Airlines know that flyers have forsaken the tinny sounds of waiting-room jazz for their own personal devices and playlists. With more flyers relying on smartphones and Spotify for in-flight entertainment, what’s a major airline to do?
If you’re Southwest, you bring in Dr. Dre.
Today, Southwest launches the first-ever Beats Music service in the air. Through in-flight Wi-Fi, passengers will have access to some 150 curated playlists via their mobile devices (the service is iOS- and Android-compatible). The playlists feature fresh new artists and likely favorites in a number of genres, including pop, rock, country, hip-hop, and more. Beats Music also offers personalized playlists based on a quick survey of flyers’ tastes and locations. This gives Beats a leg up on similar service Spotify; for young customers, after all, personalization is key.
The service itself is free of charge but requires Wi-Fi access, for which Southwest currently charges $8 per day. But Southwest is banking on a fair amount of customer overlap: The flyer who is willing to pay for Wi-Fi in order to access email, social networks, and Internet is likely the same customer who would be wowed by the trendy Beats service.
Beats, the super-successful music-streaming and electronics company cofounded by rapper Dr. Dre, was acquired by Apple earlier this year, giving even more cachet to a brand popular with celebrities and NFL stars.
Add Southwest flyers to that list.
In fact, Southwest seems to be seeking a fresh new look and feel, given its recent bright, vibrant rebranding and record-setting profits. Those add-ons make the low-cost line a favorite among younger flyers—count this writer among them.
Readers, would you use the Beats Music streaming service?
(Photos: Southwest)
You Might Also Like:
- Southwest’s New Look Dials Up the Luv
- Best Airlines for In-Flight Entertainment
- Surprise: Flyers Don’t Want Seatback Screens
We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
Related
Top Fares From
Today's Top Travel Deals
Brought to you by ShermansTravel
Greece: 8-Nt, Small-Group Tour, Incl. Aegina,...
Globus
![](https://d2619hvqn7b355.cloudfront.net/uploads/default_image/image/113/main_greece_2.jpg)
Amsterdam to Copenhagen: Luxe, 18-Night Northern...
Regent Seven Seas Cruises
![](https://d2619hvqn7b355.cloudfront.net/uploads/default_image/image/92/main_europe_2.jpg)
Ohio: Daily Car Rentals from Cincinnati
85OFF.com
![](https://d2619hvqn7b355.cloudfront.net/uploads/default_image/image/121/main_rental_car.jpeg)