Southwest to test prices for Internet

DALLAS — Southwest Airlines Co. will start charging for Internet access on board four of its planes beginning Wednesday.

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The airline said Monday it will charge $2 to $12 depending on the length of the flight and the type of device passengers use to connect to the Internet.

Southwest has been testing in-flight Internet access on the four planes for several months free of charge to passengers with a laptop or other device.

Southwest and other airlines see potential revenue in charging passengers to surf the Web or check e-mail during flights.

Delta Air Lines Inc. and AMR Corp.'s American Airlines have announced plans to install Internet access on more than 300 planes each, although far fewer have been completed. Both are charging up to $12.95 — less on shorter flights and for using a handheld device instead of a laptop computer.