Southwest Airline will become the first airline to offer travelers the option of gate-to-gate Wi-Fi service, allowing passengers to stay connected even while the plane is on the runway.

The Internet has become a major part of our daily lives and we are now accustomed to being connected both at home and while on the go. Traveling often implies a small pause from one's digital life, especially if flying is involved.

Just last month the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) finally gave a green light for airlines to allow passengers to use electronic devices "during all phases of flight," i.e. including during take-off and landing.

Southwest is now taking things to the next level, becoming the first airline to not only allow use of electronic devices during take-off and landing, but also offer gate-to-gate Wi-Fi service. This means that passengers will be able to go online even when the plane is on the runway.

"Effective today, all Southwest Airline Customers may use small portable electronic devices (PEDs) in 'airplane' mode from gate to gate - this means the Customers may use the airline's onboard WiFi, which is available on the majority of the airline's fleet," Southwest announced on Wednesday, Nov. 20. "As Customers get ready to head out for Thanksgiving travel, they will now have the ability to stay connected from the time they step onboard a Southwest plane to the time they exit. Southwest is the only airline that offers a gate-to-gate connectivity on the majority of our fleet."

"We know this is something Customers have wanted for some time now, and we're excited to give them the freedom to use personal devices while in the air and on the ground," added Kevin Krone, Southwest Airlines Chief Marketing Officer. "With free live TV compliments of DISH and the ability to stay connected for the entire flight, Customers can count on Southwest for the best Customer Experience in the business."

Southwest Airlines is able to offer gate-to-gate Internet connectivity as it provides Wi-Fi through a different satellite technology compared to what other Wi-Fi services such as GoGo use. Unlike Southwest's satellite technology, GoGo uses air-to-ground tech, which activates Internet connectivity only when the plane is up in the sky. Most other airlines have in-flight Wi-Fi through GoGo's air-to-ground technology.

With Southwest taking the first step toward gate-to-gate Wi-Fi service, other airlines are expected to follow suit in the future.