Southwest Airlines Community

By: Tom Van Loon, MDW Sky Cap 'Twas the holiday season and all around us Families were traveling by car, truck and bus. While many were caught up in traffic’s nightmare The smarter ones chose to travel by air. The smartest of all let their choice be Southwest For they knew in a moment they’d be cared for the best. The families all chose to go far and wide And knew on Southwest they would travel with pride. They packed swimsuits and flip flops, skis and snowshoes Not a worry they had, bags fly free by twos. While counter agents check bags and print boarding passes Gate Agents and Ops help steady the masses. Ramp Agents, like elves, work quick on the line To assure all our flights would have takeoffs on time. “On one bag on two bags then load up that freight Now close all the doors and push back from the gate”. Once folks are on board and all buckled up tight The crew makes announcements to ready the flight. They’ll show you the exits and how everything works Where your two carryons go, another one of our perks. While in flight they’ll serve snacks, free soft drinks and more And when you arrive they’ll thank you at the door. Now go claim your bags they’ll be spinning around If uncertain where yours are, don’t fret and don’t frown. Baggage agents are there to help show you the way If your bags are too many, Skycaps load your sleigh. So, go visit your family and go visit your friends Southwest is your best choice, you’ll see in the end. And don’t be surprised if on this Christmas night You hear Southwest pilots call as they zoom out of sight, “Merry Christmas with LUV and to all a great flight!"   ... View more

This is a guest post by Travelers United Chairman, Charlie Leocha. When it comes to hidden fees with airlines and hotels I say, “We’re mad as hell and we’re not going to take it any more.” Travelers United is your consumer voice in Washington. If airline fees are making you mad as hell, join our effort and make your voice heard. Become a member at  www.travelersunited.org.  Your donation is fully tax deductible. While Southwest Airlines prides itself on bags fly free and no change fees, other airlines across America are going fee crazy. They charge fees for carry-on bags, checked baggage, seat reservations, and all too often consumers aren’t fully aware until it’s too late. Travelers United, the largest non profit travel advocacy organization in the country, has taken a strong stand on this issue.  In  the halls of Congress and with the Department of Transportation, Travelers United is urging action to make other airlines follow Southwest’s lead and make their fees transparent. In Southwest-speak that means Transfarency on all of America’s airlines! Travelers United meets regularly with congressional members and staff representing consumers and advocating for transparent pricing.  Whatever airlines you fly, and whatever your purpose for flying, YOU the consumer deserve  to know the complete cost of travel including baggage when you purchase your ticket. When consumers work together to improve travel, Congress and the industry responds. Check out this video about our organization and watch for our next post about what YOU need to know about eliminating hidden hotel fees. ... View more

Southwest Airlines continues to work alongside relevant agencies, including the NTSB, on events surrounding Southwest Flight #31 that exited a taxiway shortly after arriving into Nashville on Tuesday, December 15. All luggage has been reunited with Customers or is in the process of being delivered. Reports also indicate that nine individuals who were transported to a local hospital were treated and released.  Additionally, recovery crews worked overnight to reposition the aircraft to a secure location at the Nashville airport. As always, the safety and care of our Customers and Employees remains our primary focus. Following are details Southwest Airlines previously shared on Flight #31: Last night at approximately 5:20 p.m. local time, the aircraft exited the taxiway. The 133 Passengers and five Crewmembers were safely evacuated from the plane and bussed to the Nashville International Airport terminal. Local EMS paramedics were on site to assist. For the majority of the Customers onboard, Nashville was their final destination. The remaining Customers were accommodated overnight in hotels or booked on other scheduled Southwest flights. ... View more

Southwest Airlines continues to work with officials related to Flight #31 today from Houston Hobby Airport to Nashville International Airport. At approximately 5:20pm local time, the plane exited the taxiway shortly after arriving into Nashville, as the airplane was approaching the arrival gate. The 133 Passengers and five Crewmembers were safely evacuated from the plane and bussed into the airport. Local EMS paramedics were on site to check Customers and reports indicate that eight passengers were transported to a local hospital; three have been evaluated and released. At this time, we do not have a status on potential passenger injuries but our Employees are onsite to support their needs. For the majority of the Customers onboard the flight, Nashville was their final destination. The remaining passengers were accommodated in hotels or transported to their final destination on an alternate aircraft. We received the required clearance from authorities to remove both checked and carryon luggage from the aircraft, and are working diligently to reunite customers with their items tonight and tomorrow. The necessary recovery crews are arriving onsite and we will work overnight to move the aircraft. The Safety of our Customers and Employees remains our primary focus. ... View more

Was Gary’s Halloween Costume inspired by all the Disney movies he has been watching with his granddaughters? Was it the great Southwest Hospitality delivered by Employees each day With a Smile and a Song? Or, was it the preparation of opening the new Houston Hobby International Terminal that caused him to “whistle while he worked?” One thing is for sure:  it’s no fairytale that Southwest is the best airline in the world!  Where else could you find your CEO transforming into a princess for the day?  Yes, there are heavy loads, long days, and weather delays that make us all at times want to sing “Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, it’s home from work we go,” but as resilient Employees, we always find ways to keep our Customers happy. So, we’re guessing at one time or another you’ve seen Disney’s early animated masterpiece “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” You’re probably already whistling the tunes as you read this! We’re sure what you never imagined though, was our CEO, Gary Kelly, as the beautiful and kindhearted princess Snow White. So, who is supporting Gary today in this Disney tale? Happy:  Mike Van de Ven—EVP and Chief Operating Officer Bashful:  Tammy Romo—Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Sleepy:  Jeff Lamb—EVP Corporate Services Grumpy:  Ginger Hardage—SVP Culture and Communication Sneezy:  Suzanne Staring—Executive Assistant Doc: Ethel Lewis—Executive Office Services Coordinator Dopey:  Andrea Mathews—Project Specialist Prince:  Greg Wells—Sr. VP Operational Performance Evil Queen:  Nan Barry, Managing Director Executive Officer Witch:  Teresa Laraba—SVP Customers Huntsman:  Jack Smith—SVP Operations Mirror:  Shelley Beckman—Executive Assistant Let’s not forget all the woodland animals supporting our beautiful (or should we check with the Magic Mirror on that?) Snow White, just as they did in the original 1937 film! As Snow White wished to find love in the classic tale, we wish you love from the LUV Airline this Halloween and always! ... View more

At Southwest Airlines, we are known for our unique Culture and Fun-LUVing Employees.  And believe me when I say that they are as interesting off the clock as they are when they are working.  Meet Mike!    Michael Nutting Multi Media Specialist   Ever since watching my cousin compete in the Ironman Lake Placid, I have dreamed of being an Ironman.  When I finished my first triathlon at the Playtri Festival last year, I knew it was now or never.  I immediately began training to prepare for the Ironman race that consists of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and 26.2-mile run. In the early hours of May 17, I took my first step to becoming an Ironman.  Through the Texas heat and the miles, I learned to enjoy the journey.  Around mile 13 of the run, my knee started hurting.  At that point I had swam and biked my heart out, and I knew I had plenty of time to finish, so I slowed down and relaxed—realizing where I was and reflecting on all the hard work I had done to get there.  After 14 hours, 23 minutes, and 7 seconds, I was an Ironman. ... View more

Having recently celebrated Mother’s Day, we bring you the story of Christy Wright, business coach, speaker, writer, and now mother to three-month-old Carter.  While Christy was pregnant with Carter, she was still maintaining her busy schedule of speaking, presenting, and promoting her books across the country.  She was traveling for two, which, as any expectant mom will tell you, can be a bit challenging. It was after a late speaking engagement in New York that Christy discovered just how challenging traveling for two could be.  Christy was scheduled to fly back to Nashville early the next morning—7:30 a.m. to be exact—but she accidentally overslept, giving her very little time to make her scheduled return flight, and  no time to eat breakfast.  BWI Flight Attendant Allyson Haselman came to the rescue for this mommy-to-be and the little one she was carrying.   Follow and learn more about Christy at:  www.christywright.com and on Twitter @ChristyBWright. ... View more

It’s Pet Appreciation week!   We’re giving you one more way to show your furry friend just how much you love them with the Pets on Vacation Photo Contest! Between June 8, 2015 and June 14, 2015, enter the Southwest Airlines® Pets on Vacation Photo Contest by submitting an original photo of your pet on vacation via Facebook. Entries must be posted to the Official Southwest Airlines Facebook page in the comments section of the original contest post, and use the hashtag #Contest. One lucky winner will receive two roundtrip airfare tickets on Southwest Airlines, a Southwest Airlines pet carrier, a $100 PetSmart® gift card, and a roundtrip Pet Fare* in the form of a $200 Southwest® gift card so your small dog or cat can travel with you. Ready to join the fun? Enter for a chance to win: ”Like” Southwest Airlines on Facebook. Between June 8, 2015 and June 14, 2015, post an original photo of your pet on vacation to the comments section of the contest posts on the Official Southwest Airlines Facebook page.  Use the hashtag #Contest. A panel of judges will evaluate each photo and select a winner based on creativity, originality, entertainment-value, Southwest appeal, and compliance with the official rules. Don’t have a Facebook account? No worries! You can sign up today and “like” us at Facebook.com/Southwest. In doing so, you acknowledge that this Contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by or associated with Facebook. Photos on other social networks are welcomed and appreciated, but will not be eligible for contest participation.     NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.  A purchase will not increase your chances of winning.  Void in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and where prohibited or restricted by law.  Must be a legal U.S. resident and 21 years or older to enter. *For travel on Southwest Airlines, In-Cabin Pet Restrictions apply.  Enter by 6/14.  Sponsor: Southwest Airlines Co., 2702 Love Field Dr., Dallas, TX 75235.    SOUTHWEST AIRLINES PETS ON VACATION PHOTO CONTEST OFFICIAL RULES NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.  A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING.  VOID IN ALASKA, HAWAII, PUERTO RICO AND WHERE PROHIBITED OR RESTRICTED BY LAW. 1.  Eligibility Restrictions a. This Contest is open to all legal residents who are 21 years of age or older and have a valid e-mail address and Facebook account as of June 14, 2015.   Eligibility is limited to the 48 contiguous United States and the District of Columbia, excluding Puerto Rico.  Employees of Southwest Airlines Co. (“Sponsor”) and the members of their immediate families (spouse and parents, children and siblings and their spouses) and individuals living in the same households of such employees are ineligible to enter or win.  The Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. b. Only one winner per household is permitted during the Contest Period.  Any person found using multiple Facebook accounts to enter the Contest will be disqualified. c. Entrants are required to provide truthful information and Sponsor will reject and delete any entry that it discovers to be false or fraudulent.  Sponsor will disqualify any entry from individuals who do not meet the eligibility requirements, and Sponsor will also delete any entry received from persons under the age of 13 in compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. 2. How to Enter the Contest a. Southwest Airlines Pets on Vacation Photo Contest (“Contest”) will begin at 10 a.m. CT on June 8, 2015 and end at 10 p.m. CT on June 14, 2015 (“Contest Period”). b. To enter the Contest, potential entrants must “like” Southwest Airlines on Facebook via the Official Southwest Airlines page. c. To participate in the Contest, post an original photo of your pet on vacation via your Facebook account during the Contest Period. Entries must be posted to the Official Southwest Airlines Facebook page in the comments section of the original contest posts, and use the hashtag #Contest. Entries submitted will not be acknowledged or returned. By entering, Entrant grants Sponsor an irrevocable, perpetual, royalty-free, freely transferable license to use the photo for all purposes, in any and all media, whether now known or hereafter devised. Photos must be originals and not be copied.  Entries may not violate any third party rights nor use any third-party intellectual property such as logos or background signs.  Entrants acknowledge and agree that their entry does not violate any rights of privacy or publicity and that they have the written permission of those appearing in their photo to submit their image.  Entries must not disparage; contain material that is inappropriate, indecent, or vulgar; or promote bigotry, racism, hatred or discrimination based on race, gender, religion, or sexual orientation.  Use of any device to automate entry is prohibited.  Proof of submission of an entry shall not be deemed proof of receipt by Sponsor.  Sponsor’s computer is the official time keeping device for the Contest.  Sponsor is not responsible for entries not received due to difficulty accessing the Internet, service outage or delays, computer difficulties or other technological glitches.  By entering this Contest, you agree to abide by these Official Rules and acknowledge that this Contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by or associated with Facebook. 3.   Selection of Winner This is a contest of skill. Your chances of winning depend on how well your entry reflects the judging criteria, as compared to the other entries in the Contest. Judging will be based on the following qualities: *Creativity and Originality: 20% *Entertaining: 25% *Southwest Appeal (photo should reflect fun Culture and Fun-LUVing Attitude): 35% *Rules (must have read and complied with the Official Rules): 20%. a. Based on the above criteria, the top Pets on Vacation Photo Contest submissions will be selected by a panel of judges provided by Sponsor on or about June 24, 2015. Entrants need not be present to win. Decisions of the judges are final. In the event of a tie, the submission with the highest score in the Southwest Appeal category will win. b. Sponsor will notify potential winner via Facebook. The potential winner will be asked to contact Sponsor with a given e-mail address provided via Facebook. Once potential winner and Sponsor make e-mail contact, Sponsor will provide a photo for the potential winner to upload to the Facebook account the user uploaded the photo with in order to validate their account. Upon validation, potential winner must execute and return any required affidavit of eligibility and/or liability/publicity release in which he or she agrees to hold Sponsor, Facebook, and each of their parent, subsidiary and affiliated corporations, and the officers, shareholders, directors, employees, agents and representatives harmless against any and all claims or liability arising directly or indirectly from use or misuse of a prize or participation in the Contest.  On or about July 1, 2015, the affidavit and release will be mailed or e-mailed, based on the potential winner’s preference upon account validation, and must be executed and returned within seven (7) days or prize will be forfeited and an alternate winner may be chosen. If a potential winner cannot be contacted, is unable to validate his or her account, fails to sign and return the required affidavit of eligibility and liability/publicity release within the required time period, or if a prize or prize notification is returned as undeliverable, potential winner forfeits prize. Upon timely completion and return of required affidavit and release, the winner should expect to receive his or her prize in the mail within two (2) weeks. 4.   Prize One (1) Grand Prize will be awarded. The winner of the Contest will receive two (2) roundtrip airfare tickets on Southwest Airlines, a Southwest Airlines pet carrier, a $100 PetSmart® gift card (subject to standard gift card terms and conditions), and a roundtrip Pet Fare awarded in the form of a $200 Southwest® Gift Card. Total approximate prize value of all prizes is $1,158.00. Southwest Airlines tickets are subject to Southwest Airlines terms and conditions; certain restrictions may apply. Tickets valid on Southwest-operated, published, scheduled service only in the United States and Puerto Rico. Tickets are not valid on code-share or any international service.  Airline tickets awarded will expire one year from date of issue. Expiration dates will not be extended, and tickets will not be refundable or redeemable for cash or credit at any time, nor will tickets be replaced if lost or stolen. Tickets may not be sold to a third party.  If the winner does not live in a city served by Southwest Airlines, he/she is responsible for transportation to the nearest airport served by Southwest Airlines.  Winner is responsible for booking all travel.  Seats on any desired flight are not guaranteed. Government issued ID required to travel.  Use of tickets is subject to airline’s conditions and tariffs, and to all applicable federal regulations. Southwest Airlines Pet Fares require advance reservations and airport checkin for pets.  Limitations and restrictions apply for pet travel.  For pet policies and information on traveling with your pet, visit http://www.southwest.com/pets/. Terms for Southwest® Gift Card (“Gift Card”): Gift Card is only redeemable at southwest.com, 1-800-I-FLY-SWA, or any Southwest Airlines ticket counter for air travel only.  Gift Card is not valid for the purchase of vacation packages, cargo, hotels, rental cars, group tickets, additional Gift Cards, EarlyBird Check-In®, international baggage fees, or inflight purchases.  Only four total forms of payment, including Gift Card, may be combined per purchase.  Gift Card is nonrefundable and not redeemable for cash or credit except where required by federal or applicable state law.  Gift Gard is not replaceable if lost, stolen, or destroyed.  Protect the Gift Card like cash.  For balance check, call 1-866-393-2081.  For any additional questions, call 214-932-0333.  Activation or use of Gift Gard constitutes acceptance of all terms and conditions listed at southwest.com/giftcard. All federal, state and local taxes, security and airport fees, and all other expenses not specifically mentioned herein are the sole responsibility of the winner.   No prize substitutions, cash equivalent, or transfer of prizes permitted except at the sole discretion of the Sponsor. Prize subject to availability and the Sponsor, at its sole discretion, reserves the right to award a prize of greater or equal value if the advertised prize is unavailable. Prizes mailed to the winner will be with the prior written consent of the winner and therefore, winner assumes the risk of its loss.  Sponsor is not responsible for the safe arrival of a prize. Conditions a. Payments of all federal, state and local taxes are solely the responsibility of the winner.  Winner will be required to sign an IRS Form W-9 with the winner’s full social security number or the equivalent.  Failure to submit a Form W-9 upon request will result in forfeiture of the prize.  Winnings over $600 will be reported to the IRS. b. By participating in the Contest, the winner agrees to have his or her name, voice, or likeness used in any advertising or broadcasting material relating to the Contest without additional financial or other compensation unless prohibited by law, and, where legal, to sign a publicity release confirming such consent prior to acceptance of the prize. c. Sponsor is not responsible for lost, stolen, mangled, misdelivered, postage due, illegible, incomplete or late entries, telephone service outages, delays, busy signals, equipment malfunctions and any other technological difficulties that may prevent an individual from entering or claiming a prize. d. Sponsor, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to disqualify any person tampering with the entry process, the operation of Sponsor’s website, or otherwise in violation of the Official Rules.  Sponsor further reserves the right to cancel, terminate or modify the Contest if it is not capable of completion as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention or technical failures of any sort. e. Sponsor reserves the right to make changes in the Official Rules, including the substitution of a prize of greater or equivalent value, which will become effective upon announcement. f. Failure to comply with the Official Rules may result in an entrant’s disqualification solely at the discretion of the Sponsor. g. Copies of the Official Rules and a winners list (when complete) may be obtained by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Southwest Airlines, Emerging Media, P.O. Box 36611, Dallas, TX 75235-1611.  All requests must be received by July 1, 2015. 6. Limitations on Liability Neither Sponsor nor its affiliated entities is responsible for printing or typographical errors in any Contest-related materials or transactions that are processed late or incorrectly or are lost due to computer or electronic malfunction. Winner assumes all liability for any injury or damage caused, or claimed to be caused by participation in this Contest, redemption of any prize, and use or misuse of any prize. By entering, entrant agrees to hold harmless and indemnify Sponsor, its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, directors, officers, employees, and agents against any and all liability, damages, or causes of action (however named or described), with respect to or arising out of (i) entrant’s participation in the Contest, (ii) the receipt of the prizes, and/or (iii) use or misuse of the prizes awarded herein. 7. Construction and Disputes All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of any entrant and Sponsor in connection with the Contest, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of Texas, or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Texas.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these Official Rules shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision.  In the event that any such provision is determined to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable, these Official Rules shall be construed in accordance with their terms as if the invalid or unenforceable provision was not contained therein. the EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION for any dispute shall be in THE FEDERAL OR STATE COURTS LOCATED IN DALLAS COUNTY, TEXAS. 8.   Sponsor Southwest Airlines Co., Emerging Media, P.O. Box 36611, Dallas, TX 75235-1611 ... View more

The Purpose of Southwest Airlines is to connect People to what’s important in their lives.  Our Employees take that Purpose to Heart, and are empowered to do the right thing.  Yesterday, Customer Laura Berg contacted us requesting assistance in reconnecting with our Flight Crew who, on a rainy day in 2008, led with their heart and created an irreplaceable impact in her life.  The following post is Laura’s heartfelt story.  Dear Ms. Southwest, It’s been nearly seven years and I want to tell you that you will forever have a special place in my heart and I don’t even know your name! On August 12, 2008, I was on your flight from Ft. Lauderdale to Tampa. My husband, 2 ½ year old daughter, and I were vacationing in Ft. Lauderdale.  While we were eating breakfast in a diner, my cell phone rang.  I was on vacation, so I didn’t answer.  And then, I realized that the people who have my cell phone number are people who know me.  Most of them knew I was on vacation and wouldn’t call if it wasn’t important.  I checked the message; it was my cousin Denise, asking me to call her immediately.  My heart sank.  I knew something was wrong.  I walked out to the parking lot and returned her call.  She told me my mom was in the hospital with only hours to live and that I needed to make it home.  No one is ready to hear this kind of news – no matter what their relationship with their mother might be.  All I could think was, my mom?  My best friend?  The woman I talk to every single day, my confidant, my rock?  Thirty-three years and she was just going to leave me?  I was filled with dread, panic, and overwhelming grief. The next few hours were a blur.  We raced to the hotel, grabbed our stuff and searched for the best flight back to Toronto.  I managed to talk to my mom during this flurry of activity.  The only thing I remember was asking her to wait, to not leave this earth without me.  She promised she would. My husband tried to get us the earliest flight back home.  It was already 11 am.  The best direct flight had us landing in Toronto at 10 pm. Finally, my husband found a flight that would get us to Buffalo at 7 pm (our car was in in Buffalo thankfully).  Flying to Buffalo then driving, would get me to my mom faster than flying into Toronto. Florida is great – except for its thunderstorms.  We needed to catch a 20-minute flight from Ft. Lauderdale to Tampa so that we could make our connecting flight to Buffalo.  Enter thunderstorms.  All flights grounded.  As we waited at the airport, I paced and prayed and cried and paced and prayed and cried some more.  Please let the thunderstorms stop.  I need to be with my mom! Finally, the gate opened and we were on our way.  And this, Ms. Southwest, is where you entered my life.  You took the time to acknowledge my weeping as I held my little girl.  You asked what was wrong and I hiccuped and sobbed my way through the story. Ms. Southwest, I know you were just doing your job, but it meant the world to me that you came and talked to me.  You asked about our ultimate destination.  You helped us get settled on the first leg of our journey.  You brought me a box of tissues.  That little squeeze you gave my shoulder?  It meant the world to me. As I sat there holding my box of Kleenex an announcement came over the PA letting us know that the plane could not take off due to more thunderstorms.  I was destroyed.  Checking my watch, I saw the minutes slipping away along with our chances of catching our connecting flight.  In my sadness I kept hearing more words, informing my fellow passengers  of delays and cancelled flights.  As the announcements rolled on and the minutes ticked by I knew I wouldn’t reach Tampa on time to catch the plane that could get me home to my mom.  Finally the word came that we were cleared for take off.  As I looked at my watch I saw that my connecting flight in Tampa was leaving at that exact time.  I missed it.  I missed the flight that could get me home to say goodbye to my Mom.  I was so close!  It was only a short hop, skip, and jump over to Tampa.  Why?!  Why did this have to be happening to me.  I closed my eyes and prayed for my mom to please wait. Just then you came back to me.  You again gently leaned over to me and I’ll never forget your words.  You said, “We called ahead to the Pilot in Tampa and told him about your situation and he’s holding the plane for you.” They were holding the plane for us! YOU CARED! YOU CARED! YOU CARED! When we got to Tampa you asked everyone to remain seated so we could get off the plane and get on our connecting flight – and they did.  Your Southwest colleagues were waiting to help us run to the next plane. Thanks to you and your efforts (and those of the other staff and pilots) I MADE IT!  I made it home to my mom.  It was all BECAUSE OF YOU.  It was late when we reached the hospital, but my mom kept her promise and waited for me.  She had fallen into a coma by the time I got there, but she was still alive. I curled up in bed with her and took her into my arms. I whispered in her ear that I was with her, that I loved her, that I was so thankful she was my mom.  I told her that it was okay for her to go.  I had my husband and daughter and I would be taken care of.  I told her that I would make her proud.  I held her and loved her completely until she took her last breath in my arms. I have no way of reaching you personally, Ms. Southwest.  This will have to do for now.  My only hope is this letter somehow finds you so you know that you are appreciated and loved. What you do makes a difference – in my case a BIG difference.  I hope someday, when you most need it, someone will show you the extreme kindness you showed to my family and me. With love and gratitude, Laura Happy Mother’s Day, Mom. See Laura’s original post and online blog here. ... View more

Here at Southwest, we’re on a quest to own holidays and to provide memorable, Legendary Customer Service.  For that reason, we partnered with Keurig® in hopes of brewing smiles for moms this Mother’s Day! How are we doing this?  We're giving you the chance to win a $5,000 Southwest® gift card and a Keurig® 2.0 K550 Brewer, plus coffee for a year.  What better gifts to fly home to visit mom with a new Keurig brewer or take her on a surprise trip?  The sky is the limit!  Visit brewedfortakeoff.com for a chance to enter our Brewed for Takeoff Sweepstakes! Of course, we didn't stop there. Check out the video to see how we “surprised and delighted” moms at Dallas (Love Field) Airport.  Our friends at Keurig were more than happy to gift a new Keurig 2.0 Brewing System to every mom on Flight #662 to Orlando to celebrate Mother’s Day and enjoy coffee on us. Also, if you’re travelling through Dallas (Love Field) or Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport between now and May 10, be sure to find our Keurig 2.0 demo locations at select Southwest gates. We’ll give you the fuel you need to take off on your next flight! To all moms ... thank you for being super heroes, role models, best friends, and everything in between.  Happy Mother’s Day! To enter the sweepstakes: Visit www.brewedfortakeoff.com. No purchase necessary. Must be a legal resident of the United States (DC) and at least 18 years of age to enter. Sweepstakes starts April 18, 2015,  and ends May 10, 2015.  Click here for full official rules. Void where prohibited.  ... View more

Tune-in to Hell’s Kitchen on FOX tonight, 8 p.m./7 p.m. Central, to see where Southwest Airlines is flying the lucky winning team! Should we guess, just for the Fun of it? If you’re on the go, you can also catch Hell’s Kitchen on a Southwest WiFi-enabled flight via our Free Live TV on FOX. Can you handle the heat? ... View more

Below is a look behind the cover of our February issue of Southwest: The Magazine by JK Nickell.   What does it mean to transform a city? The question came to mind often while working on Southwest: The Magazine’s February cover story. Meaningful change is never instantaneous. Like watching kids grow up, it’s typically only when you look back that you realize how far you’ve come. While Detroit was in the throes of bankruptcy, Sam White was busy launching a new company, an inherently risky affair. But this wasn’t your typical startup. She launched a Shakespeare company and made it her mission to galvanize her hometown. Nothing about it was conventional. Our writer, Drew Philp, shadowed Sam as she went door-to-door to recruit an audience. She sold cherished personal items to purchase costumes. She attracted young, diverse crowds. And as part of her site-specific strategy, she staged plays in trash dumps, restaurants, and YMCAs. To reflect this innovative approach, photographer Chris Crisman captured the actors as they performed their favorite roles in some of Detroit’s most iconic locations. But is it working? Can the Bard really save a city? I had my doubts. But in the course of talking to dozens of Detroiters, it became clear that, thanks to Sam’s tireless efforts, transformation is well under way. Stories about people that defy the impossible are one of the things we like best around here. Check out Sam’s video to get a peek at what makes it all work. And if you happen to visit her hometown, make sure to check out Shakespeare in Detroit. You’ll be glad you did. Read the full story here.             ... View more

As a Southwest Airlines A-List Rapid Rewards Member, Mathew Jenkins knows all about the LUV airline. In his business travels as director of sales for Veracity, a video-surveillance technology firm, he enjoys the airline’s amazing Customer Service, availability of flights, and Frequent Flyer program. “I travel with a lot of demo equipment, and not having to pay to check my case saves Veracity thousands of dollars,” he says. But it’s Southwest’s open seating policy that’s had the biggest impact on his life to date. In September 2013, Mathew was waiting to board a flight home to Los Angeles from Chicago when he saw a beautiful woman. “We made eye contact and smiled at each other,” Mathew says. Much to his surprise, she proceeded to sit next to him on the plane. Her name was Kristen, and she was a freelance makeup artist from Rochester, New York. The two chatted for the entire flight. “It was like we were old friends,” Mathew says. “After hours of talking, we arrived in Los Angeles and decided we would go on a date the following day.” Like a real-life romantic comedy, Mathew and Kristen fell for each other and spent nearly a year flying Southwest between coasts. “Thanks to Southwest’s convenient schedule and easy-to-use Rapid Rewards Award Seats, Kristen and I were able to grow our relationship.” Last June, the cross-country treks ended as Kristen and her two children moved to California to be with Mathew and his three children. “By way of introducing us, Southwest has created a modern-day Brady Bunch,” Mathew says. “Thank you for your open seating policy. Southwest is truly all about the LUV.” Mathew and Kristen are now planning their June wedding. Thank you, Mathew, for giving Southwest your LUV for more than five years. We’re ecstatic that we played a part in bringing you and Kristen together. Photo courtesy of Melissa Valladares ... View more

What goes well with our honey roasted peanuts that are returning to our aircraft? Beer, of course! We're now stocking Leinenkugel’s seasonal craft beers and Dos Equis Special Lager onboard our flights. “We’re always striving to improve our Customer experience onboard, and the addition of these two beers gives our Customers unique options while on our flights,” said Mike Hafner, Vice President Cabin Services. “Dos Equis is the perfect beer to complement our new international service, and Customers will be able to sit back and enjoy Leinenkugel’s seasonal offerings.” Leinenkugel’s will be the first beer we offer on a rotating seasonal basis. Each season, we'll update offerings with the current seasonal beer from the Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin brewery. Leinenkugel’s Snowdrift Vanilla Porter will start the rotation for the colder months, followed by Summer Shandy as warm weather approaches, and transitioning to Oktoberfest in the fall. Southwest’s beer offerings now include the following: Miller Lite Bud Light Fat Tire Leinenkugel’s Dos Equis     And it’s not just beer that’s taking off—we're also transitioning to honey roasted peanuts that Customers can enjoy throughout 2015. The next time you fly, be sure to purchase one of our new beers for just $5! ... View more

On December 28, 2014, we said farewell to AirTran Airways.  A special celebration was held  to commemorate the completion of the Southwest Airlines and AirTran integration, which has now brought two great Companies together as one.  More than 700 AirTran and Southwest Family Members were on hand in Atlanta to celebrate—as AirTran’s Flight 1 departed from Atlanta to Tampa Bay, marking the last AirTran Airways revenue flight.  To celebrate the airline, we had an internal blog series--12 Days of AirTran--that took look back at some of the People and their stories that contributed to AirTran's success.  Here is a compilation of  those blog posts.  Enjoy! Day1: A Look Back at AirTran's Origins by Richard West To start things off, our first post takes a look back at the early history of the two separate startup airlines which joined in 1997 to form AirTran Airways. ValuJet Airlines took to the skies for the first time on October 26, 1993 when Flight 1 departed Atlanta for Tampa from gate C26. The Department of Transportation had only given authority to start selling seats about ten days earlier, which created an interesting dilemma – how to deliver tickets in time to Customers.  The answer was to not send tickets at all, but to use a new system which we are all accustomed to today, the electronic ticket. With only two aircraft in their fleet, (DC-9s previously flown by Delta) service was limited to Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, and Atlanta.  Operations in Atlanta were out of the then empty concourse C, left vacant by Eastern Airlines.  For several years the Eastern name appeared on jetways, ticket counters, and ground service equipment.  Additional destinations soon came throughout the southeast and beyond. The original AirTran Airways was also product of the same era.  Based out of Orlando, the AirTran Corporation served as a holding company for Mesaba Airlines.  Startup carrier Conquest Sun was acquired by the new Company to operate its fleet of 737-200 aircraft under the AirTran name.  The first flight took place on October 6, 1994. Shortly after, the Airways Corporation was created independent of Mesaba and served as the holding company for the new airline. ValuJet and AirTran announced plans to join as one on July 10, 1997.  Although ValuJet would be acquiring AirTran, the combined Company would retain the AirTran likeness.  Starting on September 24th of the same year, ValuJet began operating as AirTran Airlines.  The completion of the merger between the two companies occurred on June 1, 1998, when the combined operation was renamed AirTran Airways.   Day 2: A View from Communications & Outreach Name: Quinnie Jenkins-Rice Workgroup: Community Affairs & Grassroots Function: Communication & Outreach AirTran Airways employees help out with Habitat for Humanity Monday Sept. 14, 2009, Milwaukee. (Darren Hauck) How many years were you with AirTran? I was with AirTran four years before joining the Southwest Airlines Family. Describe your best day on the job. I had many great days on the job! My absolute favorite days were our company volunteer days. It was always such a great feeling to see more than 100 AirTran Employees come together on their days off to walk for premature babies, build houses for the homeless and clean up schools in our communities. Describe your most challenging day on the job. One of my most challenging times during my tenure at AirTran was post acquisition when members of our marketing team either started moving to Dallas or onto their next chapters at other companies. We were definitely like a little family so having to say goodbye was tough! What are you looking forward to at Southwest Airlines? I’ve been on the Southwest Team for three years and it’s been incredible! I’m blessed to have the opportunity to work alongside such smart, creative and caring people everyday. Southwest has grown so much in the few short years that I’ve been here and I’m most looking forward to what the future holds for our airline. I know we have incredible times ahead and I’m happy to be along for the ride!   Day 3: A View from Customer Support & Services Name: Eric Aiken Work Group: Customer Support & Services Function: Customer Representative How many years were you with AirTran? I was with AirTran for eight years before joining the Southwest family in September 2013. Describe your best day on the job with AirTran. Every day on the job is a great day working with wonderful coworkers, and also being able to work for a great company like Southwest!  With that being said, my best day on the job was working closely with Southwest customer relations in assisting our passengers. I enjoyed my time with AirTran customer relations, but I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to build new relationships with my new family at Southwest. Those were great times for me being able to cultivate new relationships, as well as making a difference for the Company. Describe your most challenging day on the job with AirTran. I can honestly say I have not faced a challenging day while on the job. I try my best to look at any challenge as an opportunity for growth and development. One day that comes to mind when I was faced with an extremely difficult situation was the final day of AirTran customer relations. It was difficult because not only was our family in customer relations separating, but my new family that I enjoyed working with would no longer work together in the same capacity. What are you looking forward to at Southwest Airlines? What I am looking forward to most with Southwest is becoming a part of the culture and continuing to grow and develop within the Company. Lastly, I am looking forward to more great times ahead with my new family at Southwest, all while exhibiting a Servant’s Heart and a Warrior Spirit for the benefit of our Passengers and Company!   Day 4: A View from Flight Attendant  Name: Tana Thomas, nicknamed “AirTana” Work Group: Cabin Services Function: Flight Attendant How many years were you with AirTran? I joined AirTran in September of 1998. I had previously worked at Eastern Airlines for 18 years and when they shut down in 1991 I thought my airline career was over. Eight years later on a whim I attended an AirTran open house. After my interview, the recruiter, who was also a former Eastern Flight Attendant, offered me a second chance to get back into the skies and do what I loved the most. Describe your best day on the job with AirTran. On September 23, 1999, after having won a "Name the Plane" Employee contest, I got to attend the delivery ceremony for the first B717 at the Boeing plant in Long Beach, California. I had gone to high school in Long Beach, and as they rolled the airplane out of the hanger it was my Millikan High School Band marching in front of it. We then boarded "Esprit de Corps" for its very FIRST FLIGHT home to Atlanta. Describe your most challenging day on the job with AirTran. Every day at work following 9/11 was a challenge; there was so much fear in the air. When I would be getting ready to leave for a flight, my husband would say, “Are you sure it's safe?” Of course, I could not honestly say "Yes" at that point, but it was my job and I was not going to let anything stop me from performing my duties. Summoning my inner courage got me through the worst of it. What are you most excited about as we move towards completing the journey to One Luv: One Family on December 28? First off, having the honor of being one of the crew members on AirTran's final flight. Since I was also on the first flight, I will get to experience my career come full circle.  In some respects it will be a bittersweet moment, but as the old saying goes, when one (jet) door closes, another one opens, and I am so happy Southwest will be waiting in the wings to take me back into the skies once again.   Day 5: A View from Ground Operations  Name: Linda Graham Work Group: Ground Operations Function: ATL Customer Service Agent How many years were you with AirTran? I worked for Eastern Air Lines for 10 years until they ceased operations in 1991. I was watching the local news one night when I saw a story about a new airline starting service in Atlanta, and I recognized one of the Employees, whom I had worked with at Eastern. I was very eager to get back in the airline industry, so I gave her a call to find out more information. I started working for ValuJet on December 6, 1993, as a Customer Service Agent in Atlanta. What has been your favorite part about working in the airline industry? My favorite part is all the wonderful People I have met along the way! What was one of your most challenging days? One of the most challenging times was September 11. Describe your thoughts and feelings as we move toward completing the journey to One LUV: One Family on December 28. I am very proud of AirTran and all its accomplishments. It is like watching a child grow up—AirTran was “our baby." From a Critter to a Red Belly, it has been quite a journey!   Day 6: A View from the People Department Name: Amy Morris Work Group: People Function: Senior Manager People How many years were you with AirTran? I started with ValuJet on September 27, 1993, one month prior to the start of service. I was hired as an Aircraft Maintenance Records Supervisor. Through my career at ValuJet / AirTran, I had various positions in Records, Reliability, General Counsel, and, in 1999, moved to their HR department. I remained in HR until January 2012, when I became a Southwest Employee! Describe your best day on the job. It’s tough for me to pick just one best day on the job; I’ve had a lot of great times over the years! I can’t believe that I have been in the airline industry for 24 years. When I first started, the woman that was training me told me that I would either love working for an airline or hate it, and if I loved it, it would get in my blood and I would never want to leave the industry. I have to say that I agree with that statement. Describe your most challenging day on the job. I don’t know that I can pick out one specific incident, but I would have to say that those times where AirTran had decided to stop service into a particular city were the most challenging. I was part of the Team that would travel to the station and share the news to Employees, and that never was easy to have the discussion with them. What are you looking forward to at Southwest Airlines? I’m looking forward to continuing to work with and build friendships with such a great bunch of People, as well as seeing us continue to grow our airline and conquer new and exotic destinations. It is exciting to be part of the success story here at Southwest Airlines, and I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of it!   Day 7: A View from Maintenance  Name: Jim Davis Work Group: Tech Ops-Maintenance.   Jim signed the Airworthiness Release for the first ValuJet flight, and will sign the Airworthiness Release on AirTran final 717 flight on December 28, 2014. How many years were you with AirTran? I was with Valujet at the startup of the airline. In August 2000, I returned to Airtran after being gone for a few months. I thought the grass was greener somewhere else, and soon discovered it didn’t even exist. My first day back at AirTran was definitely one of my best days here. Describe your best day on the job. As a general rule, all days are good, some are just better than others – I Iike what I do! A huge part of that is the people I work with. We have a good time and it’s amazing what we accomplish. Describe your most challenging day on the job. Every day has a challenge! I’ll never forget working the de-ice pad for a couple of shifts with Robert McKeown a few years ago. We were not dressed for it and we were miserable! Icy water running down your neck and into your shoes is not covered in A&P classes. What are you most excited about as we move toward completing the journey to One LUV: One Family on December 28? It’s easy to be excited about working for an airline that consistently makes a profit---and shares it with the employees. I remember someone at SWA saying ‘we would rather pay a few people a lot of money instead of paying a lot of people a little amount.’ To make that work, we have to ask a lot from the few. That’s a neat idea. I think to win in this marketplace, you have to be first, unique, or the best at what you do. We may not be the first airline out there, but we are ahead in the other two areas.   Day 8: A View from Flight Ops Name: Floy Ponder Work Group: Flight Ops Work Function: Pilot - First Officer How many years were you with AirTran? 19 years. Describe your best day on the job. The day I became the Director of Flying (Chief Pilot) for AirTran led to 10 great years. Describe your most challenging day on the job. The ice storm in 2010 that shut down Atlanta for two days was pretty challenging. What are you most excited about as we move toward completing the journey to One LUV: One Family on December  28? I am most excited about the potential expansion being built on the foundation of two great airlines.   Day 9: A View from Dispatch Name: Brendan Lane Workgroup: Dispatch How many years were you with AirTran? I was with AirTran 7 years, 7 months and 21 days. Describe your best day on the job. My best day on the job was any time I could get to a station while traveling and see the real time results of my work. Whether it was a child with Mickey Mouse ears on, a serviceman returning home after a long deployment, or a family reunion, I always enjoyed being a part of something special. After all, who doesn't remember their first airplane ride? Describe your most challenging day on the job. In 2008, Atlanta tower took a lightning strike and evacuated in combination with the loss of various runway lights. As ATL was not taking arrivals, I safely coordinated 14 diversions in a 45-minute period to stations as far out as MSY due to station saturation at airports closer to ATL. Around 1,800 passengers were safely on the ground after it was all through, which is precisely one of the many things we train for here in NOC. What are you most excited about as we move toward completing the journey to One LUV: One Family on December 28? I am looking forward to working with a great team of professionals in the NOC, and all the stations. While it will be bittersweet to make the last entry in the AirTran SOD log, it is a great feeling to cross over into the welcoming arms of a world class operation. With 30 years around airplanes in many different capacities, I welcome the opportunity to contribute all I can to the great reputation of Southwest Airlines.   Day 11: A View from an Operations Agent  Name: Katina Barnes Work Group: Ground Operations Work Function: ATL Operations Agent When were you hired at AirTran and in what position? I was hired on May 22, 1998 for AirTran Customer Service, but I was also cross trained for the Ramp. Then, I became the Tranland Coordinator, moved into developing our IROP department, became a certified instructor for the Atlanta Station, and I was also part of recruiting and initial training for the AirTran ATL and BWI Training Departments. Finally, I moved into the Command Center where I stayed until crossing over to SWA. What has been your favorite AirTran memory? There are so many AirTran memories that it’s hard to pick just one. I think the one that stands out the most is when I worked as a trainer, and another trainer, Charlotte Collett, and I were tasked with creating procedures for working an oversold flight. Leadership liked my presentation, and Charlotte and I created the training module and denied boarding information cards. The procedure went out to all stations. Until recently, all oversold/overbooked flights were executed following that procedure. It made me proud, surprised, and humbled that our work became part of the Company’s procedures. What was your best/favorite day on the job? My favorite day in my first year of working with AirTran was every day. I worked the night shift, so, as I would get dressed and prepared for work, I used to put music on and dance. We had a lot fun and formed a family. Describe your thoughts and feelings as we move toward completing the journey to One LUV: One Family on December 28. The day will be bittersweet for me. AirTran was what we as individuals made it. We created the airline into the success that it was. I’m sad to see it go (never dreamed I would be here as long as I have been!), but excited to see what’s to come. I look forward to making more memories!   Day 12: A View from Southwest Leadership Name: Jack Smith Work Group: Operations Work Function: Senior Vice President How many years were you with AirTran? I was with AirTran a total of ten great years. Describe your best day on the job. I didn’t just have  “one best day” – I had the opportunity to work every day with a terrific group of people. Describe your most challenging day on the job. Because so much of our flight activity was in ATL, summer thunderstorms could make for very challenging IROP days for both our employees and our Customers. What are you looking forward to at Southwest Airlines? Southwest is such a great Company, and I am looking forward to capitalizing on our many upcoming international opportunities.   Bonus: Commemorating the AirTran Brand We thought you might like to hear from some our Leaders who were integral to the acquisition and integration. These Leaders share their thoughts on what the AirTran integration means from beginning to end. ... View more

Please enjoy this poem by San Diego Customer Service Agent Bernardo F. Olvera.   A Southwest Christmas The crowds have cleared and the planes have all flown. With Christmas in the air my job was to get people home. To be with their loved ones and to enjoy this day, my gift was so that others could love, laugh and play. So, I felt a little sadness land in my heart, for I've never been, from my family, this far apart. But today was a new experience to observe, learn, and grow, so I adopted each family as mine Shhhh ... and they didn't even know. I loved them and laughed with them and they filled me with joy, as one child shared his excitement over his new transformer toy. So it wasn't quite the Christmas I hoped for or had in mind, but my promise was to stay present so that gratitude would be all one could find. So, to my three children I leave you with this gift, for it was you in my heart as I offered that last inspired lift. ... View more

Speaking to investors and financial analysts Monday morning in Dallas, Gary Kelly announced that Southwest has filed an application with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to add our fourth destination in Mexico with daily roundtrip service between John Wayne Orange County Airport (SNA) and Licenciado Gustavo Diaz Ordaz International Airport in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (PVR), beginning June 7, 2015! Gary also announced our intention to offer nonstop service on Saturdays between Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) and San Jose del Cabo/Los Cabos, Mexico (SJD), beginning June 13, 2015, also pending route authority approvals. Reservations and ticketing will be available through Southwest.com once required approvals are received. ... View more

We stumbled upon this sweet blog post from Trip With Tykes through Twitter and we just had to share.  While we have done several posts regarding traveling with babies, toddlers, and even your furry babies, we haven't tackled a subject near and dear to the hearts of both both parents and children: lunch.  Enjoy!  I have had a slightly unhealthy love (luv?)  for all things Southwest Airlines lately.  My family is flying Southwest more than ever.  Although Southwest gets a lot of flak, I think Southwest has really upped its game in recent years for all travelers.  Southwest is serving more destinations than ever, checked bags are still free, and having no change fees offers travel flexibility. The Southwest product is an especially great fit for traveling families, but I also enjoy flying Southwest even when I’m traveling without my kids. When you love an airline as much as I do, what is the next logical step?  Enshrining that love in lunchbox art for your child, of course. My daughter started kindergarten this fall, so I’ve now added lunch-making duties to my nightly routine.  I usually throw a sandwich, some fruit, and some baby carrots in a Tupperware container and am on my way.  But once in awhile, I enjoy making something cute and fun for my daughter when I have the extra time. I thought about making an airplane themed lunch for her this week.  Ultimately, I decided to go all in and brand the lunch in our favorite airline’s colors.  And the Southwest Airlines bento lunch was born!  This was surprisingly easy to make and required very few special ingredients or tools.  For those of us not used to producing Pinterest-worthy bento lunches on a daily basis, this is a good introductory experiment to try.  It would also be a great meal to pack for your kids before a flight. Have a child who is an aviation enthusiast or Southwest frequent flyer?  Here is how to create a simple Southwest Airlines bento lunch.   Tools for the Southwest Airlines Bento: Supplies & tools for your Southwest bento: Yumbox, fruit rollups, and cookie cutters. (Trips With Tykes uses affiliate links.  See our full set of disclosures here.) Yumbox Panino (I bought a Yumbox at the recommendation of my favorite bento blogger, Wendolonia.  It is the perfect size for elementary-age kids and is easy for a kindergartener to open without help.) Airplane cookie cutter (available as part of this transportation set) Small heart cookie cutter Food-safe marker Ingredients for the Southwest Airlines Bento: Healthy red, yellow, & blue fruit to match the Southwest brand. Red fruit rollups Blue fruit rollups Sliced yellow cheese Sandwich (I made a simple peanut butter sandwich, but any filling will do) Shelled peanuts Mini pretzels Strawberries Blueberries Golden raspberries Directions for the Southwest Airlines Bento: Make a sandwich of your choice (I don’t need to tell you how to do that, right?).  Using cookie cutters, cut out an airplane shape and as many small hearts as you can fit with the remainder. Slowly and carefully unroll the fruit rollups, leaving one side laying flat on the plastic wrap (this is the only “hard” part, as they are sticky!). Use the airplane cookie cutter to cut out an airplane shape in both the red and blue fruit rollups.  Cut out a heart in each color as well. Cut out an airplane shape and a heart in a slice of yellow cheese. Slice and dice your airplane cutouts into your desired color pattern.  Since Southwest planes are known as “red bellies” (at least until they are all repainted in the new color scheme), I went with a red center section and the other two colors on the wings. Lay the fruit rollups and cheese cutouts as an overlay onto the sandwich pieces.  Write your Southwest messages with a food-safe marker on top. For the strawberries, slice off the tops and cut them in half down the center line.  Use the small heart shape cookie cutter to cut each strawberry half into a heart shape. Add the other side items – extra fruit (blueberries and golden raspberries), peanuts, and pretzels to the remaining spaces in your bento box.  Bonus points if you have ACTUAL Southwest pretzels and peanuts from an earlier flight left over to use.  Our pretzels were authentic! Verdict: The finished bento product! While the lunch looked pretty cute, the fruit rollups made the sandwich underneath a tad soggy and sticky.  The cheese was a better topping.  It might work to use swiss cheese and colored food-safe markers to create the red and blue overlays instead.  I’ll try that next time. (In case you were wondering, this post is in no way sponsored by Southwest.  If, of course, Southwest loves this so much and wants to send Rapid Rewards points or vouchers my way as an expression of gratitude, I will gladly accept.) LUV Southwest as much as I do? Be sure not to miss my top Southwest Airlines related posts: The Complete Guide to Flying Southwest With Kids How Not to Get Bumped from Your Southwest Flight New Kid-Friendly Entertainment Choices on Southwest ... View more

Between the new livery, new international destinations, and the repeal of the Wright Amendment, it’s been a Hard Day’s Night of tedious work for Southwest Employees across the Company.  For years, we Let it Be, but with Fearless Leaders and A Little Help from our Friends, we decided to Come Together to accomplish these feats! Don’t Let Me Down, now is the time to Twist and Shout about these achievements.  Who better to lead the celebration than our own Fab Four who inspired us all to believe that All You Need is Love.  Give up All Your Loving for none other than Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer Gary Kelly as Paul McCartney from The Beatles!  And, the rest of his band is here to Help! too—Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Mike Van de Ven as Ringo, Executive Vice President and Chief People and Administrative Officer Jeff Lamb as John, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Bob Jordan as George, and their trusty variety show host, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal and Regulatory Officer Ron Ricks as Ed Sullivan! The Beatles will be Day Tripping around the Halloween extravaganza all day.  Let’s go have a rockin’ good HalloWN! ... View more

The Wright Amendment was lifted on October 13, so Southwest Airlines now has seven nonstop destinations that fly out of Dallas Love Field, with another eight beginning November 2. To celebrate our initial nonstop flights from Dallas Love Field, we surprised our Customers with our Mystery Flights.  Each day, Customers flying to a new nonstop destination were surprised onboard with some pretty amazing gifts (check out the list below). Southwest has eight additional nonstop flights launching on November 2, so be on the lookout for more Mystery Flights!   A full list of our Mystery Flights: Los Angeles- Go Pro Camera Washington D.C. - Fitbit Las Vegas- $200 Southwest ® Gift Card Orlando- 25,000 Rapid Rewards Points Denver- Beats by Dre Baltimore- Kindle Fire Chicago- iPad Mini   ... View more

Monday, October 13, was a truly monumental day in Southwest’s history, with flights taking off from Dallas Love Field to longhaul destinations we’ve never before been able to serve with nonstop service, allowing Southwest to fulfill a decades-old promise to provide our Legendary Customer Service beyond the restrictions of the Wright Amendment.  Words cannot adequately express how excited and proud our Employees and Customers were to be a part of those first flights, but since a picture (or in this case, some great video) is reputedly worth more than a thousand words, we’ll just let you see for yourselves. ... View more

Well, you asked for them!  Here's a sampling of the photos taken this morning at Dallas Love Field and on our first nonstop flights—Enjoy!  Have pictures of your own from today's events?  Share them by tagging them #NonstopLove. Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly takes boarding passes on the first non-stop flight out of Dallas Love Field. The Wright Amendment ended on Monday, Oct. 13 2014, allowing non-stop flights to anywhere in the U.S. from Dallas Love Field. / Stephen M. Keller, 2014 Southwest Airlines President Emeritus Colleen Barrett celebrates the end of the Wright Amendment at Dallas Love Field. / Stephen M. Keller, 2014 Southwest Airlines founder Herb Kelleher celebrates the end of the Wright Amendment at Dallas Love Field. / Stephen M. Keller, 2014 Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly salutes the captain of the first non-stop flight out of Dallas Love Field. / Stephen M. Keller, 2014 Southwest Chairman & CEO Gary Kelly giving the thumbs up as our first nonstop flight out of Dallas prepares to push for Denver. / Stephen M. Keller, 2014 The Dapper Dans from Disney hand out Mickey Mouse ears for the first non-stop flight from Dallas Love Field to Orlando, Florida.  / Stephen M. Keller, 2014 A Southwest Airlines ramp agent guides the first non-stop flight from Dallas Love Field to Orlando, Florida. / Stephen M. Keller, 2014 Southwest Co-Founder Herb Kelleher and President Emeritus Colleen Barrett. Here's Colleen sending off the first ever nonstop Dallas to Las Vegas Southwest flight. ... View more

What do the Pointer Sisters and Southwest Airlines have in common?  We’re both so excited and we just can’t hide it!  Since we can no longer contain our delight over the end of the Wright Amendment restrictions at Dallas Love Field on October 13, we are celebrating early with Random Acts of Love. Starting September 25, we are surprising YOU, our wonderful Customers, at various locations around the Dallas Metroplex and picking up the tab at some of your favorite spots.  So be on the lookout for our Random Acts of Love folks and maybe your next cup of coffee, slice of pie, or ice cream cone will be on Southwest Airlines! Check back here and like us on Facebook to see recaps of our Random Acts of Love!   Random Acts of Love Update: October 16 Oh, the places we've been: Thursday, September 25—White Rock Coffee Sunday, September 27—Steel City Popsicles Tuesday, September 30—Emporium Pies Friday, October 3—Rusty Taco Saturday, October 4—Sprinkles Cupcakes Sunday, October 5—Steel City Popsicles Tuesday, October 7—Southwest Airlines Headquarters (Steel City Popsicles) Wednesday, October 8—Emporium Pies Thursday, October 9—The Butchers Son at Klyde Warren Park Saturday, October 11—Steel City Popsicles HG Supply and Southwest Airlines As part of our Random Acts of Love, in celebration of the end of The Wright Amendment, we are sponsoring the sunset toast at HG Supply for two weeks (October 6-17).  With two days remaining, you still have time to come out and toast with us! HG Supply is a local up and coming Dallas restaurant located on Dallas' Greenville Avenue.  Every night, Monday through Friday, they make a toast at Sunset thanking their customers for choosing to dine with them.  The toast is a sample of a specialty drink they have created for that week.  These two weeks the drink is: South by Southwest.     ... View more

Beginning October 13, Dallas Love Field is FREE!  The restrictions of the Wright Amendment will be gone, ushering in nonstop destinations from Dallas Love Field that span from coast to coast.  Southwest Airlines is excited to celebrate this milestone with all of you, and we begin the festivities by offering FREE music. Our Wright Amendment celebrations kick off with a four-week concert series at The Southwest Porch at Klyde Warren Park  in downtown Dallas with four amazing artists. Check out the line-up below.  We hope to see you there! Jon McLaughlin September 23, 2014 5:30-7:30 pm Hollywood took notice of this pop/rock singer songwriter when his songs Beautiful Disaster and Beating My Heart climbed the charts.  Jon performed his song from Enchanted at the 2008 Academy Awards. Scars on 45 September 30, 2014 5:30-7:30 pm This indie rock band from Bradford, England, got America’s attention in 2011 when their song Heart on Fire was featured on Grey’s Anatomy. Other Scars on 45 songs include Crazy For You and Give Me Something. Zane Williams October 7, 2014 5:30-7:30 pm Best known for his song Hurry Home, Zane has received consistent radio airplay on country stations across Texas. Ride With Me marked his first song on the Texas Music Chart. Marie Miller October 14, 2014 5:30-7:30 pm A singer songwriter from Virginia, Marie often crosses musical genres from folk to pop, Christian, and country. In May 2014, her song 6’2 was featured on Dancing With the Stars. ... View more

What an exciting week for Southwest Airlines!  After unveiling the Company's bold new look on Monday, today Southwest's Chairman, President & CEO Gary Kelly announced that the airline has filed an application with the U.S. Department of Transportation to add its first destination in Central America with daily roundtrip service between Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport (BWI) and Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) in San Jose, Costa Rica, beginning March 7, 2015.   The service would link the countries’ capital regions through Southwest’s value and legendary Customer Service. “We’re ready to add the adventure and beauty of Costa Rica to a growing horizon of international possibility available to the more than 100 million Customers who fly with us each year,” said Gary, before a breakfast meeting of the Greater Washington Board of Trade in Washington, D.C.  “Our People and policies bring unique value to the travel experience and we have big plans to extend that value to international destinations where our Customers want to go.  Our substantial presence in Baltimore/Washington is a natural place to do that by bringing nonstop access to new, international markets.” Costa Rica will be the sixth near-international country served by Southwest Airlines from its U.S. gateway cities and the first new destination in the carrier’s network after the integration of wholly owned subsidiary AirTran Airways is completed by the end of this year.  Service to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic*, and Mexico City begins November 2, 2014, as Southwest converts existing AirTran service in those international destinations.  Southwest began service this summer to Aruba, The Bahamas, Jamaica, and both Cancun and San Jose del Cabo/Los Cabos, Mexico.  Tickets to San Jose, Costa Rica, will be available for sale as soon as the necessary Department of Transportation approvals are secured. *subject to foreign government approval ... View more