Southwest Airlines Community

Southwest Airlines Celebrates 25 Years of 'LUV' in St. Louis DALLAS, March 17, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Southwest Airlines today is celebrating the carrier's 25th Anniversary of service at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. To commemorate the occasion, Southwest is celebrating with its Employees and Customers at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, complete with live music, decorations, games, prizes, and a media event. Media Event Details: When: Wednesday, March 17 at 12 p.m. CDT Where: Southwest Airlines Ticket Counter What: Officials from Southwest Airlines and Lambert-St. Louis International Airport will give remarks. The St. Louis Fire Department will pay a tribute to Southwest's Anniversary with a water arch salute at 12:35 p.m. CDT "Southwest Airlines is committed to St. Louis, and we are continuing to grow our footprint in the Gateway City 25 years after launching service," said Southwest's Senior Director of Ground Operations Anne Naylor. "We'd like to thank our hardworking local Employees, our loyal Customers, the city of St. Louis, and our friends at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, who have all been excellent partners and very supportive of our growth and service over the years." "We are thrilled that Southwest has steadily grown their operation in St. Louis," said Lambert Director Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge. "We value their commitment to the St. Louis region and look forward to even more service additions to new and existing destinations later this spring." Southwest Employees are also celebrating the 25th Anniversary in St. Louis by spending time beautifying the grounds both at the Saint Louis Zoo and the Missouri Botanical Garden this week. The airline's Employees proudly Share the Spirit through volunteering in the communities where they work and live. Southwest Airlines launched service into St. Louis on March 17, 1985, with 17 daily nonstop flights to four cities. Today, Southwest is the second largest carrier in terms of daily departures at St. Louis with 70 flights to 25 nonstop destinations, as of March 2010. With new nonstop service to Nashville, New Orleans, Raleigh-Durham (RDU), San Diego, Seattle/Tacoma, and Los Angeles (LAX) starting on May 9, Southwest will be the largest carrier at St. Louis with 83 daily flights to 31 nonstop destinations. Southwest is the preferred airline for St. Louis Customers, with a greater market share (35 percent) than any other carrier as of the third quarter of 2009. St. Louis was the 22nd city to join the Southwest system and is now the 16th busiest city in the airline's 68-city network. Southwest is the Low-Fare Leader out of St. Louis with an average one-way fare of $112 in the third quarter of 2009, 23 percent lower than all other airlines combined. After 38 years of service, Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other low fare carriers--offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service. Southwest Airlines is the most productive airline in the sky and offers Customers a comfortable traveling experience, with all leather seats, and all Boeing 737 jets. Southwest Airlines is the nation's largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded, currently serving 68 cities in 35 states (Southwest will begin service to Panama City Beach, Florida, on May 23). Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,200 flights a day and has nearly 35,000 Employees systemwide. www.southwest.com SOURCE Southwest Airlines ... View more

I was saddened to learn of the passing of Peter Graves this weekend.  I first noticed his career when he played the father on Fury, and then in Mission Impossible as Jim Phelps.  But, when I first saw Airplane at the Fox Theater in Portland, Oregon during the summer of 1980, I knew I was watching a classic American movie.  I would wager that at least three out of every four airline employees could quote a line of Airplane dialogue off the top of their heads.  While he didn’t have the largest role in Airplane and was being dragged down the aisle of the airplane half-way through the film, Peter Graves makes this movie a masterpiece with his role as Captain Oveur.  From his first scene where he tells the operator to “give me a Hamm on five, and hold the Mayo” to handing his credit card to the attendant outside the airplane window, to his question “What’s the vector, Victor,” it is nonstop comedy delight.  And that doesn’t even include Joey’s visit to the cockpit. While Peter Graves has left us, Captain Oveur will be searching for the perfect vector for many years to come. ... View more

Southwest Airlines and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities Open Travel Program for College Students LANZATE TAKES OFF! DALLAS, March 16, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Southwest Airlines, in conjunction with the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), announced today the opening of "Dandole Alas a Tu Exito/Giving Flight to Your Success," its annual education travel award program. Online applications will be accepted through April 30, 2010, at www.hacu.net. A panel of judges comprised of college professors and education advocates from coast to coast will gather this summer to select students who will receive free travel to their colleges and universities. Each student is eligible to receive between one and four tickets for use by the student or immediate family to travel to/from a college or university. The tickets are awarded to undergraduate and graduate Hispanic students with socio-economic needs who journey away from home to pursue higher education. All of the participants must submit an essay explaining why they deserve the travel award and what inspires them to pursue a college degree. To view the criteria for the 2010 award program, please visit: http://www.hacu.net/images/hacu/development/Lanzate/2010Criteria.pdf "HACU's partnership with Southwest Airlines Lanzate Award has provided hundreds of students with travel over the past six years," said Antonio R. Flores, HACU President and CEO. "For students who left home to pursue a higher education, a visit with family often is the tipping point for success. HACU is proud to partner with Southwest Airlines to help so many students on their educational journey." With more than 1,500 applicants in the last five years, this is a successful educational program that serves underprivileged students, providing free travel for them and their families to maximize their potential and create opportunities for growth. "The Lanzate/Take Off travel award provides travel to students who, for example, might not get to go home during Christmas break. It can also give parents an opportunity to see their kids through their proudest moments, like moving into a dorm or graduation day," said Christine Ortega, Southwest Airlines Community Affairs & Grassroots Manager. "This contact removes barriers and gives each student more confidence to pursue the dream of higher education without worrying about economic hardships." HACU, which has its national headquarters in San Antonio, Texas, represents approximately 450 colleges and universities, including Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), which collectively serve more than two-thirds of all Hispanic higher education students in the United States and Puerto Rico. HACU's international membership includes leading higher education institutions in Latin America and Europe. After more than 38 years of service, Southwest Airlines, the nation's leading low fare carrier, continues to stand above other airlines--offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service. Southwest Airlines is the most productive airline in the sky and offers Customers a comfortable traveling experience with all premium leather seats and plenty of legroom. Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV), the nation's largest carrier in terms of domestic passengers enplaned, currently serves 68 cities in 35 states. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,200 flights a day and has nearly 35,000 Employees systemwide. www.southwest.com SOURCE Southwest Airlines ... View more

Southwest Airlines Launches 72-Hour Fare Sale To/From Philadelphia Southwest Offers Fares of $30, $60, and $90 one-way to/from the City of Brotherly Love DALLAS, March 16, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- For the next 72 hours, Southwest Airlines is offering Customers discounted airfares starting as low as $30 one-way to/from Philadelphia. Take advantage of these super low fares on southwest.com and start planning your getaway today! Fares are available in select markets for travel Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays when purchased by Mar. 18, 2010, at 11:59 p.m. PDT. These fares are only available on southwest.com for travel between April 6, 2010, and May 26, 2010. To book these special online fares, visit: www.southwest.com. Examples of fares include (see Additional Fare Rules below): $30 one-way between Philadelphia and Raleigh/Durham $60 one-way between Philadelphia and Chicago $90 one-way between Philadelphia and Denver   To check out the latest Philadelphia specials Southwest has to offer visit, www.southwest.com/Philly. For travelers with flexible schedules, Southwest's Low Fare Calendar tool will show the lowest price available for each day using a monthly calendar view. To shop around for fare availability, visit: http://www.southwest.com/cgi-bin/lowFareFinderEntry. After more than 38 years of service, Southwest Airlines, the nation's leading low-fare carrier, continues to stand above other airlines--offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service. Southwest Airlines is the most productive airline in the sky and offers Customers a comfortable traveling experience with all premium leather seats and plenty of legroom. Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV), the nation's largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded, currently serves 68 cities in 35 states (with additional service to Panama City Beach, Fla., in May). Based in Dallas, Southwest operates more than 3,200 flights a day and has nearly 35,000 Employees systemwide. Terms & Conditions Southwest Airlines sale fares are available for purchase from March 16 through March 18, 2010, 11:59 pm Pacific Daylight Time and travel must take place April 6 through May 26, 2010. Fares are available only on southwest.com or swabiz.com. Fares are available for travel only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. Fares do not include a federal excise tax of $3.70 for each flight segment. A flight segment is defined as a takeoff and a landing. Fares do not include airport-assessed passenger facility charges (PFC) of up to $9.00 and a U.S. government-imposed September 11th Security Fee of up to $5.00 one-way. Seats are limited. Fares may vary by destinations, flight, and day of week and won't be available on some flights that operate during very busy travel times and holiday periods. Fares are available for one-way travel. When combining fares, all rules and restrictions apply. Fares are nonrefundable but if unused, may be applied toward the purchase of future travel on Southwest Airlines. Sale fares are not combinable with Senior Fares. Fares are not available through the Group Desk. Any change in the itinerary may result in an increase in fare. Standby travel requires an upgrade to the unrestricted "Anytime" fare. Fares are subject to change until ticketed. Offer applies to published, scheduled service only. www.southwest.com SOURCE Southwest Airlines ... View more

Southwest Airlines Launches New 'Grab Your Bag: It's On!' Ads Airline's New Spots Feature Employees Who LUV What They Do DALLAS, March 15, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) debuted a new set of FUN Employee-focused ads today. The airline saw great success with its "Grab Your Bag: It's On!" campaign which launched last summer and continued into the fall with a heavy presence during football season. The well-known "Ramper Spots" featured the airline's Ramp Agents showing "LUV" to Customers' baggage, which Southwest carries for free (first two checked bags per passenger, weight and size limits apply). Rampers bid farewell to the beloved bags as the aircraft takes off. All the advertising was successful in driving home the airline's Bags Fly Free policy. The new ads launching today are an extension of the popular "Grab Your Bag: It's On!" spots, but now feature a new set of Employees and some new messages. The ads aim to highlight that Southwest is an airline that consistently provides a positive experience that keeps Customers coming back and is a reliable and dependable travel partner. One spot, entitled "Battle Cry," features ten Ramp Agents "revealing" Southwest's Bags Fly Free policy. The airline will roll out seven new spots over the next few days. The ads will run in national and local media, with two spots airing during broadcasts of the college basketball championship games. One of the ads specifically focuses on the fact that Customers can purchase Southwest Airlines fares and flights online only on southwest.com. Customers cannot find Southwest's super low fares on any other travel web site. To view the new spots and behind-the-scenes video, please visit www.blogsouthwest.com or become a fan on Southwest's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/southwest. Additionally, Southwest Airlines is featuring Employees in innovative loading bridge, print, and digital advertising. Customers will see Southwest Employees in banner ads online and in the airport. After 38 years of service, Southwest Airlines continues to differentiate itself from other low fare carriers--offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service. Southwest Airlines is the most productive airline in the sky and offers Customers a comfortable traveling experience. Southwest Airlines is the nation's largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded, currently serving 68 cities in 35 states, soon to be 69 with the addition of Panama City Beach on May 23, 2010. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,200 flights a day and has nearly 35,000 Employees systemwide. www.southwest.com SOURCE Southwest Airlines ... View more

In this blog post, Merritt Colaizzi talks about our new Employee blog.  Click on the link above to read more. ... View more

When your Founder and Chairman Emeritus (Herb Kelleher) and President Emeritus (Colleen Barrett) are Irish, and your CEO, President, and Chairman has Kelly as his last name, the luck of the Irish is bound to be with your Company.  Is it any wonder that St. Patrick’s Day is a big event at Southwest?  And, it’s been that way for a long time.  We even began our service to St. Louis and Chicago 25 years ago on March 17, 1985. Four years before that, we celebrated St. Patty’s day in 1981 with typical Southwest exuberance.  Even back then our goal was to “own the holidays,” and we celebrated St. Patrick’s Day in a big way that year.  In our weekly Flashback Friday trip to the super secure archive vaults, I found this picture of two of our Flight Attendants in the forward galley decked out in their holiday attire. Evidentally, we were having a promotion for St. Patrick’s Day with the Bennigan’s restaurant chain and Bushmill’s Irish Whisky.  Note the bowlers on the Flight Attendants and the unopened bottle from Ireland’s best distiller. I included this photo for all my fellow airline geeks.  Sharp eyes will note that this is the inside of N67SW, a 737-2H4 which had been delivered to us on Herb's birthday (March 12, which is also today) from Boeing a year before. This airplane would be the first to wear the name of our other Cofounder, Rollin King.  That guy sitting in the front row doesn’t appear to be too interested in the preflight announcement, but the lady in the second row’s middle seat and the man in the aisle seat on the third row are paying careful attention.  Next week, a look at Love Field before Southwest Airlines. ... View more

A few weeks ago, I did a post that mentioned a 737-200 that we operated on lease from Trans European Airways (TEA) in Belgium.  In that post and a subsequent posting on interim liveries, we never posted a photo that really showed the aircraft in its TEA livery with Southwest titles and it’s Belgian registration, OO-TEM.  Well, this post aims to rectify that.  I asked Eric on our Graphics Team to scan some negatives, and there were shots of that aircraft on the roll of film that I gave Eric.  (By the way, Eric is responsible for many of the photos I use in Flashback Fridays, so if you enjoy these posts, Eric gets the credit.) In the first photo below, we see OO-TEM begin its takeoff roll.  At first, I thought the takeoff was filmed here at Love Field because there are similar hangars here.  However, the more I looked at the photo, the more I had doubts.  There is a runway in the foreground, and Love doesn’t have parallel runways.  This would appear to be Houston Hobby, and the aircraft is taking off from Runway 12Right. The next two photos show the airplane lifting off and climbing out.  OO-TEM was a 737-2Q8, and it was leased by Southwest from February 1981 until returning to TEA at the end of April, 1983.  Next week, we look at how Southwest celebrated St. Patrick's Day in 1981.       ... View more

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CELEBRATES 15 YEARS OF “LUV” IN OMAHA DALLAS –March 4, 2010 – Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) today is celebrating 15 years of service in Omaha.  In honor of the Anniversary, Southwest will throw a 90s-themed celebration with its Employees and Customers at Omaha’s Eppley Airfield today, complete with a DJ, decorations, games, and prizes.   “For 15 years, Southwest Airlines has been bringing Omaha low fares and Legendary Customer Service,” said Paul Jensen, Southwest’s Omaha Station Leader.  “I’m extremely proud and honored to work alongside the 57 hard-working and dedicated Omaha Employees to give Nebraskans the Freedom to fly.”   Southwest Employees are also celebrating the 15th Anniversary in Omaha by donating funds raised in a recent event to a local cancer center.  The airline’s Employees proudly Share the Spirit through volunteering in the communities where they work and live. Southwest began service to Omaha on March 4, 1995, with nine daily nonstop flights to three destinations.  Today the airline offers 15 daily nonstop flights to five destinations, with direct or connecting service to an additional 60 cities.  Omaha was the 44th city on the airline’s route map.     After 38 years of service, Southwest Airlines continues to differentiate itself from other low fare carriers—offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service.  Southwest Airlines is the most productive airline in the sky and offers Customers a comfortable traveling experience, with all leather seats, and all Boeing 737 jets.  Southwest Airlines is the nation's largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded, currently serving 68 cities in 35 states.  Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,100 flights a day and has nearly 35,000 Employees systemwide.  www.southwest.com ... View more

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CELEBRATES ONE YEAR OF “LUV” IN MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL DALLAS –March 4, 2010 – Southwest Airlines today is celebrating the carrier’s one-year Anniversary in Minneapolis/St. Paul.  While the official Anniversary is March 8, Southwest couldn’t wait to celebrate.  So to commemorate the occasion, Southwest will throw a celebration with its Employees and Customers at the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport, complete with a DJ, decorations, games, prizes.  Additionally, Minneapolis-based breakfast favorite, Malt-o-Meal, will join the celebration by giving away snacks to Customers who are traveling on Southwest today.       “In just one short year, our service here in the Twin Cities has far exceeded our expectations,” said Mike Gregory, Southwest’s Minneapolis/St. Paul Station Leader.  “We have successfully proven that the Southwest Effect is alive and well by increasing traffic and significantly lowering fares, and I’m honored to work alongside the best Employees in the industry to continue bringing our legendary Customer Service to the good people of Minnesota.”   Southwest Employees are also celebrating the one-year Anniversary in Minneapolis/St. Paul by gathering diapers and baby wipes to donate to a local Women’s Shelter.  The airline’s Employees proudly Share the Spirit through volunteering in the communities where they work and live. The Department of Transportation has coined the phrase “the Southwest Effect” to describe a phenomenon when Southwest enters a market – namely that fares decrease and traffic increases.  Southwest’s service in Minneapolis/St. Paul in just one year’s time proves that the Southwest Effect is alive and well in the Twin Cities.  Average one-way fares between Minneapolis/St. Paul and Chicago have fallen while passenger traffic between the two cities has grown.  In third quarter 2008, before Southwest entered the market, the average one-way fare between Minneapolis/St. Paul and Chicago was $216.  In third quarter 2009, after Southwest’s entry into the market, the average one-way fare had dropped to $82 -- a savings of 62 percent!  At the same time, passengers loads on the route climbed by 44 percent.   The Minneapolis-Denver route paints a similar picture.  In third quarter 2008, the average one-way fare was $148.  After Southwest entered the market in May 2009, the average one-way fare was only $99, a savings of 33 percent.  At the same time, overall passenger numbers climbed 14 percent, another great illustration of the Southwest Effect. Southwest Airlines launched service into Minneapolis/St. Paul on March 8, 2009, with eight daily nonstop flights to Chicago Midway.  In May 2009, Southwest added three nonstop flights to Denver, and added two more nonstop flights to St. Louis in January 2010, bringing Southwest’s service up to 13 daily nonstop flights from Minneapolis/St. Paul to three cities, with direct or connecting service to 59 destinations.   After 38 years of service, Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other low fare carriers—offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service.  Southwest Airlines is the most productive airline in the sky and offers Customers a comfortable traveling experience, with all leather seats, and all Boeing 737 jets.  Southwest Airlines is the nation's largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded, currently serving 68 cities in 35 states.  Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,100 flights a day and has nearly 35,000 Employees systemwide.  www.southwest.com ... View more

One of the great things about Nuts About Southwest is our Flickr feed at the top of the homepage.  In case you hadn’t noticed, those photos change every time the page opens or is refreshed.  All of these photos are contributed by our readers, and if you haven’t joined the fun, click on the Flickr link above the photos on the homepage. As most of you are painfully aware, this has been a brutal winter, even in places you wouldn’t expect.  Our reader/photographers have been busy this winter photographing and sharing winter scenes with us, and I thought it would be cool to highlight some of these scenes—hopefully as a “good bye” to this winter. Let's start in a spot where you wouldn't expect snow--Southern California.  Lisa Drummond submitted this post of N926WN landing  on February 10 at Ontario, California with a snow-capped Mt. Baldy in the background. Here in Dallas, we got clobbered with a record one day snowfall in February.  "SWA Blog Boy" snapped this shot just a day after the photo above on February 11 at our Maintenance Hanagr at Love Field. In winter, you expect snow in Cleveland, and on January 5, you would have been right.  The photo below was submitted by "p. csizmadia." "Hoosierguy Jeff" snapped this aerial view of snow across the Midwest on January 19.   The first big storm of the season hit the Northeast back in December.  "wingsnstuff" provides this great view of deicing at the Washington Dulles Airport on December 5. And finally, we have this night shot of a very snowy ramp taken back in Novemeber.  We aren't sure of what airport it is, but it looks cold! ... View more

I love historical aerial photos because they not only freeze an object in time, they place the object in the context of its surroundings.  For example, I wrote an article for Trains magazine about Dallas Union Station, and in the Dallas Public Library’s photo collection, I found an aerial view of the terminal from the late 1940s.  The photo was a perfect companion to the article I wrote. While going through a binder of black and white negatives that we recently acquired for our archives, I found some cool aerial views of Dallas Love Field that were taken in 1981.  As any of you who travel regularly know, an airport is a constantly changing creature and Love Field is no exception.  With the massive modernization currently in progress for Love Field, I thought this look back would be interesting.  These photos not only show how the airport has changed, they show how Southwest has changed. Evidently, Southwest ordered these photos, probably for our old inflight magazine, Southwest Magazine.  The view below is a wide shot showing most of the terminal.  The building still wears its original red and green façade, and the control tower is still in use on top of the terminal.  In the foreground is the West Concourse (the former American gates) that are still in use by Southwest.  The enclosed passageway from the bagage claim area to the concourse can be seen next to the lower right of the terminal.  In the middle of the photo is the North Concourse looking pretty much the way it did after the other airlines moved to DFW.  The white hangar on the left of the concourse was the first of two similar hangars which eventually housed our Dallas Provisioning Station.  (Provisioning  just moved into a new facility recently, see video.)  Sharp-eyed airline geeks will notice the former Piedmont YS-11A parked to the left of the hangar.  Behind are two general aviation hangars under construction—which eventually would house our Ground Service Equipment repair facility.  Private aircraft line the North and East Concourse ramps.  A new control tower was eventually constructed near where the North and East Concourses intersect.  Moving up to the East Concourse (coming out of the upper right of the terminal building), we see two Air Force KC-135s parked at what were the old Texas International gates.  At the very top right portion of the photo is the Braniff maintenance base, which is still in operation, and there are three Braniff DC-8s parked to the left of the hangar.  Just behind the DC-8s is a building that kind of looks like a ski chalet.  This was the 94th Aero Squadron Restaurant that opened after the other airlines moved to Love Field.  The former Legend Terminal sat on this site. As can be seen in the bottom two photos, Southwest was only using six gates on the West Concourse at this time.  (We now use the entire concourse.)  The other gates have no jetbridges attached.  It looks as though five aircraft are parked remotely at the other gates.  My guess is that the photos were taken just after sunrise (on an overcast day), and that these are overnight aircraft that will move to a working gate once a flight departs.  The next photo shows that the jetbridges were painted in an approximation of the Southwest colors.  Because of the fuel tanker truck, it appears that underground fuel hydrants have yet to be installed.  The small tower on top of the concourse is American’s old ramp tower.  The same basic gate configuration is currently in place today. Moving back out to a wider shot, we see that this was before the first parking garage was completed.  Look at how few cars are in the parking lot.  Runway 18/36 runs from the top to the bottom of the photo on the left, and today there are several general aviation hangars next to the runway at the top of the photo.  Runway 13Right/31Left runs from left to right across the bottom of the photo.  (Bachman Lake is out of the frame to the left.)   Here's one final view looking generally back to the southeast. ... View more

As promised, here is another look at some more interim liveries used here at Southwest.  As I mentioned in an earlier Flashback Friday post, airlines sometimes operate aircraft in the color scheme of their previous carrier, but with modified titles.  This can happen in a merger or during a shortterm lease.  For example, the old British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) used to provide assistance to the airlines of many emerging nations; so as an example, you would see an aircraft in full BOAC colors (or in this case, “colours”) with Ghana Airways titles. While we don’t have international connections like that, we have flown a good variety of aircraft in interim color schemes during our almost 39 year history.  Previously we have looked at a Morris Air 737-300 in the interim livery it wore after we acquired that carrier, a Trans European Airways 737-200 on lease, and two 737-700s acquired from the Ford Motor Company in Europe. This week, I have some examples that are from a small poster showing our various liveries that appears to date from 1995 .  It contains pictures of five aircraft in interim schemes.  Let’s start with N702ML (msn 22054) below.  This is a much-travelled 737-2T4 that served with Air Florida, Air Europe, Dan Air London, Nordair, and Midway before coming to Southwest in 1991.  This photo shows the aircraft wearing the basic Midway livery with Southwest titles on the tail.    Moving on, the next aircraft also has an Air Florida connection. N83AF (msn 22699) is also a 737-2T4, but it has a much shorter lineage than N702ML.  It was built for Air Florida, and Southwest first leased it in 1983 before purchasing the airplane and reregistering it as N130SW in 1984.    Next, take a look below--yes Southwest did operate a "Proud Bird with the Golden Tail."  Built for Frontier in 1975, N7385F (msn 21069) is a 737-291.  When Frontier was acquired by Continental in the mid-1980s, N7385F was sub-leased in August 1987 for a little more than a year by Southwest.  Airline geeks will recognize the livery below as belonging to the original Frontier Airlines.  Also part of Frontier's large 737 fleet, N7388F (msn 19920) has something in common with Southwest's first three 737s.  This 737-214 was also originally built for PSA.  When Continental acquired Frontier, this aircraft had been not been repainted into the new Continental colors before coming to Southwest on a shortterm lease.  Since the tail is all white, the letters match the red of the Frontier stripe.  Upon completion of its Southwest duty, it returned to Continental.   The next photo isn’t Silver One. Actually it is a 737-3A4, N679AA (msn 23291) and it is a sister ship of the recently retired N680AA.  It was delivered new from Boeing to Air Cal as N306AC, and it wore two interim liveries during its career.  When American acquired Air Cal in 1987, American titles were applied over the basic Air Cal colors.  Later American stripped it to bare metal before Southwest acquired it in 1991.  Until we could paint it into the full SWA livery it wore a true hybrid livery with the American bare metal and red and gold stripes down the fuselage with Southwest titles on the tail.   I hope you have enjoyed this look at these unusual liveries.  Next week, I will try to move away from airplanes, and bring you some other topics from the archives. ... View more

  Southwest Airlines Offers ‘A-List’ Status to Colorado Rapid Reward Members  By Flying Just Four Roundtrip Flights in Three Months   A-List Rapid Rewards Members Enjoy the Benefits of Priority Boarding, Priority Check-In, and Priority Security Lines               DENVER, CO – Feb. 15, 2010 --  Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV) is offering Colorado residents its fast-track, “A-List” status four times faster to Members of the carrier’s frequent flyer program, Rapid Rewards.  For a limited time, Coloradans can earn Rapid Rewards A-List status valid through Dec. 31, 2010, just by booking and flying four roundtrips to or from Denver between Feb. 15, 2010, and May 15, 2010.  To learn more about this promotion, visit: www.southwest.com/denveralist.     Being a Rapid Rewards A-List Member gives you special privileges from the moment you step into the airport. ·         Priority Boarding:  As one of the first to board, you’ll have better seating and overhead storage options since Southwest does not pre-assign seats.  ·         Priority Check-In:  Fly past the lines, right to the front of the ticket counter. ·         Priority Security:  Spend less time waiting in the security line.  It is fast and easy to earn free travel through Rapid Rewards.  Rapid Rewards Members earn credits by flying or using the program’s Preferred Partners.  It takes just eight roundtrips, or 16 credits, to qualify for an Award.  However, Members can accelerate their earnings by using the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Credit Card from Chase, doing business with any of the airline’s other Preferred Partners, or by purchasing Southwest’s Business Select fares when flying.  Plus, once it’s earned, Southwest Airlines allows the Member to transfer the Award to anyone.  The Award is free but subject to the U.S. government-imposed September 11th Security Fee of up to $10 roundtrip. Southwest Airlines currently operates 114 daily nonstop flights from the Mile High City to 37 destinations, with direct or connecting service to 30 additional destinations.  In May 2010, Southwest will operate 129 daily Denver flights to 42 nonstop destinations, and by August 2010, Southwest will operate 144 daily Denver flights, making Denver Southwest Airlines’ fastest growing city in history.  Southwest currently has nearly 400 Employees in Denver, including Ground Operations, Provisioning, and Community Affairs Departments. After 38 years of service, Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other low fare carriers—offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service.  Southwest Airlines is the most productive airline in the sky and offers Customers a comfortable traveling experience, with all leather seats, all Boeing 737 jets.  Southwest Airlines is the nation's largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded, currently serving 68 cities in 35 states.  Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,100 flights a day and has nearly 35,000 Employees systemwide.    Terms & Conditions   A Rapid Rewards Member who registers, books, and flies 8 qualifying one-way revenue flights from Feb. 15, 2010, through May 15, 2010, becomes eligible for limited time Rapid Rewards’ A-List membership. Limited time Rapid Rewards’ A-List membership entitles the Member to reserved boarding privileges through Dec. 31, 2010, which means that Southwest Airlines will automatically reserve a boarding pass for the member beginning 36 hours prior to each of the Member’s confirmed Southwest Airlines’ flights to ensure the member will receive the best available boarding pass. An A-List Member will be eligible for receiving reserved boarding pass privileges only for flights he/she completes during his/her designated A-List membership period.   Qualifying one-way revenue flight is defined as any flight to or from Denver International Airport.    To be eligible, Member must be a resident of Colorado. Member’s Rapid Rewards account must show Colorado residency.  Non-residents of Colorado are not eligible for this promotion. Reservations already booked during the qualifying timeframe are not eligible for the promotion.  Rapid Rewards membership number required at booking or the reservation will not count toward the promotion. Member must be registered for the promotion before May 15, 2010 in order to participate. To register for the promotion, go to www.southwest.com/denveralist.  If Member earns regular A-List status while qualified for promotional A-List status, the regular A-List status will supersede the promotional A-List status, entitling the Member to reserved boarding privileges for 12 months. Please allow up to 15 business days to receive A-List notification after qualifying during the promotional period. Qualifying segments can be booked by any means – online, phone, etc.   Southwest Airlines will “reserve” boarding passes for A-List Members, but Members are still responsible for “printing” their boarding pass. Passengers who do not obtain a boarding pass and are not present and available for boarding in the departure gate area at least ten minutes prior to scheduled departure time may have their reserved space cancelled and will not be eligible for denied boarding compensation A-List qualification is based on actual revenue flights flown, not Rapid Rewards credits earned. A qualifying flight that will count toward Rapid Rewards’ A-List membership is a one-way revenue flight on Southwest Airlines from an origin city to a destination city, including any intermediate stops and/or connections on Southwest Airlines. The following will not count toward Rapid Rewards' A-List membership qualification: Rapid Rewards Awards; Rapid Rewards Companion Pass travel; Rapid Rewards Preferred Partner credits; bonus Rapid Rewards credits, unless specifically designated as such; nonrevenue (free) and service-charged tickets, unless specifically designated as eligible; stops at intermediate cities on connecting or through flights; charter flights; tradeout tickets. For a Member with Rapid Rewards’ A-List membership to receive reserved boarding privileges, the Member must include his/her Rapid Rewards account number in his/her reservation at least 36 hours prior to check in. Reserved boarding privileges will be provided for A-List Members for both revenue and Rapid Rewards Award travel on Southwest Airlines-operated flights as long as the above requirement is met. Reserved boarding privileges will not be provided in instances where the A-List Member’s reservation meets any of the following criteria: reservations booked less than 36 hours prior to scheduled departure; changes made to an existing reservation less than 36 hours prior to a scheduled flight; standby travel on a different flight than what was originally confirmed; flights taken after a Member’s A-List membership expires. Irregular operations may also affect A-List membership benefits. Reserved boarding privileges will only be provided for A-List Members. If an A-List Member is traveling on a multiple-passenger reservation, reserved boarding privileges will not be provided for non-A-List Members in the same reservation. For A-List Members who are also Companion Pass Holders, reserved boarding privileges will not be provided for the Member’s designated Companion unless he/she is also an A-List Member. Reserved boarding privileges will only be provided for A-List Members. If an A-List Member is traveling on a multiple-passenger reservation, reserved boarding privileges will not be provided for non-A-List Members in the same reservation. For A-List Members who are also Companion Pass Holders, reserved boarding privileges will not be provided for the Member’s designated Companion unless he/she is also an A-List Member. All qualifying A-List Members have access to Fly By priority security lanes where available.   Southwest fares are available online only at www.southwest.com.   ... View more

We have a Valentine’s Day gift (and a late Christmas gift) from the archives for you today—and it ties into the interim livery string of posts I started last week.  Back in 1981, we leased a 737-200 from Trans European Airways (TEA) of Belgium.  Larry Worley and Jimmy Moore, who worked in our Maintenance Department, used the radome to create a “Rudolph One” for Christmas 1981.  To raise money, Santa flew around our system selling calendars for the Salvation Army.  Here we see “Santa” and an attractive Employee who is holding the calendar and waiting to board the aircraft.  (Can anyone out there identify the woman?) Fast forward a couple of months to Valentine’s Day, 1982, and the same airplane has become “Cupid One,” with a depiction of the chubby matchmaker replacing Rudolph on the radome.  Posing in front of the aircraft is one of our current Flight Attendants, Sharen, who was a Ticket Agent at the time. Now for the airplane geek stuff:  Notice that the airplane isn’t in the standard Southwest livery.  As close as I can tell, this is the TEA color scheme, and in other pictures on airliners.net it is depicted wearing the “Southwest” titles on the tail.  As to the specific airplane, none of the photos in our files present a side view showing the registration.  However, several books in my reference library lead me to think that this is “OO-TEM,” which was a 737-2Q8, msn 21735.  If I am correct, it flew with us for almost two years before going on to America West as N133AW, British Midland, and Malev in Hungary (both as EI-BTR).  It returned to the US to finish out its career with Vanguard and AeroUSA as N121NJ.  FAA records show it “deregistered.” For those of you with "eagle eyes," you will notice that the radomes are different in both photos.  In the top one, there is a black glare panel and the bottom is all white.  Neither are the standard TEA radome, but Airliners.net has several photos of it operating during Southwest service with the normal TEA radome. Update:  the "mystery woman" is Melissa Smith a retired Flight Attendant ... View more

Sleek New Look, Same Low Fares, Only on southwest.com Southwest Airlines Showcases Difference with Web Site Enhancements DALLAS, Feb 12, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- southwest.com, the most popular airline web site in terms of unique visitors, is now offering an even better online Customer experience. Today, Southwest Airlines launched a new look and feel, along with improved navigation, on its award-winning web site. The new homepage offers Customers a more personalized experience and makes it easier to find what's needed including hotel and car rentals. The new homepage also showcases what makes Southwest Airlines different from other air carriers. southwest.com is the only place to book Southwest fares online, and the bookings made through the site account for more than 80 percent of all Southwest Airlines bookings. Check out the changes at www.southwest.com. The new web site enhancements include: The homepage image and other features can be personalized and pre-populated to the user's home airport. Saved searches make it easier for Customers to shop for flights, cars, and hotels. Customers can now easily plan any part of their trip directly from the homepage with new car and hotel booking widgets. New pages have been added to highlight how Southwest Airlines is different from its competitors. Every page of the site has updated, easy-to-use navigation and a search box to help users find exactly what they are looking for. Drop downs are available from the global navigation to help users get to interior pages faster. Every page now has a social media bar to help users engage with Southwest on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and blogsouthwest.com.   The new homepage is another step in Southwest's efforts to ensure that southwest.com is the preferred full-service travel booking solution for Customers. In 2009, multiple enhancements to the site laid the ground work for the new southwest.com. Southwest launched an online travel community called TravelGuide, provided Customers tools to quickly find travel deals with a new Special Offers section, and completely redesigned the air booking functionality to make the process more useful and efficient. More updates to southwest.com are expected throughout 2010. After 38 years of service, Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other low fare carriers--offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service. Southwest Airlines is the most productive airline in the sky and offers Customers a comfortable traveling experience. Southwest Airlines is the nation's largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded, currently serving 68 cities in 35 states. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,100 flights a day and has nearly 35,000 Employees systemwide. www.southwest.com SOURCE Southwest Airlines ... View more

  Print Version Southwest Airlines Celebrates 35 Years of Luvin the Valley Carrier Renews Vows with Valley International Airport in Harlingen and Helps Launch a New Partnership with Unmistakable Southwest Spirit DALLAS, Feb 11, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- True LUV takes flight again as Southwest Airlines commemorates its 35th anniversary of service to Valley International Airport in Harlingen, Texas, with a ceremony honoring love, commitment and fun while hosting a Southwest-themed wedding and instant honeymoon for one lucky couple. Rio Grande Valley natives Justin Lang and Rhonda Miller started their new life together as husband and wife in the airport atrium surrounded by family, friends and hundreds of invited guests. Carrying a bouquet of flowers, peanuts and heart-shaped swizzle sticks, the bride and her beau walked down the aisle and onto one of Southwest's LUV jets after their essay was selected from among more than 300 contest entries submitted at www.southwest.com/luvinthevalley. "Just like the relationship between the Valley and Southwest Airlines, you'll be amazed how quickly the years fly by," said Teresa Laraba, Southwest's Vice President of Ground Operations. "This Valentine's Day weekend, Southwest and Harlingen renew vows we made to each other 35 years ago to bring low fares and legendary Customer Service to South Texans." Harlingen Mayor Chris Boswell noted Harlingen was the first expansion city for Southwest, a then four-year-old upstart Texas-only airline, "...marking the beginning of a long and prosperous relationship for both of us." Southwest Airlines started service in Harlingen on February 11, 1975, with four nonstop flights to Houston. Today, the airline operates 12 daily nonstop departures from Valley International Airport to three cities: Austin, Houston (Hobby), and San Antonio with additional and connecting service to 49 cities. "Our partnership changed the way people travel to and from the Rio Grande Valley," said Rick Ledesma, President of the Board of Directors of Valley International Airport. "We are forever grateful to Southwest founder Herb Kelleher for believing in the Valley as a destination." Southwest Employees who live and work in the Valley spent part of the day Sharing the Spirit of LUV by providing Valentine's Day cards, cookies and decorations to the families of critically ill and injured children at the Ronald McDonald House of the Rio Grande Valley, the carrier's corporate charity. After 38 years of service, Southwest Airlines, the nation's leading low-fare carrier, continues to stand above other airlines -- offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service and no hidden fees. Southwest Airlines is the most productive airline in the sky and offers Customers a comfortable traveling experience with all premium leather seats and plenty of legroom. Southwest recently updated its gate areas and improved its boarding procedure to make flying Southwest Airlines even more convenient. Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV), the nation's largest carrier in terms of domestic passengers enplaned, currently serves 68 cities in 35 states. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,100 flights a day and has nearly 35,000 Employees systemwide. SOURCE: Southwest Airlines ... View more