Southwest Airlines Community

Over the weekend, most of the airplanes arrived, and today (July 26) is the first official day of Air Venture 2010 in Oshkosh, with mass arrivals of several types of aircraft.  Tonight the rock group Chicago will be on stage with the opening performance, but today is all about the aircraft. On our end, we are wrapping up the loose ends and are very excited about our appearance in Aero Shell Square this Saturday.  Our 737 will be open for tours, and it will be staffed with a lot of my fellow Employees, so if you are at the show, stop by and see us.  For you fellow aviation geeks, the airplane will have a special Air Venture decal on the Pilot's side of the airplane. While we are at the show, we will be tweeting, so check out our Twitter account @southwestair.  I will actually be up there a day earlier on Friday with a couple of Coworkers as the “advance party.”  My personal Twitter account is @blogboy, and I will be tweeting from the show on Friday. In the meantime, if you are thinking about attending, full information is available at the EAA’s web site.  This will be our last Oshkosh update until we get on site. ... View more

Travel pro Greg Fischer wrote about his recent trip to Chicago, and he had some nice words to say about the "planes" portion of his trip (and our Bags Fly Free).  Click here to read. ... View more

Southwest Airlines and The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities Announce Recipients of College Students' Travel Program Southwest Airlines provides travel awards to Hispanic students from all over the nation to continue their college dreams DALLAS, July 22, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Southwest Airlines, (NYSE: LUV) in conjunction with the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), announced today the students selected in its annual "Lanzate/Take Off" education travel award program. This year's program, the theme of which is "Dandole Alas a Tu Exito/Giving Flight to Your Success," started in April. More than 1,500 students from across the nation completed the online entry with a submitted essay about why they are pursuing a college degree and how the travel award would help them achieve their goals. The students were selected after intensive evaluation from a panel of judges comprised of college professors and professionals from throughout the country. The award will provide the students with one to four tickets, which the student or an immediate family member can use in the fall to travel to/from a college or university to any of the 69 cities Southwest Airlines serves. "HACU is proud to co-sponsor the Lanzate travel program with Southwest Airlines," said Antonio R. Flores, HACU President and CEO. "For the sixth year, the program has provided students studying away from home the reward of visiting with loved ones. For many students, these visits would not be possible without the support of the Lanzate travel program." With more than 3,000 applicants in the last six years, "Lanzate/Take Off" is a proven successful educational program that serves underprivileged Hispanic students, providing free travel for them and their families to maximize their potential and create opportunities for growth. To read the personal experience from some of the participants, visit Southwest's corporate blog at http://www.blogsouthwest.com/blog/lanzate-and-southwest-airlines. To see the complete list of students, visit: swamedia.com "Lanzate moves students not just coast to coast but from a crazy fantasy to realizing a dream of getting the first college degree in many families! It takes dedicated partners like HACU and the national education selection panel to make this journey." said Christine Ortega, Southwest Airlines Corporate Community Affairs Manager. "As a consequence, the student will have more confidence to pursue his/her dreams of higher education without worrying about the family's economic hardships," said Ortega. ABOUT HACU The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) with national headquarters in San Antonio, Texas, represents approximately 450 colleges and universities, including Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), which collectively serve two-thirds of all Hispanic higher education students in the United States and Puerto Rico. ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES After 39 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 nation's largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded, now serving 69 cities in 35 states. Southwest also is one of the most honored airlines in the world known for its commitment to the triple bottom line of Performance, People, and Planet. To read more about how Southwest is doing its part to be a good citizen, visit southwest.com/cares to read the Southwest Airlines One Report(TM). Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,300 flights a day and has nearly 35,000 Employees systemwide. ... View more

Joe Brancatelli at Portfolio.com takes a look at airline fees.  He takes a look at all the different fees airlines charge and closes with Then there's this: Southwest Airlines has mounted a massive advertising campaign to alert travelers to the fact that it continues to allow travelers to check two bags free of charge. The result: Southwest gained a full point of market share last year, an astonishing growth spurt in the usually glacial airline industry. And, of course, Southwest has been profitable for 37 consecutive years and last week declared its 136th consecutive quarterly dividend. To read his entire post, click here. ... View more

Executive Travel Magazine and their 2010 Leading Edge Awards just honored Southwest Airlines by naming us the best North American Low Cost Carrier for our outstanding Customer Service.  We were also singled out for their Editors’ HONORS for our RNP (required navigation performance) efforts.  In their own words: “In April, two-thirds of Southwest’s fleet began flying with satellite-guided cockpit technology. The airline invested $175 million in the technology and has retrained more than 6,000 pilots—an effort that Southwest bets will pay off when it can expand to fly more direct routes and use more gradual approaches to airports, saving time and money.” To see the complete list of winners, click here. ... View more

Southwest Airlines Offers Nationwide Fare Sale for Fall Travel Airfares Starting as Low as $49 One-Way DALLAS, July 20, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Fall is on the way and travelers are itchin' to plan exciting getaways! Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) is here to help by offering Customers nationwide airfares starting as low as $49 one-way to select destinations. Take advantage of these super low fares on southwest.com and start planning your fall and winter vacation today! Fares are available for travel Tuesdays and Wednesdays between Sept. 7 and Dec. 14, 2010, excluding Nov. 24, 2010. Fares must be purchased by Aug. 5, 2010. These fares are available only on southwest.com. To get these special online fares, click here. Examples of fares include (see Additional Fare Rules below):     * $49 one-way between Philadelphia and the Boston Area     * $89 one-way between Denver and Minneapolis     * $99 one-way between Nashville and Raleigh Durham     * $129 one-way between Phoenix and Seattle After 39 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 nation's largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded; now serving 69 cities in 35 states. Southwest also is one of the most honored airlines in the world known for its commitment to the triple bottom line of Performance, People, and Planet. To read more about how Southwest is doing its part to be a good citizen, visit southwest.com/cares to read the Southwest One Report(TM). Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,300 flights a day and has nearly 35,000 Employees systemwide. ADDITIONAL FARE RULES Fares are available only on http://www.southwest.com/?src=PREMNASSALE000000100720. Southwest Airlines fare sales are available for purchase July 20, 2010, through Aug. 5, 2010, 11:59 p.m. PDT, and travel must take place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between Sept. 7, 2010, and Dec. 14, 2010. Sale excludes travel on Nov. 24, 2010. Fares do not include a federal segment tax of $3.70 per takeoff and landing. Fares do not include airport-assessed passenger facility charges (PFC) of up to $9.00 and U.S. government-imposed September 11th Security Fee of up to $5.00 one-way. Travel to/from Washington, D.C. (Dulles), not included in the sale. Seats are limited. Fares are available for one-way travel. Fares may be combined with other combinable fares. Fares are not combinable with Senior Fares. When combining fares, all rules and restrictions apply. Fares are nonrefundable but may be applied toward future travel on Southwest Airlines. 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 Anytime fare. Fares are subject to change until ticketed. Fares are valid on published, scheduled service only. SOURCE Southwest Airlines .   http://www.southwest.com/?src=PREMNASSALE000000100720   ... View more

Southwest Airlines Declares 136th Consecutive Quarterly Dividend Thu, Jul 15, 2010 DALLAS, July 15, 2010  -- Southwest Airlines' (NYSE: LUV) Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $.0045 per share to Shareholders of record at the close of business on August 26, 2010 on all shares then issued and outstanding. The 136th consecutive dividend will be paid on September 16, 2010. SOURCE Southwest Airlines ... View more

  DALLAS, July 15, 2010  -- Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) invites you to listen to a live webcast of its second quarter 2010 financial results. Details are as follows:     When:                July 29, 2010 at 11:30 AM Eastern Time                           Gary Kelly, Chairman of the Board, President and     Who:                  Chief Executive Officer                           Laura Wright, Senior Vice President Finance and                           Chief Financial Officer     Web Address:         http://www.southwest.com/investor_relations     Contact:             Investor Relations, (214) 792-4415   A live broadcast of the conference call will be available via the Investor Relations homepage at www.southwest.com/investor_relations. A replay of the webcast will also be available on the Events Calendar in the Investor Relations section of our website. SOURCE Southwest Airlines ... View more

As I mentioned in a previous post, we are all extremely excited that Southwest is participating in this year’s Air Venture at Oshkosh.  I am literally crossing the days off the calendar.  As promised, I’ll be updating you from now until we leave on some of the interesting and amazing events that are planned for Air Venture 2010. I am guessing that a lot of you share my interest in vintage airlines, and in this edition, let’s look at what’s on tap in that category for this year’s show.  Quite frankly, I’m not sure where to begin so let’s start with the Douglas DC-3.  Only the 737 has approached the DC-3 in terms of numbers produced, longevity, and versatility.  To honor one of the greatest airliners in aviation history, Air Venture is celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the aircraft with a reunion.  More than 25 of the approximately 100 DC-3s still in service worldwide will be on display.  (I plan to expend a few electrons in my digital camera on this display.)  Even more exciting is that an example of the DC-2, which was the forerunner of the DC-3 will be on display. Although produced in much fewer numbers and a lott more temperamental than the reliable DC-3, Douglas’s DC-7B represents the zenith of piston-engined airliner development.  The Historical Flight Foundation has restored a former Eastern DC-7B and it will be one of the show’s stars.  On July 28, FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt will join Captain Sully Sullenberger and his First Officer Jeff Skiles for a flight around the Oshkosh area. Another interesting airliner at the show will be the only flying Sikorsky S-38.  This design was one of a series of flying boats Sikorsky built for Pan American.  Next time, I will talk about some of the warbirds on display this year. Tickets and show information are available at the EAA’s web site, and don’t forget their drawing for an airplane.  The proceeds go toward the EAA’s educational efforts. ... View more

Today's (July 15) Good Morning America on ABC took a look at airline fee's after yesterday's hearings on the subject.  Check out their chart (link above) to see where Southwest Airlines ranks. ... View more

  Dallas-based Southwest Airlines soars on American virtues 12:00 AM CDT on Sunday, July 4, 2010   Scott Burns is a syndicated columnist and a principal of the Plano-based investment firm AssetBuilder Inc. E-mail questions to scott@scottburns.com.   Napoleon was in his bathtub when he decided to sell the Louisiana Territory. His goal wasn't lofty. He just needed cash for his various wars. Fortunately, President Thomas Jefferson did have a lofty goal – a vision of a coast-to-coast America. So he made the Louisiana Purchase. The bathtub tidbit comes from The Epic of America, historian James Truslow Adams' 1931 history of the United States. "The character of our new acquisition to the west of 'the river' was not yet well known, but the exploring expeditions of Lewis and Clark in the Northwest and of Zebulon M. Pike in the Southwest had indicated that the prairies and plains were not of much use to settlers, and thus the western half of the country was to retain its reputation as the great American desert until after the Civil War," Adams wrote. Today the population center of the United States is well west of "the river." It continues to move farther west with each census report, as it has since 1790. Back then, it took the Lewis and Clark expedition two years and much hazard to get to the Pacific Ocean from Pittsburgh. Today Southwest Airlines flies from Pittsburgh to Seattle three times a day. Each flight covers the 2,483 miles in about seven hours, including time to change planes in Chicago. And the flight will set you back as little as $244. The average American worker earns that much in two days. The fare figures to about 10 cents a mile. According to the American Automobile Association, that's a bit less than it costs per mile to buy gasoline for the typical American car. We've come a long way and gone a great distance.   'I'll go anywhere Southwest goes'   Today the greatest hardship on a trip to the Pacific Ocean is the lack of food or a seat that is a tad narrow, but that's hard to complain about when you have a cash bar, free snacks and flight attendants with a sense of humor. Steve Penner, a friend in La Jolla, Calif., sums it up nicely: "I'll go anywhere Southwest goes. I won't go anywhere else." I share that preference. I only fly other airlines when absolutely necessary. There are reasons for this. One is that Southwest is a Jeffersonian airline, not a Hamiltonian airline. It has one class of seats, and what you see is what you get. The airline doesn't mess with having a first-class section to separate the elite from what BP chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg would call "the small people." We're all going down this road together, and we're all going to get there at the same time. Another reason I prefer Southwest is that I know I won't get nickeled and dimed. Both qualities are iconic American business values – making things available for everyone and doing it straight up. So it's not really a surprise that the LUV airline has made money in periods when others lost their shirts. Nor should it be a surprise that its $8.8 billion market capitalization is second only to one airline in the entire world (Delta Air Lines ), that it is more valuable than United and Continental combined, and that it is three times as valuable as American Airlines.   More for less   It was not always this way, but it is now clear that the Jeffersonian carrier is the winning airline in America. This glass isn't half-empty, and it contains a valuable message. It's also a good reminder that private enterprises, not public enterprises, are the ones that deliver more for less. In a 1999 column, I compared Southwest and Amtrak. At the time, Southwest was delivering slightly more passenger seat-miles than Amtrak, but Southwest was doing it at one-fifth the cost with one-fifth the employees and one-sixth the assets – while paying taxes rather than consuming them. Over the last two decades, Southwest has made positive changes. It goes more places, carries more people and still ekes out a profit. Amtrak is still losing money. It is still promising to work toward break-even, just as it was in 1981 when I first wrote about it. Yes, you read that right – 1981. That's government in action. Fortunately, the Southwest Airlines glass – and the glass of all great American enterprises like it – is still half full. So raise your half-full glass today to all our freedoms, to all that we do right – and to the freedom provided by Southwest to "move about" this great country. Scott Burns is a syndicated columnist and a principal of the Plano-based investment firm AssetBuilder Inc. E-mail questions to scott@scottburns.com. ... View more

Southwest Airlines Reports June Traffic DALLAS, July 7, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) announced today that the Company flew 7.1 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in June 2010, a 5.0 percent increase from the 6.7 billion RPMs flown in June 2009. Available seat miles (ASMs) increased 1.9 percent to 8.6 billion from the June 2009 level of 8.5 billion. The load factor for the month was 81.9 percent, compared to 79.5 percent for the same period last year. For June 2010, passenger revenue per ASM is estimated to have increased in the 24 percent range as compared to June 2009. For the second quarter 2010, Southwest flew 20.2 billion RPMs, compared to the 19.7 billion RPMs flown for the same period in 2009, an increase of 2.7 percent. Available seat miles decreased 0.3 percent to 25.5 billion from the second quarter 2009 level of 25.6 billion. The second quarter 2010 load factor was 79.3 percent, compared to 77.0 percent for the same period last year. For the first half of 2010, Southwest flew 37.4 billion RPMs, compared to the 36.6 billion RPMs flown for the same period in 2009, an increase of 2.2 percent. Available seat miles decreased 3.3 percent to 48.1 billion from the 2009 level of 49.7 billion. The year-to-date load factor was 77.7 percent, compared to 73.6 percent for the same period last year. This release, as well as past news releases on Southwest, are available online at southwest.com. SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO. PRELIMINARY COMPARATIVE TRAFFIC STATISTICS JUNE ---- 2010 2009 CHANGE ---- ---- ------ Revenue passengers carried 7,914,269 7,658,376 3.3 % Enplaned passengers 9,562,142 9,005,109 6.2 % Revenue passenger miles (000) 7,066,096 6,731,254 5.0 % Available seat miles (000) 8,627,117 8,464,466 1.9 % Load factor 81.9% 79.5% 2.4 pts. Average length of haul 893 879 1.6 % Trips flown 96,753 95,843 0.9 % SECOND QUARTER -------------- 2010 2009 CHANGE ---- ---- ------ Revenue passengers carried 23,047,545 22,676,171 1.6 % Enplaned passengers 27,554,201 26,505,438 4.0 % Revenue passenger miles (000) 20,206,229 19,683,479 2.7 % Available seat miles (000) 25,471,845 25,552,927 (0.3)% Load factor 79.3% 77.0% 2.3 pts. Average length of haul 877 868 1.0 % Trips flown 287,222 289,573 (0.8)% YEAR-TO-DATE ------------ 2010 2009 CHANGE ---- ---- ------ Revenue passengers carried 43,024,380 42,435,861 1.4 % Enplaned passengers 51,248,665 49,555,428 3.4 % Revenue passenger miles (000) 37,367,943 36,575,108 2.2 % Available seat miles (000) 48,091,305 49,724,602 (3.3)% Load factor 77.7% 73.6% 4.1 pts. Average length of haul 869 862 0.8% Trips flown 549,114 568,708 (3.4)% SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co. ... View more

Airline to Offer Free Pedicab Rides for 20 Local Events, Starting Saturday, July 3, Before Baseball Game at Coors Field               DENVER—July 2, 2010— Southwest Airlines is launching a partnership with Mile High Pedicabs to offer free rides during 20 popular, local events around downtown Denver, beginning tomorrow before the baseball game at Coors Field.  Denverites should be on the lookout for a fleet of 25 Southwest-branded pedicabs for the next six months.  A “FREE RIDES” flag on the back of the pedicabs will signal when the ride is free, courtesy of Southwest.  Additionally, Southwest is partnering with the Downtown Denver Partnership (DDP) to sponsor the movies and concerts series in Skyline Park throughout July and August, with the concerts kicking off today and the movies to begin Saturday, July 3, with the showing of Field of Dreams.  To view a blog post talking about these efforts, visit our Nuts About Southwest blog at www.blogsouthwest.com.             “Southwest is dedicated to Denver, and we’re finding fun and creative opportunities to showcase our brand in a way that is unique to the Mile High City,” said Southwest’s Senior Vice President of Marketing and Revenue Management Dave Ridley.  “Denver is ‘Saying Yes’ to our robust flight schedule, low fares, and of course our popular Bags Fly Free policy, and we are returning the affection by increasing our involvement in the Denver community and finding ways to add value to our Denver Customers where they work and live.”     Partnering with the DDP, Southwest will sponsor a series of six movies in Skyline Park on Saturday evenings, in addition to eight lunchtime summer concerts in Skyline Park on Fridays, throughout July and August.  Southwest has teamed up with the Denver Cupcake Truck to give away 250 free cupcakes during the movies.     Southwest Airlines began service to Denver on January 3, 2006, with 13 daily nonstop departures to three destinations.  The airline currently operates 133 nonstop daily nonstop flights from the Mile High City, making Denver the fastest growing city in the Company’s history.  By August 2010, Southwest will operate 144 daily nonstop flights to 42 destinations from Denver.  To learn more about Southwest’s dedication to Denver, visit www.southwest.com/denver.  After 39 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 nation's largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded, now serving 69 cities in 35 states.  Southwest also is one of the most honored airlines in the world known for its commitment to the triple bottom line of Performance, People, and Planet.  To read more about how Southwest is doing its part to be a good citizen, visit southwest.com/cares to read the One Report.  Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,300 flights a day and has nearly 35,000 Employees systemwide   www.southwest.com ... View more

Fly Between Chicago Midway and New York LaGuardia; and Between Chicago Midway and Boston-Area Airports to Earn Triple Rapid Rewards Credits DALLAS, July 2, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) is introducing a triple credit Rapid Rewards promotion for Members traveling between Chicago Midway and New York’s LaGuardia Airport and between Chicago Midway and our three Boston-area airports (Boston Logan, Manchester, and Providence). That means Rapid Rewards Members can earn three credits for every one-way flight (six credits when you travel roundtrip). At that rate, Members can earn a free* flight after just three roundtrip flights on these routes! Members who purchase a Business Select fare will receive 3.25 credits for flights between Chicago Midway and New York’s LaGuardia Airport and 4.0 credits for flights between Chicago Midway and any of our three Boston-area airports, making it even faster to earn an Award. To qualify, Rapid Rewards Members must register or join prior to travel by visiting: http://luv.southwest.com/servlet/formlink/f?kOHpjQSDTC. Members must book their flights and travel between July 2, 2010, and August 31, 2010.   It is fast and easy to earn free travel through Rapid Rewards. Rapid Rewards Members can earn credits by flying, or using the program’s Preferred Partners. It takes just eight roundtrip flights, 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 an Award has been earned, Southwest Airlines allows the Member to transfer the Award to anyone. After 39 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 nation’s largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded, now serving 69 cities in 35 states. Southwest also is one of the most honored airlines in the world known for its commitment to the triple bottom line of Performance, People, and Planet. To read more about how Southwest is doing its part to be a good citizen, visit southwest.com/cares to read the Southwest One Report™. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,300 flights a day and has nearly 35,000 Employees systemwide. Terms & Conditions * The Rapid Rewards Award is free, but travel is subject to the government-imposed September 11th Security Fee of up to $10 per roundtrip. Travel good on Southwest Airlines published, scheduled service. Terms and Conditions: Two additional credits per one-way will be issued, except Business Select. Business Select Customers will receive 3.25 credits for flights between Chicago (Midway) and New York (LaGuardia) and 4.0 credits for flights between Chicago (Midway) and any of our three Boston-area destinations (Boston Logan, Manchester, and Providence). Member must register for this promotion between July 2, 2010, and Aug. 31, 2010 to qualify, and registration must be completed prior to commencement of travel. Valid on new reservations only. Reservations must be booked and travel completed between July 2, 2010 and Aug. 31, 2010. Rapid Rewards account number must be entered at the time of booking. Travel on an Award or Companion Pass does not qualify for promotion. Bonus flight credits do not count toward A-List qualification. Rapid Rewards credit will post to your account within four days of completing travel. Changes made to the itinerary after purchase may eliminate qualification for this promotion. All Rapid Rewards rules and regulations apply. www.southwest.com SOURCE Southwest Airlines ... View more

Carrier Now Offers 13 Daily Nonstops to Philadelphia from the Boston Area (Boston Logan, Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, and Providence’s T.F. Green International Airport) The airline that brought America the Freedom to Fly now unites two cites centered around Freedom. Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) today began new nonstop service between Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). Initially, Southwest will start with five daily nonstops between the two cities. These new flights come in addition to Southwest’s service between other Boston -area airports and PHL: Four nonstops to/from T. F. Green International Airport in Providence (PVD) and PHL Four nonstops to/from Manchester-Boston Regional Airport in Manchester, New Hampshire (MHT) and PHL On August 14, 2010 , the carrier will add three additional BOS-PHL daily nonstops to the schedule, bringing the total to eight daily nonstops to/from Boston Logan and PHL. To accommodate Southwest’s rapid growth in Boston , Massport, which owns and operates Logan, built an additional gate at the airline’s current location in Terminal E. Southwest is now proud to operate three gates at Logan. Southwest is also proud to bring low fares to the PHL-BOS route that previously had none. Prior to the carrier’s announcement of service to PHL, the cheapest advance-purchase fare was well over $1,000 roundtrip. Southwest’s initial introductory fare back in February was $59 one-way, and it continues to be the Low-Fare Leader as the new service launches. When shopping for Southwest online, it’s important to know that Southwest Airlines’ low fares are available only at http://www.southwest.com. Not only will Customers find Southwest’s great rates online at http://www.southwest.com, but the site also hosts Southwest’s Travel Guide, where Customers can check out insider travel tips posted by those who frequent the Boston and Philadelphia areas. After 39 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 nation’s largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded, now serving 69 cities in 35 states. Southwest also is one of the most honored airlines in the world, known for its commitment to the triple bottom line of Performance, People, and Planet. To read more about how Southwest is doing its part to be a good citizen, visit southwest.com/cares to read the One Report. Based in Dallas , Southwest currently operates more than 3,300 flights a day and has nearly 35,000 Employees systemwide. Terms and Conditions Member will receive 1 (one) promotional roundtrip Rapid Rewards Award after registering, purchasing, and flying three (3) roundtrips between Philadelphia (PHL) and any one or combination of the following Boston Area airports (Boston Logan(BOS), Manchester (MHT), and Providence (PVD)) between June 28, 2010 and September 15, 2010 . To qualify, Member must include Rapid Rewards account number at time of booking. Promotional Award will be deposited into Member’s account within four (4) weeks of Member completing qualifying travel. Promotional Award expires on February 15, 2011 . Promotional Award expiration date cannot be extended or amended. Member will continue to earn Rapid Rewards credit on all eligible flights. Drink Coupon Books will not be issued with the Promotional Award. Award travel or Companion Pass travel does not qualify for the promotion. Changes made to the itinerary after purchase may eliminate qualification for this promotion. Travel good only on Southwest Airlines published, scheduled service. All Rapid Rewards rules and regulations apply. www.southwest.com SOURCE Southwest Airlines ... View more

Customer satisfaction results for five industries show improvement for many of the largest companies in the travel and restaurant industries, according to a report released today by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). The report covers satisfaction with the quality of products and services provided by airlines, hotels, restaurants, fast food, and express delivery services.... Southwest Airlines drops 2% to 79, but still leads all airlines for a seventeenth straight year. The nearest legacy airline is Continental, up 4% to 71. The aggregate of all smaller airlines such as Jet Blue and Alaska Airlines is in between, dropping 3% to 75. American Airlines and US Airways are far behind but show sizeable improvements, up 5% to 63 and 62, respectively. United makes the biggest gain, up 7% to 60, although it is still last in the industry. Delta drops in the wake of its merger with Northwest, falling 3% to 62. For the complete report click on the link above ... View more

Click on the link above to read former Southwest Social Media guru Paula Berg's thoughts on how to revolutionize corporate communications. ... View more

The Southern Living magazine web site has five reasons you should visit Panama City Beach.  Check them out at the link above. ... View more