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Summer of LUV

weichinger
Employee
Employee
 summer-of-luv-008.jpgWell, it used to be free love, then it was free Dallas Love Field, and now it is the Summer of LUV!  Southwest always find a way to do something with LUV!  This summer, Southwest Airlines joined in the on the fun as we celebrated the 40th anniversary of the true Summer of Love.  As some of you may or may not know (we promise not to date anyone!) the Summer of Love refers to the summer of 1967 when young people from all over the world flocked to San Francisco to unite for a new "social" experience. The Beatles provided the soundtrack, and the Summer of Love was born!  Knowing this was a very special time for our country and a landmark anniversary (40 is the new 20), Southwest decided to put its own spin on the idea and celebrate our Customers!  Of course it is no longer the '60's, and I don't think we're still celebrating free love (please nod with me).  Instead we are getting our green act together, constantly finding new ways to appreciate folks with a surprise here and there, and for Southwest, we are celebrating our newest city San Francisco!   So what did we do?  Well, for starters Southwest brainstormed what this idea looked like and decided-what is better than a wrapped Toyota Prius that drives around town and hands out gifts to unsuspecting folks?  We needed a LUV machine, and the Prius fit the bill.  Southwest then partnered with Hertz and wrapped two Toyota Prius LUV machines.  Our two Prius or Priui (is that the plural?) hit the streets in San Francisco and in Southern California in June.  They bought free lunches from Wahoo's Fish Taco, they paid for coffee as folks headed into work in San Francisco's Financial District, they visited the beaches, hit some really cool concerts, and celebrated at many summer festivals.  Is that all we did?  Glad you asked, since the Summer of Love was not something that is just recognized in California, Southwest spread the LUV from coast-to-coast.  In downtown Philly, you might have run in to Southwest Airlines buying you coffee at WaWa or keeping your drink cool for you on South Street (found out that Philly does not use the word koozie, it's coolie). In Columbus you may have seen Southwest surprising folks with free Southwest Airlines tickets at locations like The Ohio State University or the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.  Additionally, Southwest partnered with the The Beatles LOVE, by Cirque du Soliel, at The Mirage and created a LOVE themed aircraft.  Southwest surprised Customers on board the aircraft with Beatles trivia and Las Vegas vacation packages.  And if that is not enough, we even created a web page to document everything (www.southwest.com/summerofluv/). It was a great summer, that ended with Southwest re-opening its operation in San Francisco.  Southwest now offers daily nonstop departures to San Diego, Chicago Midway, and Las Vegas.  All of this goes to show that all you really need is LUV, LUV, and more LUV.  We can't give it away for free, but we're glad you chose the LUV airline for your trip.  Hope your summer was as LUVly as ours.
14 Comments
Dori_Mikus
Explorer C
I am very much in "luv" with Southwest Airlines and truly should be a spokesperson for this fabulous airline. In fact, almost every school project (even at my age) concerns spreading good PR about this people-oriented airline. Thanks for everything and for the Summer of Luv!! Love (or is it Luv), Dori Mikus
FriendofBlogBoy
Frequent Flyer B
Whitney, This is a great story! What a cool way for Southwest to not only celebrate the Summer of Love, but also get noticed by the folks in the City By the Bay as you return to SFO! For people who don't live in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, they may think that these are the first automotive goodwill ambassadors for SWA, but our local oldies radio station, KLUV-FM (98.7 - www.kluv.com ) has been a partner with our local airline for years in their operation of the "Southwest Airlines LUV Bug", a VW Beetle painted to resemble a smaller version of those famous canyon blue 737s. The car travels around the area and is frequently associated with giveaways, contests and special events, just as your LUV Prius has been doing in San Francisco. I can't find a great picture of just the car, but this link has several images that will give you the idea: http://www.salvationarmydfw.org/pdf/KLUV2003.pdf . Several years ago, this partnership between radio station and airline even extended as far as Southwest naming one of their 737s in honor of the now-retired local radio DJ legend, Ron Chapman: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.visitingphx.com/sspnronchapman.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.visitingphx.com/swanamephotos.html&h=92&w=200&sz=6&hl=en&start=4&tbnid=r_RAMeuQBnkBLM:&tbnh=48&tbnw=104&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2522southwest%2522%2B%2522ron%2Bchapman%2522%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D18%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN In Dallas, LUV is both IN the air and ON the air! Happy motoring, Whitney! Kim A supporter of both of the local LUV companies :) P. S. Whitney -- realizing that this is the 40th anniversary of The Summer of Love didn't make me feel as old as the fact that Al Jardine of The Beach Boys turned 65 this weekend!
Chuck_Chambers
Explorer C
I flew Southwest this past month and what a refreshing difference from the other airlines I have used in the past. The crew was very personable and made all the difference in the world. I was treated more like a friend than a "passenger" and made to feel right at home. Thanks Southwest for the hospitality and the great crew. Chuck Chambers
blusk
Aviator C
Kim, actually the use of "automobile ambassadors" by SWA goes back even further than KLUV. In the 1970s, our Marketing folks tooled around Texas in AMC Gremlins and Pacers that were painted to match our airplanes. Thankfully, SWA's staying power was lightyears ahead of American Motors and their Gremlins. Blog Boy
Carl1
Explorer A
It sounds to me like you missed on using a Beattles' song as a jingle. I can hear it now: "All you need is LUV".
Francisco_Delga1
Adventurer A
all I need is LUV....... I am counting down the days until i am on a LUV bird.... 26days............ USS BLOG BOY
FriendofBlogBoy
Frequent Flyer B
Brian, Actually, I DO remember those, but, with discretion being the better part of valor, I was trying to help your marketing folks "save face" by not mentioning their earlier selection of vehicles whose cachet within the automotive world might not equal the gravitas that Southwest enjoys in the aviation world... Kim External Blog Boy, who had a used American Motors vehicle as his first car 🙂
blusk
Aviator C
External Blog Boy American Motors cars were featured in a James Bond movie, but you do strike me as a Rambler kind of guy. Blog Boy
joe-mdw-plane-d
Frequent Flyer C
I thought he was more of a Delorean guy myself. :-) This dodge boy has more fun. Ding! boy Joe
FriendofBlogBoy
Frequent Flyer B
Joe, That was the excuse I used when the state trooper clocked me doing 88 mph. I thought I would get away from him by going back to the future, but all I got was a ticket... Kim 😞
Rick6
Explorer C
I use to hold Southwest in hight regards, that is until they decided to turn from a fun filled airlines to a dictatorship on how people should dress and what they can and can't wear. Here's how I feel about it. You don't have a dress code nor do you have the right to tell people how to dress. If it's something that can be worn in public then it should okay to wear on your airlines. Southwest Airlines has gone down hill and fast. I use to fly Southwest and get the weekly e-mails of discounts. I have since cancelled my e-mails from Southwest and have no desire to fly with them anymore. In this day and time so many people what to tell you what you can do, what you can't do, how you should live and many ohter things. Southwest seems to forget that they are a "service" company. People pay good money to fly the "friendly" skys. Seems like those days have gone by the wayside with your airlines. I for one will look elsewhere for the next time I need to fly. Southwest seems to have forgoten where they came from and what they use to be. It's easy to see where they are going, down the crapper!!
Rick6
Explorer C
Lets see what kind of sensorship you put on my e-mail and if you will post it or show that you don't want to hear the negitive and truth about your airlines.
Ken8
Explorer C
First, WRONG THREAD! Second: "If itÃ
Adam_Freeman
Explorer C
I find it amazing that you are promoting the summer of luv a time of mini skirts, tube tops, drugs. All while not allowing the two women to travel on your airline who were dressed just fine. You should be ashmaed of yourselves. You use to have flight attendents in hot pants and now look. I will no longer be flying with you!