Current Southwest Electronics Policy

[MIChessGuy]

I have a flight to LAX coming up next month with a connection at DAL. Most of the Southwest website info seems to deal with tablets and tablet-like mobile phones, but I would like to use a portable DVD player with a 8.5-inch screen during the flight. It's over ten years old, but somewhat to my surprise, it still works. Is that considered acceptable? Do I have to wait for 10,000 feet or whatever it is, before I can use it? According to the owner's manual, it weighs about 2.1 pounds including the battery.

For people who use tablets, is it possible to pre-load movies into the tablet so that wireless connectivity is not needed to watch them? I notice that Southwest had some cautionary language about bandwidth-hogging movie sites, and even sites that aren't restricted/banned, they charge for. I have never owned a tablet and am not sure whether, as a practical matter, streaming service is required in order to watch movies. If it's not required, I might look into getting one.

 

[Psychodisney]

Not sure on the 10,000 feet question. They mention turningvoff laptops and everything else can stay on. Definitely can use tablets. My DH and I both use our ipads with preloaded/rented movies or downloaded Netlflix or xfinity shows.

 

[WishICouldSpeakWhale]

They seemed pretty lax about laptops when I flew Sunday. The guy sitting next to me opened his up before we left the gate, connected to WiFi, turned on golf on CBS and didn't close the laptop until it was time to get off the plane. I am pretty sure he should have closed it up and stowed it at some point (take off and landing) but the flight attendants never asked him to.

 

[ironz]

You can absolutely use the portable (travel) DVD player on the flight. I used to travel with one all the time! I never used it below 10,000 ft... doesn't take too long to get to 10000, so not a big problem to wait. (that also solves the issue of having it stowed during takeoff/landing) Just bring headphones!

 

[DebbieB]

I was on Delta last week, they said anything over 2 pounds has to be stored for takeoff and landing. I would think it's an FAA rule rather than per airline.

 

[LisaS]

We have Amazon Prime and recently bought an Amazon Fire HD 8" tablet for $50 (on sale on Prime Day) to use when we travel. It doesn't have much memory so I added a 64G SD card to it so that added another $23 to the cost. The Prime service gave us access to a selection of free TV episodes and movies so I downloaded a bunch of things from Prime Video to the SD card to watch on a recent trip. It worked out great. You can also download movies from Netflix for offline viewing. The screen quality isn't as good as the more expensive tablets out there but I was fine with it. I don't like taking expensive electronics with us when we travel so I thought it was a good compromise. I also used it to read email, surf the web, etc while we were away.

 

[ibob52]

I was on Delta last week, they said anything over 2 pounds has to be stored for takeoff and landing. I would think it's an FAA rule rather than per airline.

My Flights were on Southwest .. and I was going to basically say the same thing

electronics under 2 pounds may be used during take-off and landings.

The 2 pounds info was mentioned on one of my flights prior to take-off.

Otherwise the terms used were tablets were ok .. but laptops were to be stowed.

I was on a total of 4 planes (my fights were connecting 2 planes each way)

(SAN - MSY and MSY - MCO) .. (MCO - HOU and HOU - SAN)

 

[MIChessGuy]

Thanks for the update. I would prefer not to fool around with 'stowing' the player, which I'd have to do since it is just over two pounds, so now I am more interested in the tablet option. It is good to know that there are ways to store movies within the tablet itself. When I last investigated these online services, they were pretty loose with terms like "buy" and "download" when what they really meant was that you had to have a streaming connection in order to watch.

 

[JessicaW1234]

Thanks for the update. I would prefer not to fool around with 'stowing' the player, which I'd have to do since it is just over two pounds, so now I am more interested in the tablet option. It is good to know that there are ways to store movies within the tablet itself. When I last investigated these online services, they were pretty loose with terms like "buy" and "download" when what they really meant was that you had to have a streaming connection in order to watch.

We download movies from our Comcast xfinity stream app before flights right from cable. It works great & no need for wifi on the flight.
I have also brought a DVD player like you have & that was no problem either!

 

[MIChessGuy]

We download movies from our Comcast xfinity stream app before flights right from cable. It works great & no need for wifi on the flight.
I have also brought a DVD player like you have & that was no problem either!

Coincidentally I also have Comcast. Does this involve purchasing a movie from them, as one might do on Amazon or iTunes, and then downloading it to the personal device of one's choice? Does it have to be any particular type of tablet or other device? (I have never paid much attention to Comcast's app services.)

 

[JessicaW1234]

Coincidentally I also have Comcast. Does this involve purchasing a movie from them, as one might do on Amazon or iTunes, and then downloading it to the personal device of one's choice? Does it have to be any particular type of tablet or other device? (I have never paid much attention to Comcast's app services.)

Hi - no, you don't have to buy anything! We usually will record shows or movies right off the cable with the DVR ahead of time. You can download those onto your tablet with the app (when you go into the app, you will see your list of recordings & there is a choice to download them (at home, ahead of time) Once they are on your tablet, you can play them independently of wifi! We use an iPad mini, but I would think it would work on any device the app is available to.

 

[DaisyJ]

I have a flight to LAX coming up next month with a connection at DAL. Most of the Southwest website info seems to deal with tablets and tablet-like mobile phones, but I would like to use a portable DVD player with a 8.5-inch screen during the flight. It's over ten years old, but somewhat to my surprise, it still works. Is that considered acceptable? Do I have to wait for 10,000 feet or whatever it is, before I can use it? According to the owner's manual, it weighs about 2.1 pounds including the battery.

For people who use tablets, is it possible to pre-load movies into the tablet so that wireless connectivity is not needed to watch them? I notice that Southwest had some cautionary language about bandwidth-hogging movie sites, and even sites that aren't restricted/banned, they charge for. I have never owned a tablet and am not sure whether, as a practical matter, streaming service is required in order to watch movies. If it's not required, I might look into getting one.

Yes, you need to wait until 10,000 feet.

 

[sam_gordon]

My Flights were on Southwest .. and I was going to basically say the same thing

electronics under 2 pounds may be used during take-off and landings.

The 2 pounds info was mentioned on one of my flights prior to take-off.

Otherwise the terms used were tablets were ok .. but laptops were to be stowed.

I was on a total of 4 planes (my fights were connecting 2 planes each way)

(SAN - MSY and MSY - MCO) .. (MCO - HOU and HOU - SAN)

If the only thing holding you back is the 2 pound limit, I wouldn't worry about it. There is NO WAY an FA is going to know the 2.1 pound DVD player is over weight.

HOWEVER, keep in mind you can't lower the tray table until you're above 10K feet, so you'd have to keep the player in your lap.

 

[smallworldnh]

Hi - no, you don't have to buy anything! We usually will record shows or movies right off the cable with the DVR ahead of time. You can download those onto your tablet with the app (when you go into the app, you will see your list of recordings & there is a choice to download them (at home, ahead of time) Once they are on your tablet, you can play them independently of wifi! We use an iPad mini, but I would think it would work on any device the app is available to.

Hi, I have Comcast as well. How do you get the app? Thanks!

 

[mom2rtk]

Hi, I have Comcast as well. How do you get the app? Thanks!

You want the Xfinity Stream TV app.

 

[JessicaW1234]

Hi, I have Comcast as well. How do you get the app? Thanks!

Yes, it's free on the App Store

 

[FigmentSpark]

If you have Netflix, you can download some things onto their app, so you're not streaming them.

Also, we used to bring DVD players for the kids when they were young. That was the easy part. Then there were the DVDs that had to be toted, and, of course, the plugs to recharge them after landing. Is yours holding a charge or would you have to have it plugged in on the plane?

Stowing them would be easy. Just put them in a tote/small beach bag and under the seat (unless you have other stuff there?). It doesn't have to be stowed tightly, just stowed.

 

[chartle]

The free wi fi service on Southwest also has movies and tv shows from popular cable networks like DIY, Travel Channel etc. I think the movies where things that would normally be playing on TV but seemed fairly current. I didn't watch one because it was short flights and I didn't want to get involved in any thing serious. I just used my phone but I could have brought my small tablet but wanted to travel light since I had not flown for, well 2 years prior to 9-11.

As for turning stuff off they just asked us to have phones in airplane mode during take off and landing.

 

[NotUrsula]

The free wi fi service on Southwest also has movies and tv shows from popular cable networks like DIY, Travel Channel etc. I think the movies where things that would normally be playing on TV but seemed fairly current. I didn't watch one because it was short flights and I didn't want to get involved in any thing serious. I just used my phone but I could have brought my small tablet but wanted to travel light since I had not flown for, well 2 years prior to 9-11.

As for turning stuff off they just asked us to have phones in airplane mode during take off and landing.

Do note that not every plane in SWA's fleet is currently equipped with wi-fi; the older aircraft mostly do not have it. Best not to count on using it if you REALLY want to be able to watch video on the flight.

 

[chartle]

Do note that not every plane in SWA's fleet is currently equipped with wi-fi; the older aircraft mostly do not have it. Best not to count on using it if you REALLY want to be able to watch video on the flight.

But I do think its noted when you book.