Airlines is doing its best to keep up with Sir Richard Branson's stateside flight outfit. Earlier in the year, Southwest rolled out pay TV and on-demand video in many of its aircraft. Today, the airline announced a partnership with Dish Network to bring free satellite TV to passengers' mobile devices on its 400 Wi-Fi equipped planes. Why the shift to a gratis service? Dish decided that ponying up the necessary dough was worth it for the branding it'll receive as a part of the new deal. So, go forth, friends and fly Southwest's friendly skies -- assuming the free TV is enough to entice you to brave its first-come-first-served seating methods.
Southwest Airlines' on-demand WiFi video reaches all capable aircraft (video)
While we're gradually acclimating ourselves to the idea of watching in-flight video on our own devices and schedules, many airlines aren't quite in step with the idea. Count Southwest Airlines among the more enlightened, then, as its video on-demand system has just finished rolling out to every WiFi-equipped aircraft. If you hop aboard one of the company's Boeing 737-700 or 737-800 jets, you can pay either $5 per movie or $5 for flat-rate TV access on a WiFi device, whether or not you're paying for an internet link. About a quarter of Southwest's vehicles currently go without -- we wouldn't expect VOD on a short hop just yet -- but all new aircraft and AirTran overhauls will see the upgrade. We're mostly content to know that we won't have to always resort to the biggest airlines to keep ourselves occupied during long-haul expeditions.
Southwest nails down in-flight WiFi partnership, whole fleet to be lit by 2012
It's about time, ain't it? Southwest -- which is easily one of the most enjoyable airlines to fly on here in the States -- has finally cemented its in-flight WiFi plans after more than two full years of hemming, hawing and testing. A fresh blog posting on the airline's website clues us in on exactly how difficult to road to this day has been, but a finalized partnership with Row 44 will allow wireless equipment to be installed into 15 aircraft per month starting in Q2 of this year. In time, the company will ramp that up to 25 per month, which should mean that its entire fleet of 540 planes will be outfitted for mile-high web access by "early 2012." We're still being kept in the dark when it comes to pricing, but Southwest assures us that it's still "testing a variety of price points on the four aircraft that currently have WiFi" and that a decision will be made in a few more months. Update: Tipster MJK just hit us up with this tidbit, and if Southwest keeps this kind of pricing in tact, it could very well start a price war with the legacy carriers who charge upwards of $13 per flight for access."I took a trip from Los Angeles to Albuquerque recently and they charged $4 for the entire trip. It's just around two hours but it was indeed fast WiFi."
Southwest builds first 'green plane,' Ma Earth shows her gratitude
Southwest Airlines may not own a plane with a headrest infotainment system, but it's still far and away the most enjoyable commercial flight you'll find in the US of A (save for Virgin America, naturally). Granted, we'd like to see in-flight WiFi offered on a few more of its flights (read: 100 percent of them), but hey, we'll take free checked bags and friendly employees any day of the week. We'll also take fuel savings and environment stewardship, both of which Southwest is aiming to give us by creating the planet's first "green plane." By utilizing recyclable InterfaceFLOR carpet, weight-saving seat covers and life vest pouches, a lighter foam fill in the seats and aluminum (as opposed to plastic) seat rub strips, the newfangled Boeing 737-700 ends up some 472 pounds lighter than a conventional one. The savings? 9,500 gallons of jet fuel per year. We're not sure when the bird is expected to take her first voyage, but here's hoping a few others are hatched in the near future. [Via DailyFinance] Read - Southwest press release Read - China View's fuel calculations %Gallery-76442%
Southwest details in-flight WiFi plans, announces partnership with Yahoo!
Southwest got official with its WiFi plans late last month, but avid travelers who favor the only airline worth flying anymore (okay, Virgin America and JetBlue aren't bad either) were left wondering about most of the details. Today, the company has fired up a single Row 44-equipped flight, and it has announced plans to equip three more airplanes with in-flight WiFi by early next month. Furthermore, it has nailed down a partnership with Yahoo! in order to offer an in-flight homepage with "destination-relevant content." The service, which has yet to receive final FCC approval, will be tested over the next few months, and if all goes well, we're left to hope, pray and beg that the airline rolls it out fleet-wide. There's no mention of an actual price here, but it would totally rule if it bucked the trend and provided it to everyone for free. Right, everyone?[Via Gadling]
Southwest Airlines to test in-flight WiFi via satellite
It's taken a while, but it looks like Southwest Airlines is the latest (and no doubt far from the last) to jump on the in-flight WiFi bandwagon although, as with most, it's still quite a ways from rolling out the service across the board. Still, according to the airline, at least four of its planes will be outfitted with the desirable service by this summer as part of the initial testing, with each of those relying on satellite internet service provided by the folks at Row 44 (last seen hooking up Alaska Air with some in-flight WiFi of their own). No word if the service will be free or not, but the company promises it'll "set the standard for excellence in inflight connectivity," which would be somewhat hard to do if they're charging you through the nose for it.[Thanks, Dominic]
Southwest's Wii send-up brings back old times
It might be a bit late to the party, but we still can't fault Southwest for the latest in its long line of "wanna get away?" advertisements, if only for the fact that it brings us back to those glorious days of yesteryear, filled with rampant Wii injuries, strap breakage and television demolition. Ah, those carefree times. Video is after the break.[Via Joystiq]
Southwest teams up with Nintendo for goodie giveaway
Nintendo and Southwest have teamed up to give away a DS Lite, as well as a copy of Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day! to Fifty of Southwest's Rapid Rewards Members. Southwest, as you may know, have made their fortune in the airline commute business by offering competitively-priced tickets. According to the press release, this is the first time Southwest has partnered with an outside company to, well ... reward its Rapid Rewards Members.Still though, only 50 DS Lites? That's kind of chump change, when you think about it. Shouldn't it have been a more substantial number, even being a gift?
