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# Alaska vs Southwest: Inflight WiFi Compared

This page compares Alaska Airlines and Southwest Airlines on inflight WiFi only. Both give free WiFi to members of a free loyalty program. Both are rolling out Starlink, and Alaska is further along.

|
Metric |
Alaska Airlines |
Southwest Airlines |

| --- | --- | --- |

|
WiFi Provider |
Starlink (rollout in progress); Intelsat 2Ku on remaining mainline aircraft |
Anuvu (current fleet); Starlink rolling out from summer 2026 |

|
Free WiFi |
Free for Atmos Rewards members on Starlink-equipped aircraft |
Free for Rapid Rewards members on equipped aircraft |

|
Membership Needed |
Atmos Rewards (free to join, sign up onboard) |
Rapid Rewards (free to join) |

|
Typical Speed (listed) |
✓ ~250 Mbps (up to 500) |
~10 Mbps (up to 25) |

|
Paid WiFi (non-members) |
$8 full browsing pass on Starlink aircraft; messaging stays free on Starlink aircraft |
$8 per flight, per device |

|
Starlink Status |
All 89 Embraer E175 regional jets done by April 2026; 737 retrofits through 2026; full fleet targeted by end of 2027 |
First Starlink flight on June 22, 2026; about 300 aircraft targeted by end of 2026 |

|
Free WiFi Sponsor |
T-Mobile (presenting partner) |
T-Mobile (T-Mobile plan not required) |

Verdict

Alaska lists the higher typical speed (about 250 Mbps against about 10 Mbps) and is further into its Starlink rollout, with its whole E175 regional fleet done. Both airlines give free WiFi to members of a free loyalty program, and both charge $8 for non-members (on Alaska, on Starlink aircraft). Alaska's Boeing 717s will not get Starlink. Check that your aircraft has Starlink before you count on the faster speed.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Is Alaska or Southwest WiFi faster?

Alaska lists the higher typical speed: about 250 Mbps (up to 500) against about 10 Mbps (up to 25) for Southwest's current fleet. The Alaska figure applies to Starlink aircraft. Southwest has begun installing Starlink.

### Is Alaska Airlines WiFi free?

Free for Atmos Rewards members on Starlink-equipped aircraft. Atmos Rewards is free to join, and you can sign up onboard. Messaging is free on Starlink aircraft even without an account.

### Is Southwest WiFi free?

Free for all Rapid Rewards members on equipped aircraft since October 24, 2025. Rapid Rewards enrollment is free. A T-Mobile plan is not required.

### How far along is Alaska's Starlink rollout?

All 89 Embraer E175 regional jets were done by April 2026. Boeing 737 retrofits continue through 2026. Alaska targets the full fleet by the end of 2027. Boeing 717s on inter-island routes will not receive Starlink.

### How much is WiFi without a loyalty account?

$8 on both airlines. On Alaska it is a full browsing pass on Starlink aircraft. On Southwest it is $8 per flight, per device.

Airline WiFi Guides

[Alaska Airlines WiFi →](/airlines/as)[Southwest Airlines WiFi →](/southwest-wifi)

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