Southwest Airlines Community

Although Southwest's history is miniscule compared to that of our nation, it's important to remember that Southwest was founded 36 years ago on the principle that all Americans deserve the Freedom to Fly at affordable fares.  I think we have done a pretty good job with that goal because, in 1971, the year we were born, only 15 percent of Americans had ever flown on an airline.  Today, that number is close to 80 percent.  No, not all flew on Southwest, but the low-fare revolution that we started is largely responsible. As one who flew regularly before 1971 (I am an airline brat), I can vouch that air travel was much different then.  Yes, it was more luxurious, but it was also very expensive.  The predominant passenger of the time was a white male, middle-aged businessman, and occasionally, his family on vacation-if they were very lucky.  Even today, there are some people who miss the ambiance of the time when you dressed up to fly...but, I doubt they miss the fares. Thankfully, our founders, Herb Kelleher and Rollin King, had the idea to democratize the skies.  Make fares so low that flying would be cheaper than driving, and Texans took to the skies--but America would have to wait a few more years until Congress deregulated routes and fares in 1978.  I admit I was a naysayer back then because I worked for a legacy carrier for 18½ years, beginning in 1976.  All the legacy carriers formed a letter-writing campaign to Congress to stop deregulation, and they used the fear that deregulation would destroy air travel.  Thankfully, the campaign failed because when the rest of the country got a taste of the low fares that Texans were paying that airline travel became the preferred mode of intercity travel by all Americans.  Today, Southwest carries over 98 million Customers annually on our 3,300+ daily flights. There's one other thing Southwest liberated:  And that is the idea that air travel has to be pretentious and stuffy.  While we always take Safety seriously, we don't take ourselves seriously.  (If we did, you wouldn't be reading this blog right now.)  There is absolutely no reason why our Employees can't have fun at work and to share that fun with our Customers.  After all, some of our Customers are as nutty as we are--External Blog Boy and Ding! boy come immediately to mind.  My own epiphany about Southwest came a few years before I joined Southwest when we had a long layover in the Detroit Airport between flights on my old airline.  I noticed that the Southwest Employees were the only ones smiling, talking to each other, and enjoying their work.  It had been years since I had felt like that at work.  I was envious and wished for a change.  My own liberation came a few years later, and I have never looked back.  ... View more

We asked our Blog Team for their July 4th plans, and we wanted to share them with you. Gordon Guillory:  This 4th of July my plans are to hang out on my patio with family and friends, cooking out and drinking cold adult beverages. David Evans: My sister's town has a beautiful fireworks display, so our entire family gathers at her home for fun and food; then we all go to Main Street for a musical fireworks extravaganza...Family, Food & Fireworks to celebrate America's Freedom. Mary Noel Hennes: This year the 4th of July falls on my "weekend," so I'll be spending the day the best way I've known how since I was in grade school--being in close proximity to some of my favorite things: Water, fireworks, friends, and--with any luck--homemade potato salad.  And cupcakes with sprinkles on them. Ray Stark: I'll be flying to the nation's capital before heading down to spend the evening in the capital of Texas. Sunny Abercrombie: My husband, John, and I will be sailing on Notre Vie from Clear Lake to Port Aransas, Texas! Hollee Ford: I'll be enjoying the holiday with my family on the lake.  Hopefully I'll be able to land a few wicked tricks on my wakeboard. Jeff Lamb: I'll be walking to the bagel shop for coffee and actually reading the entire newspaper.  We always cookout burgers and watch fireworks in the evening. Susie Boersma: On the 4th, I will be working in San Antonio and walking the station Team through the results of of our Redefining Excellence observations.  Since we have a Team away from home doing this, we'll probably spend some time together after work eating BBQ and enjoying the night sky. James Malone: I will be attending the Taste of Chicago with some friends on July 4th. Paco Cerda: I'll be helping everyone ELSE make their 4th of July plans! Ming Chan: On July 4th, I will be celebrating America's freedom by working at the Dallas Love Field Airport.  I usually work on July 4th, and when I am finished I go up to the top of the Love Field parking garage and watch all the fireworks around Dallas at the same time.  It is spectacular!!!!!! Bert Stevens: I have to work the night of the 4th, but will spend the day with my wife and kids swimming and grilling. Fred Taylor: I  plan to be at Lone Star Park swilling bourbon and watching the Thoroughbreds go around the track! Shelley Logan: I'll be spending the week at the beach in northern Michigan with some of my favorite people: my sister, Amy, and her two kids, Ava (age 5) and Max (age two). Jill Howard Allen: We celebrate the 4th by cranking John Philip Sousa's 'Stars and Stripes Forever', Adriene Belew's 'One of those Days' and David Byrne's 'Independence Day' and then join my sibilings at my sister's pool to cool off in the Phoenix heat. Bill Owen: If the weather's nice, I plan to try and bring two things to a golden brown--chicken breasts and my skin! Those are our plans, so how are you planning to celebrate the Fourth? ... View more

Here's a bit of fun for the weekend.  Try your hand at writing a caption for this photo taken in Las Vegas. (Click on pic to enlarge.) After all, you have a pyramid, a sphinx, and an obelisk to work with.  (Sounds like the start of a joke--a pyramid, a sphinx, and an obelisk walk into a bar...) ... View more

This week, the Paris Air Show is underway, and it is an event of which I have longed to attend for many years.  While I can't be there reporting to you firsthand (darn!), here is a link to the Boeing Blog about the Air Show. ... View more