Dish Network and Southwest Airlines Extend Free TV Streaming Service During Flights

I am a fan of Dish Network, thanks mostly to the slick Hopper whole-home DVR system they offer and the AutoHop feature that removes the commercials so I don’t have to fast-forward. That also keeps me from forgetting I am watching a DVR program and watching the commercials anyway. Dish has an offering in place with Southwest Airlines that’s been live for the last few months.

The service is called “TV Flies Free” and allows people on Wi-Fi equipped Southwest flights to watch free streaming and live and on-demand TV shows on their Android or iOS devices. Dish and Southwest have announced that they are extending that free TV offer.

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Under the new deal, free streaming will be available until December 31, 2014. The free streaming service is available on just about any web-connected device that has a browser.

Now if only they’d let you stream Netflix and HBO GO on airplanes.

Southwest Airlines Will Let You Use iMessage Onboard For $2

Southwest Airlines Will Let You Use iMessage Onboard For $2

Southwest is so awesome. You can watch TV for free onboard, the flight attendants aren’t jerks, and now you can use iMessage during your flight for just two bucks.

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Following the decision of the FAA to allow the use of electronics throughout your flight, Southwest

Following the decision of the FAA to allow the use of electronics throughout your flight, Southwest is really upping the ante: it will provide Wi-Fi gate-to-gate. You need never be without cat videos when you fly.

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Photo of Crashed Southwest Plane Shows Majorly Mangled Landing Gear

Photo of Crashed Southwest Plane Shows Majorly Mangled Landing Gear

So remember how officials were pretty sure that the Southwest Airlines 737 crash landing at La Guardia was caused by a problem with the landing gear? Well, guess what—there was a problem with the landing gear. And according to a tweet from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), it was doozy.

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Southwest and DISH Team Up for Free In-Flight TV on Your iPad

Southwest and DISH Team Up for Free In-Flight TV on Your iPad

Today DISH and Southwest moved their television service off the runway and into the sky (airplane metaphor). The service, called “TV Flies Free,” will work on iOS devices and other unnamed phones, tablets or laptops — “certain personal devices,” according …

    

You Can Watch Live TV In-Flight on Your iPad on Southwest Now

Flying can be so very boring. But Southwest Airlines is making it a little less of a yawn fest, and it won’t cost you anything. The airline just added a free, on-demand and live TV inflight streaming service called TV Flies Free in partnership with DISH.

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How to Book Travel Online for Less

With clear skies and rising temperatures around the country, the summer travel season is nearly upon us. And unless you’ve got money to burn or a first-born to offer, now’s the time to book your travel plans. Here’s how to get away without breaking the bank. More »

Southwest Airlines’ on-demand WiFi video reaches all capable aircraft (video)

Southwest Airlines' ondemand WiFi video reaches all capable aircraft

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.

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Southwest Airlines Launches Movies On Demand

Majority of Fleet Now Equipped With Variety of Inflight Entertainment Options

DALLAS, Feb. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) announced today that movies on demand are now available on all WiFi-equipped Southwest aircraft for only $5 per movie, per device. The airline also announced an upgrade to their television package. In 2012, Southwest became the only airline in the world to stream live television directly to Customers’ personal devices. Now, in addition to eight channels of live news and sports, Customers can also select on-demand episodes of popular television shows. The upgraded TV package is $5 a day, per device on WiFi-enabled planes.

“Providing a comprehensive and robust inflight connectivity system for our Customers is paramount,” said Dave Ridley, Southwest Airlines’ Senior Vice President Business Development. “Our Flight Attendants are famous for delivering superb Customer Service, and we’re excited to enhance our onboard entertainment offering and take the Customer Experience to new heights.”

The majority of Southwest Customers now have access to WiFi, movies on demand, and the upgraded television offering. As of February 6, all Southwest Boeing 737-700 and 737-800 aircraft were equipped with Row 44 satellite technology that enables these entertainment offerings/services. This milestone represents nearly 75 percent of all Southwest aircraft, which completes the retrofit installations. Moving forward, all new deliveries and AirTran conversions will enter service with Row 44 technology installed.

WiFi service can be purchased for $8 a day, per device including stops and connections. Customers do not need to purchase WiFi in order to access movies or TV.

Accessing the Internet, or watching movies and television is simple. Customers use their WiFi-enabled device onboard any Boeing 737-700 or 737-800 aircraft, connect to “southwestwifi,” and launch their browser to be directed to the inflight entertainment portal. From the portal, Customers are able to select WiFi, movies, or television. The portal also provides free access to a flight tracker, shopping, and games. With Row 44 satellite technology, connectivity continues to work over bodies of water so Customers remain connected all day, no matter where they travel. This video highlights the Inflight connectivity experience.

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Source: Southwest

Severely Discounted Southwest Airfare Is Your Airplanes-Are-The-Biggest-Gadget Deal of the Day [Dealzmodo]

Airplanes are one of the physically largest gadgets, and the international system of air travel is a technological marvel. Gizmodo loves aviation—we cover the misadventures of the TSA, the long-overdue introduction of good WiFi on flights, and the Air Force’s bizarre social media habits. Most of us can’t buy an airplane (although we can dream) but we all take a flight at some point. Considering that poorly booked flights can cost you more than a new iPad, it’s something you want to get a deal on. Normally Dealzmodo focuses on gadgets, silicon, and toys, but today a deal came through the wire that was too good to pass up. More »