Does Southwest Airlines Have TVs? Inflight Entertainment Explained!

Whenever people plan a trip, they usually wonder what the flight will be like. When preparing to fly with Southwest, one big question often arises: “Does Southwest Airlines have TVs on board?” It’s actually pretty fair to ask because nobody wants to stare at the back of the seat for hours with nothing to do! This airline is a favorite for cheap tickets and good vibes, but their entertainment setup might surprise you. 

In this blog, you will get all the answers to that question. Do they have TVs on their planes? What do they offer instead of screens? All the details will be spilled, so you know exactly what to expect when you fly. So, if you’re curious about their in-flight entertainment, or lack of TVs, this post is where you know it all. You’ll feel ready to hop on that plane with a smile by the end. 

The Big Question: Are There TVs on Southwest Flights?

Southwest Airlines does not put personal TVs in the back of their airplane seats. If you’re used to choosing a movie or TV show on your screen when you fly, remember that their flights usually don’t have this.

Why Doesn’t Southwest Have TVs?

This airline is known for offering cheap flights and fast service. They decided not to put TVs on the back of the seats to keep their costs low and make their work run more smoothly. Putting in and fixing many screens on every airplane costs money and time. By not having TVs, Southwest can:

Offer you cheaper tickets	They save money, so you pay less.
Make boarding & getting off the plane quick.	Fewer complicated things mean fewer problems and quicker stops between flights.
Make the planes lighter	Less weight means the aircraft uses less fuel.

What Southwest Offers Instead of TVs?

It doesn’t have TVs, but they offer ways to entertain you on your flight. They advise bringing your devices, like smartphones, tablets, and laptops. You will get Wi-Fi on most flights! Which means you can:

• Watch your favorite shows and movies using your subscriptions like Netflix, Hulu, or Disney+.
• Browse the internet to check news, social media, or do work.
• Use Southwest’s entertainment portal, and through their Wi-Fi, you can find many free things to watch, like new movies and TV shows.
• You can also watch Live TV where Wi-Fi is available. Keep in mind that live TV might not work on international flights because of licensing rules.

Southwest Entertainment Onboard: What to Expect?

This airline entertains you differently and chooses flexibility and low prices, so they let you use your devices. Instead of seat TVs, it uses a “bring your own device” idea, and Wi-Fi is how they make it work. 

The “Bring Your Own Device” Advantage

Because this airline lets you bring your devices, you can pick precisely what you want to watch, listen to, or play on your flight. You’re not stuck with a few choices on a built-in screen. Instead, you can watch your favorite Netflix shows, finish reading a book on your e-reader, or even work on your laptop.

Wi-Fi

Many travelers want to stay connected with their work or loved ones, and the airline understands that. So, they offer Wi-Fi on most flights. It lets you easily stream your favorite shows and movies from your accounts. You can also browse the internet to check news, social media, or do some work. Also, when you connect to their Wi-Fi, you can use their free entertainment portal to watch new movies, family-friendly films, popular TV shows, and even live TV on some flights.

Benefits of Southwest’s Policy

Southwest saves money by not putting TVs on planes, and this helps keep ticket prices lower. You can choose what you want to watch on your phone or tablet. It also means you use devices you already know how to work. Plus, you can always watch the newest shows and movies from your streaming services.

Possible Drawbacks

Make sure to bring your devices, like phones and tablets, and ensure they have enough battery. While the airline’s entertainment portal is usually free, you must pay for full internet access. Also, some people might prefer having a screen built into the seat so they don’t have to use their phone data or battery.

How to Witness Entertainment on Southwest?

If you want entertainment options on your flight, then you must know how to do it with the help of the steps below:

Before You Take Off

Ensure your phone, tablet, or laptop gets fully charged so it doesn’t die while you watch something. Also, bring headphones to enjoy your shows and movies without bothering other people.

Once You’re Onboard

Check out how to get to the entertainment on Southwest:

• Get Connected to Wi-Fi- After the plane is flying and the flight attendants say it’s okay, first turn on airplane mode on your phone or tablet. Then, find the Wi-Fi settings on your device. Look for “Southwest Wi-Fi” in the list and tap it to connect.
• Open the Internet- Once connected to their Wi-Fi, open your internet app, like Chrome or Safari.
• Go to the Entertainment Page- The entertainment page sometimes pops up automatically. If it doesn’t, you can type a website address into the top bar. The staff onboard might also tell you the address.
• Pick What You Want to Watch- Once you’re on the entertainment page, you’ll see different buttons for movies, TV shows, and sometimes even live TV. Just tap or click on what looks good to you, and it should start playing right there in your internet browser.

Using Your Streaming Apps

If you want to watch Netflix or Hulu, open those apps on your phone or tablet like always. Once your device gets connected to the Southwest Wi-Fi, you can stream. But remember, using the entire internet might cost extra.

Live TV Availability

If you want to watch live TV, like a game or the news, while you fly. Well, good news! Southwest lets you watch live TV on some of its flights.

• How to Watch Live TV- If your flight has live TV, you can find it through the same entertainment portal where you watch movies and shows.
• You Need Wi-Fi- To watch live TV, just like watching movies or shows, you first need to connect your phone or tablet to the airline’s Wi-Fi.
• It Might Not Be on Every Flight- You should remember that not all Southwest planes have live TV. Also, if you fly to another country, you might not see live TV because different countries have different rules about what shows they allow.
• Check the Entertainment Page- To see if your plane has live TV, connect your phone or tablet to the Southwest Wi-Fi after you get on the plane. Then, look at the entertainment page. If you see a button or section that says “Live TV,” you can watch it! Just tap it to start watching.

Wi-Fi Options & Costs

You can use the internet when you fly on Southwest. If you want to go online to check your email or look at websites, this airline lets you do that.

How Much Does Wi-Fi Cost?

Southwest charges $8 per device for internet access from when the plane takes off until it lands. So, if you want to use your phone and tablet, you’ll need to pay $8 for each.   

• Who Gets Free Internet?- If you are an A-List Preferred Member or bought a Business Select ticket, you get free internet! You don’t pay the $8 fee.
• No TVs or Rentals- Remember, their planes don’t have TVs in the seats. Also, they don’t give out devices for watching movies or shows.
• Bring Your Headphones- They don’t sell headphones on their planes. If you want to listen to music, podcasts, or movies on their entertainment, you need to bring your headphones. 

Pros & Cons of No-Seatback TVs on Southwest 

The airline chose not to put TVs on the back of seats. This is a big part of how they do things, and it has good and bad sides for people who fly with them. Look at what’s good and what’s not so good:

Pros	Cons
Tickets cost less.	You need to bring your phone or tablet.
You can pick whatever you want to watch.	Passengers need to make sure their device has a battery.
It’s easy to use your own devices.	Watching some things might use your phone’s data.
Passengers can watch the newest shows & movies.	You have to pay for the entire internet if you want it.
There are fewer things on the plane that can break.	Customers won’t find a screen in front of them.

FAQ Section!