Can I watch Netflix on Southwest flight?

To make sure the in-flight Wi-Fi remains stable, Southwest automatically blocks high-bandwidth applications such as Netflix, HBO Max, Zoom and Microsoft Teams.



Yes, you can watch Netflix on a Southwest flight, but there is a major catch: you must download your shows and movies to your device before you board. While Southwest offers complimentary in-flight entertainment (including live TV and on-demand movies) that you can access via their "SouthwestWiFi.com" portal, their onboard Wi-Fi service does not typically support high-bandwidth video streaming through apps like Netflix, Hulu, or YouTube. The satellite Wi-Fi provided on most planes is designed for browsing the web, checking emails, and messaging; attempting to stream a full-length movie will often result in a "low bandwidth" error or constant buffering, which can be frustrating for you and slow down the connection for everyone else. In 2026, most modern Southwest aircraft have been upgraded with faster Wi-Fi, but the airline still officially advises guests to use the "Download" feature on the Netflix app to save content to their phone, tablet, or laptop. This ensures that you have a smooth, uninterrupted viewing experience regardless of the strength of the aircraft's internet connection, and it also allows you to enjoy your favorite shows without having to pay the daily Wi-Fi fee (currently $8 per device).

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To access free movies from your mobile device or tablet, download the Southwest® app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store before your flight. Access in the Inflight Entertainment Portal to stay connected in the clouds. service only allows access to iMessage and WhatsApp (must be downloaded before the flight).

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JetBlue. JetBlue bills itself as the only major airline to offer, free, high-speed Wi-Fi at every seat, on every plane. The in-flight satellite service is provided by Viasat, and passengers can use it to browse the web, send messages and emails or stream video.

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On most flights, yes. Stream live video and audio using streaming services such as Netflix™, Amazon Prime™ or Spotify®. Note, video streaming quality may be reduced to standard-definition quality.

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Have you tried clearing your cache? Also, you may want to try accessing it on both Chrome and Internet Explorer, sometimes it works better on one than the other. If your browser won't automatically open to the Southwest WiFi page, you can try typing in www.southwestwifi.com.

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Southwest Is A Safe Airline
They are a favorite among travelers looking for cheap flights without having to compromise on comfort or security. According to the most recent list of the world's safest airlines, Southwest was ranked in the top 15 airlines in the world in 2021, even beating out Delta, American, and United.

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Conclusion. In summary, you can watch downloaded Netflix movies on a plane! All you need to do is download the content on a compatible device, put your device in airplane mode, and enjoy your content.

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The amount of data that any given individual uses keeps going up. Multiple airlines reported that passengers will connect to wifi from two, or even three devices during a flight. A single streamer uses the bandwidth of ten non-streamers. And all of this increases the costs to airlines for offering wifi.

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Download videos
  1. Make sure your device is connected to the internet.
  2. Open Google Play Movies & TV .
  3. Tap Library.
  4. Find the movie or TV episode you want to download.
  5. Tap Download .


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The List of Airlines With Free Inflight Wi-Fi
  • JetBlue Airways.
  • Norwegian Air Shuttle (Within Europe Only)
  • Qatar Airways.
  • Emirates Airline.
  • China Eastern.
  • Philippines Airlines.
  • Qantas.
  • Hainan Airlines.


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“It can cost millions of dollars just to equip one airplane with high-speed internet,” says Ryan Ewing, the founder of the Airline Geeks blog. “It's certainly not cheap. It depends a lot [more] on the actual hardware than it does on just flipping a switch and going, 'Okay, can we make it free? '”

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To provide Wi-Fi, planes need to have a satellite antenna, a network modem, and a number of wireless access points around the interior, says Jeff Sare, vice president of in-flight connectivity solutions at Panasonic Avionics Corporation. And all that hardware has to be maintained in addition to installed.

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