Southwest Airlines Community

The following is guest written by our friends at Bryant Park, the home of the Southwest Porch in New York City. We’re getting into the holiday spirit at the Southwest Porch! Our holiday movie screening series is back by popular demand, but bigger and better than ever. Pick up a warm drink, stake out a stool around one of the Porch’s two firepits, and join us for movie screenings, paper ornament making, and an extra special event on December 22nd. All events start at 5:30pm. Here’s the schedule and all the details in their festive glory. Tuesday, December 15: Home Alone “KEVIN!” Quote every line of this holiday favorite while learning how to make paper ornaments. Monday, December 21: A Charlie Brown Christmas and How the Grinch Stole Christmas! A double header of 1960s classics, beloved by all ages. Paper ornament making too! Tuesday, December 22: TV Holiday Episode Marathon, presented by ATX TV Festival Relive the best hilarious holiday episodes of New Girl and How I Met Your Mother, plus watch the brand new holiday episode of Brooklyn 99. As if that wasn’t enough, you’ll be able to enter onsite for a chance to win free passes to the ATX Television Festival in Austin, Texas in June 2016, with free air travel courtesy of Southwest Airlines®. Full contest info and rules below. Wednesday, December 23: A Christmas Story Your last chance to enjoy a festive favorite, and make paper ornaments! ATX TV Festival and Southwest Airlines Contest: All entries must be made onsite between 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 22, 2015. One entry per participant. Winner will be notified by email on Wednesday, December 23, 2015.  ... View more

The Baltimore Ravens partnered with our BWI Employees on November 16 to score a winning touchdown with surprised Customers at the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. Players Justin Forsett and Kyle Juszczyk were happy to help welcome arriving Customers and bid adieu to our departing Customers.   Poe and the Raven’s cheerleaders traveled all the way from Ravenstown to make a special appearance and join in the festivities. Poe demonstrated how to shake your tail feather while the Ravens Cheerleaders helped rally up the Customers with some game day chants. On the opposite end of the east coast at the Orlando International Airport, the Orlando Magic’s Aaron Gordon and Elfrid Payton, Magic Dancers, STUFF (the Magic Mascot) and other Magic staff members were at Gate 123 at the Southwest terminal to meet and greet incoming and outgoing Customers.   The players joined forces with Southwest Airlines Employees to work the scheduled flights, assist Customers at the gate podium, aid with boarding announcements, and hand out snacks and souvenirs. Gordon and Payton even got a chance to go in the cockpit to learn the job of a Pilot. Southwest Employees also got the chance to see how the Magic do their jobs. They attended Wednesday’s game against the Timberwolves and helped pump up the crowd. They also helped fly the Southwest-inspired blimp around for fans to catch fun giveaways. It was a SWAmazing opportunity for Southwest Customers to interact with the Baltimore Ravens and the Orlando Magic in a way that they normally wouldn’t be able to. Thank you so much to the Baltimore Ravens, the Orlando Magic, the Baltimore Raven’s mascot Poe, the Ravens cheerleaders, Orlando Magic’s mascot STUFF, Orlando Magic Dancers, and our awesome BWI and MCO Employees for showing your LUV for Southwest! ... View more

November 1 was another exciting milestone day for Southwest Airlines. After opening the international concourse at Houston Hobby and inaugurating six brand new international nonstop flights on October 15, we launched nonstop service to Liberia, Costa Rica (our 97th destination!) and Montego Bay, Jamaica just two weeks later. The concourse at Hobby was full of excitement as Customers enjoyed festive music from a steel drum band and tasty treats, including rum cakes and breakfast pastries. Pura Vida! Southwest Touches Down in Liberia As Customers boarded Flight 691 to Liberia, they received a special tote bag with treats and were greeted by our warm Hospitality. Two Costa Rican Employees, BWI Flight Attendant Alex Watt-Muir and LAS Provo Agent Alan Gunter, were onboard to celebrate this inaugural flight, and they hosted a trivia game with our Customers. Winners received Southwest LUV Vouchers to use to book a future flight! Once the flight landed, the aircraft was received by a water cannon salute, and Costa Rica Tourism hosted a news conference in the gate area. Cleared for Takeoff to Montego Bay, Jamaica As Customers began boarding flight 1115 to Montego Bay, Jamaica on a rainy Sunday morning at Houston Hobby, they immediately knew Southwest was doing something fun. Every Customer received a gift bag full of goodies from Southwest and our friends at the Jamaica Tourist Board.  Onboard, many Customers learned this was the very first flight connecting the two airports and that this flight would be unlike all the others because it was time to celebrate! Customers celebrated the first flight with free drinks, LUV Vouchers, and our partners at the Jamaica Tourist Board even threw in some hotel stays among other surprises for our Customers! Congratulations on the new international destinations, and thank you to the Southwest Warriors that worked so hard to make these flights a great experience for our Customers! ... View more

Beat the winter blues with this red-hot sale! For a limited time, Southwest Airlines is offering a travel sale with domestic fares starting as low as $49, $99, $129, and $149 one-way, and international fares starting as low as $99 one-way to some of our most popular destinations. Don’t delay, this sale will only last three days, so head to Southwest.com now to book your flight. These low domestic fares are available for purchase on Southwest.com starting Tuesday, October 13 through Thursday, October 15, 2015, 11:59 p.m. in the respective time zone of the originating city, for travel except Fridays and Sundays, December 2 through December 16, 2015, and January 5 through February 10, 2016. Seats are limited. Travel/to from Florida or Nevada is valid only on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  Travel to/from San Juan, Puerto Rico is valid only Mondays through Thursdays and December 2 through December  10, 2015, and January  19 through February  10, 2016. You may also book flights to international destinations with some of Southwest’s low international fares starting at $99 one-way today through Thursday, October 15, 2015, 11:59 p.m. in the respective time zone of the originating city.  Fares are available for travel on nonstop flights only on Tuesdays and Wednesdays beginning December  2 through December  16, 2015 and January  12 through February  10, 2016 (check fare rules for restrictions and exclusions). Seats are limited. To see the list of available cities, prices, and to take advantage of these special fares, visit Southwest.com.   SOUTHWEST AIRLINES DOMESTIC SALE FARE RULES Purchase Oct. 13-15, 2015, 11:59 p.m. in the respective time zone of the originating city. Travel Dec. 2- 16, 2015, and Jan. 5 through Feb. 10, 2016. Travel is not valid on Fridays and Sundays. Travel to/from Florida or Nevada is valid only on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  Travel to/from San Juan, Puerto Rico is valid Dec. 2 through Dec. 10, 2015, and Jan. 19 through Feb. 10, 2016. Fares are valid on nonstop, domestic service only. Displayed prices include all U.S. and international government taxes and fees. Points bookings do not include September 11th Security Fee of $5.60 per one-way flight. Seats are limited. Fares may vary by destination, flight, and day of week and won't be available on some flights that operate during very busy travel times and holiday periods.  Travel is available for one-way Wanna Get Away® Fares. Fares may be combined with other Southwest Airlines combinable fares. If combining with other fares, the most restrictive fare's rules apply. Sale fares may be available on other days of week, but not guaranteed. Fares are nonrefundable but may be applied toward future travel on Southwest Airlines®, as long as reservations are canceled at least ten minutes prior to the scheduled departure of the flight.  Failure to cancel prior to departure will result in forfeiture of remaining funds on the reservation. Any change in itinerary may result in an increase in fare. Standby travel requires an upgrade to the Anytime Fare®. Fares are subject to change until ticketed. Offer applies to published, scheduled service only. SOUTHWEST AIRLINES INTERNATIONAL SALE FARE RULES Purchase Oct. 13-15, 2015, 11:59 p.m. in the respective time zone of the originating city. Travel Dec. 2-16, 2015, and Jan. 12 through Feb. 10, 2016. Travel is valid only on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Fares valid on nonstop, international service only. Displayed prices include all U.S. and international government taxes and fees. Points bookings do not include taxes, fees, and other government/airport charges of at least $5.60 per one-way flight. Seats and days are limited. Fares may vary by destination, flight, and day of week and won’t be available on some flights that operate during very busy travel times and holiday periods. Travel is available for Wanna Get Away® Fares. Fares may be combined with other Southwest Airlines combinable fares. If combining with other fares, the most restrictive fare’s rules apply. Sale fares may be available on other days of the week, but not guaranteed. Fares are nonrefundable but may be applied toward future travel on Southwest Airlines®, as long as reservations are canceled at least ten minutes prior to the scheduled departure of the flight. Failure to cancel prior to departure will result in forfeiture of remaining funds on the reservation. Any change in itinerary may result in an increase in fare. Standby travel requires an upgrade to the Anytime Fare®. Fares are subject to change until ticketed. Offer applies to published, scheduled service only.       ... View more

It’s been one year since the lifting of the Wright Amendment, and we are proud to have grown our service footprint at Dallas (Love Field) to increase the number of nonstop flights to destinations all across our system. It’s been an exciting year, and we are proud to offer even more convenient flights for our Customers. What better way to celebrate the exciting past year than with a concert series? In celebration of an amazing year full of new nonstop service and excitement from Dallas (Love Field), join us Wednesday nights in October for the Southwest Airlines® Nonstop Love Concert Series at the Southwest Porch at Klyde Warren Park. Enjoy fresh air and intimate acoustic performances set against the beautiful Dallas skyline. Each concert is free and open to the public, and will run from 5:45-7:30 p.m., with performances beginning at 6:30 p.m. Concert series lineup is sponsored by the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Credit Card: October 7 – Plain White T’s October 14 – Nick Fradiani October 21 – Green River Ordinance October 28 – American Authors Free music. Free smiles. Nonstop Love. For more information, visit Southwest.com/dallasconcerts. We hope to see you there!   ... View more

Last week, songwriters from the iconic Bluebird Café in Nashville, including Charles Esten (who plays Deacon on ABC’s hit show, Nashville), Kim Richey, and the country music duo Striking Matches, performed a Live at 35 inflight concert. The Live at 35 featured original songs and brought a few of Nashville’s favorite tunes to new heights. Once the flight landed in New York from Nashville, the songwriters did an iconic Bluebird Café “In the Round” performance at the Southwest Porch at Bryant Park. Porch visitors got a taste of the format made famous at the club where the performers take turns playing their original music, sharing the stories behind the songs, and accompanying each other instrumentally and with backing vocals. ... View more

Updated September 21, 2015: September 17, 2015 was a night to remember. After arriving at the Southwest Airlines Headquarters,  my date and I boarded the charter bus not knowing where Dîner en Blanc was taking place.  We were greeted with smiles, champagne, and snacks to enjoy on our short journey. After a quick drive, we arrived at our destination and I was surprised to see that the Continental Pedestrian Bridge would be our location for the night. As we located our breathtakingly beautifully decorated table, our night began.  To kick off DEB Dallas we participated in the traditional Dîner en Blanc napkin wave using the personalized napkins provided by Southwest Airlines. The award-winning Dallas skyline and the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge provided a beautiful backdrop to a perfect evening.  We  experienced a night full of entertainment and a DJ that had the crowd grooving to the beats and putting their best foot forward on the dance floor. I thoroughly enjoyed walking over the bridge to meet and mingle with the other guests while trying to scope out their all white ensembles to get ideas for next year. Some attendees were very creative and opted for costumes including large headdresses and white wigs. The night ended with a spectacular fireworks show by Pyrotex and it literally felt like the 4th of July in September. If you would love to attend a Dîner en Blanc in the future,  here are a few tips for you: 1. Wear all white, no off white/nude 2. Make sure you have a wagon or pulley with wheels to carry your table and chairs. 3. Bring a Tide stick or shout wipes for any surprises, like red wine spills. 4. Ladies wear a nice pair of flats/sneakers until you reach your destination. 5. Make sure to register online and be prepared to pay as soon as sales open up. Tickets will sell out in minutes. 6. Come ready to party and leave with new friends. 7. Make sure to fly with Southwest Airlines to attend Dîner en Blanc in your preferred city. Dîner en Blanc - Dallas was an experience to remember, and truly was an unforgettable night!     The following guest blog post is written by Shatani Chouteau, winner of our Diner en Blanc contest. Have you ever heard the saying, “You can’t wear white after Labor Day?”  Well I’ve lived by that saying for years, until rapper Sean Combs, aka P. Diddy, made the White Party popular.  Each year I look forward to attending a party that features all-white décor and attendees in all-white clothing, whether it’s an all-white themed birthday party, baby shower, and other fun parties with my friends.  While searching for my next adventure I came across one of the world’s most exclusive events, Diner en Blanc. All of my spidey senses went off, and I was instantly intrigued.   I immediately began doing my research to see how I could get an invite to Diner en Blanc - Dallas. While browsing the Diner en Blanc - Dallas Facebook page, I saw that Southwest Airlines is the Official Airline of Diner en Blanc – Dallas and was hosting a contest to win a full event prize package, including two roundtrip tickets to Dallas, tickets to Diner en Blanc - Dallas, a hotel stay, and a beautiful tablescape complete with food and drinks for the evening.  Without a second thought, I entered the contest thinking that I had no chance of winning. A couple of weeks later, I received a Twitter notification from @SouthwestAir stating that I had been selected as the winner. Boom!  My next adventure has been chosen for me. I have successfully completed my research on previous Diner en Blanc events around the world to get a taste of how I should dress for the evening. Luckily I already had the perfect white dress in my closet awaiting this fabulous event, so my only task was to find the most comfortable white shoes possible to dance the night away.  The suspense of where DEB will take place is killing me.  I just love the idea of getting on a bus not knowing where I’m going and being whisked off to a magical location.  I can only imagine the set up to be majestic and pristine.  I will definitely feel like Cinderella arriving at the Prince’s Ball. Please make sure you return to this blog post for my full recap of Diner en Blanc - Dallas along with pictures of the amazing night.  Thanks to Southwest Airlines for making this happen! ... View more

For the first time ever, a world-famous dining event is coming to Dallas, Texas. Dîner en Blanc is a pop-up dining experience in which diners enjoy an evening under the stars while wearing all white. The catch to this whole event is that it’s held in a VERY top secret location—we don’t even know where it’ll be! To help celebrate the first ever event in Dallas, Southwest Airlines is helping out by being the Official Airline and Platinum Sponsor of Dîner en Blanc-Dallas. At Dîner en Blanc, attendees wear white from head-to-toe to help identify the group, board buses at rendezvous locations and then are transported to the secret event location (seriously, we told you it’s top secret!) Once they arrive at the location, they set up their table and picnic supplies. The event officially begins when all attendees are ready and everyone waives a white cloth napkin to signal the start of Dîner en Blanc. After dinner is finished, guests may enjoy dancing, music, and other entertainment. Among the other cities that have hosted Dîner en Blanc include Chicago, Boston, Las Vegas, New York, and San Diego—what a coincidence that these are all cities that we now serve as nonstop destinations out of Dallas! Want a chance to win tickets to this exclusive event? Follow the @SouthwestAir Twitter account and watch for a tweet with an opportunity to participate and retweet for a chance to win! One lucky winner will receive the grand prize of two (2) roundtrip air travel for the winner and one (1) guest from the closest major U.S. airport to winner’s residence served by Southwest Airlines, on published, scheduled service, to Dallas Love Field Airport for the Event.  The winner will also receive one (1) night double occupancy hotel accommodations at a Dallas hotel and an invitation to Diner en Blanc - Dallas for the winner and one guest on September 17th! See below for full contest rules. Southwest is in the business of connecting People to what’s important in their lives, and we are proud to partner with Dîner en Blanc to connect the Dallas community with this unique and memorable event.   NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.  A purchase will not increase your chances of winning.  Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received.  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.  Enter by August 17, 2015.  Sponsor: Southwest Airlines Co., 2702 Love Field Dr., Dallas, TX 75235.   SOUTHWEST AIRLINES RETWEET TO WIN DINER EN BLANC DALLAS PROMOTION OFFICIAL RULES NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.  A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING.  ODDS DEPEND ON NUMBER OF ELIGIBLE ENTRIES RECEIVED.  VOID IN ALASKA, HAWAII, PUERTO RICO AND WHERE PROHIBITED OR RESTRICTED BY LAW. 1.  Eligibility Restrictions This  retweet to win Diner en Blanc Dallas promotion (the “Promotion”) is open to all legal residents who are 21 years of age or older and have a valid e-mail address and Twitter account as of August 17, 2015 (each an “entrant”).   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 Promotion is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.  One entry per person. Sponsor will disqualify any entry from individuals who do not meet the eligibility requirements, and Sponsor will also delete any entry discovered to be received from persons under the age of 13 in compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. 2. Promotion and Entry Period The Promotion Period shall start at the beginning of the Entry Period and end when Prize has been awarded or the Promotion has otherwise ended.  The Entry Period begins at 11:30 am CT on August 13, 2015, and ends at 10:00pm on August 17, 2015. 3. HOW TO ENTER: During Entry Period, the @SouthwestAir Twitter account will compose a Tweet informing entrants of an opportunity to participate in the Promotion (the “Southwest Tweet”). The Southwest Tweet will include the instruction “Retweet for a chance to win” and then provide the phrase that must be Retweeted (the “Retweet Phrase”). To receive an entry into the Random Drawing for the Prize, an eligible entrant must follow @SouthwestAir (for winner verification purposes) and Retweet the Retweet Phrase plus “#sweepstakes” to disclose that you are—if eligible—receiving an entry into a promotion within the Entry Period. There will be a limit of one (1) entry per person. Entrants who do not Retweet the Retweet Phrase within the Entry Period will not receive an entry into the Promotion.  By Retweeting the Retweet Phrase, entrants hereby agree to these Official Rules and the decisions of Sponsor regarding the administration of the Promotion. NOTE: An entrant must use a non-private Twitter account to enter the Promotion. Due to the way Twitter operates its services, entries from Twitter users with "protected" accounts (i.e., only people the entrant has approved can view his or her Tweets) may not be received. Entrant must remain a follower of @SouthwestAir for at least thirty (30) days after the Random Drawing date for an activity for winner verification purposes. If an entrant does not have a non-private Twitter account, he or she can create one at no cost at www.twitter.com. Use of Twitter will be subject to Twitter’s privacy policy and terms of use, that can be found at www.twitter.com/privacy and https://twitter.com/tos. If an entrant accesses the Promotion on his/her mobile device, the entrant’s wireless service provider may charge the entrant for applicable message and data usage. Entrants should consult their wireless service provider regarding its pricing plans prior to participating via a mobile device. This Promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Twitter. LIMIT: One Retweet (entry) per person. An entrant who attempts to enter more than once during the Entry Period will be subject to disqualification from the Promotion. If it is discovered or suspected that a person has attempted to enter or receive entries using any automated process, collaboration, or in any way use multiple Twitter accounts or identities, all of that person’s entries will be declared null and void and that person will not be awarded any prize that he/she might have been entitled to receive and such prize may be forfeited, at the Sponsor’s sole and absolute discretion. 4.   Selection of Winner After the Entry Period, Sponsor will identify one entry as a potential winner using a random method of selection (the “Random Drawing”). The person whose entry is identified in the Random Drawing is considered a potential winner pending verification of eligibility and compliance with these Official Rules. Sponsor will notify potential winner via Twitter. The potential winner will be asked to contact Sponsor with a given e-mail address provided via Twitter. Once potential winner and Sponsor make e-mail contact, Sponsor will provide a photo for the potential winner to upload to the Twitter 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, Twitter, 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 Promotion.  On or about August 18, 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 two (2) 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. 5.   Prize One (1) Grand Prize will be awarded. The winner of the Promotion will receive: two (2) roundtrip, roundtrip air travel for winner and one (1) guest from the closest major U.S. airport to winner’s residence served by Southwest Airlines, on published, scheduled service, to Dallas Love Field  Airport for the Event;  , one (1) night double occupancy hotel accommodations at a Dallas hotel on September 17, 2015; and an invitation to the Diner en Blanc Dallas for winner and one (1) guest on September 17, 2015.  If potential winner lives within two hundred (200) miles of Dallas, TX, at Sponsor’s sole discretion, the airline ticket portion of the Prize will be forfeited without additional compensation. Other expenses not specifically mentioned herein, including, but not limited to, ground transportation between the airport and hotel, parking fees, food, beverages, gratuities, personal purchases, and all other expenses are the responsibility of winner.  Grand Prize may not be sold or transferred to a third party and must be accepted as awarded. Total approximate retail value of grand prize:  $1,200.00. 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.  Seats on any desired flight are not guaranteed. Government issued ID required to travel.  Use of tickets is subject to airline’s security policies, conditions and tariffs, and to all applicable federal regulations. Sponsor shall in no way be responsible for any cancellations, delays, diversions, substitutions, changes in service or accommodations, or any other act, omission, or result thereof, by any air carrier(s), car rental or transportation company(ies), hotel(s), or any other service or accommodation providers.  Sponsor is not responsible for any lost, stolen, damaged, delayed, or misdirected baggage. 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. 6. Terms and 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 Promotion, the winner agrees to have his or her Twitter handle, name, voice, likeness or other indicia of the winner’s persona used in any advertising or broadcasting material relating to the Promotion 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, mis-delivered, 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 Promotion if it is not capable of completion as planned, including infection by computer virus, delays, 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, that 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, Community Engagement/Diner en Blanc Promotion, P.O. Box 36611, Dallas, TX 75235-1611.  All requests must be received by August 31, 2015. 7. Limitations on Liability Neither Sponsor nor its affiliated entities is responsible for any human, technological, printing or typographical errors in any Promotion-related materials or transactions that are processed late or incorrectly or are lost due to computer or electronic malfunction.  In the event an error of any kind results in more than one potential winner being notified, the Sponsor shall identify a single winner using a random drawing and in no event shall more than one prize be awarded. Winner assumes all liability for any injury or damage caused, or claimed to be caused by participation in this Promotion, 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 Promotion, (ii) the receipt of the prizes, and/or (iii) use or misuse of the prizes awarded herein. 8. 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 Promotion, 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. 9.   Sponsor Southwest Airlines Co., P.O. Box 36611, Dallas, TX 75235-1611   ... View more

With June being the most popular month for weddings, we figured there’s no better time to feature this couples’ story of love, and how our Employees worked together to make their engagement even more memorable.  Andy McIlvaine was an excited groom-to-be, flying out of Baltimore to Portland, Maine,  to propose to his girlfriend, Kelley Mulfinger, when he experienced Hospitality from Southwest Airlines Employees that he never expected. Andy was checking four bottles of champagne in his bag and asked Customer Service Agent, Darlene Williams, for a fragile sticker. She happily gave him one, but when he asked for a few more, she became curious as to why. Andy explained to Darlene and several other Agents his plan to propose and even showed them the ring. Our Agents were glowing with excitement and Customer Service Agent, Robert Campbell, promptly presented Andy with a LUV voucher on behalf of Southwest Airlines and told him to put it toward their honeymoon. Andy was sent off with cheers and encouragement, which set the tone for the exciting weekend to come. Touched by his experience at Baltimore, Andy wrote to us about the amazing Customer Service demonstrated by the Employees he encountered on such an exciting day.  Andy couldn’t believe the Agents genuinely cared about him and his story, and said he was grateful for the experience he had with the Southwest Employees on that day. What’s even better, Kelley said “yes”! When Andy’s letter was compiled into our monthly packet of “LUV Mail” (a package of positive letters Southwest receives about Employees), Andy’s touching story really stood out. The letter inspired a group of our Employees to check in with Andy to see if there was something fun they could do.  Before long, they were planning a surprise wedding shower to honor Andy and Kelley when she flew to Baltimore on April 1 to visit Andy.  To make it even more special, Southwest flew in both Kelley’s and Andy’s mothers for the surprise wedding shower in the gate area as she deplaned. The event went off without a hitch, complete with 40 dozen roses, cupcakes, a ginger ale toast with the Customers in the Gate Area, and a letter from Gary Kelly, Southwest Airlines CEO, to congratulate the happy couple and thank them for their loyalty. Kelley was greeted by hundreds of cheering on-lookers in the gate area and was in complete awe. In true Southwest spirit, Southwest Employees Darlene and Robert were at the surprise celebration to support Andy and meet his fiancée—they even came in on their day off! ... View more

Dreaming of a fall getaway to a faraway destination? Now’s the time to book your flights! For a limited time, Southwest Airlines is offering a travel sale with fares starting as low as $49 one-way to some of our most popular destinations. Don’t delay, this sale will only last three days, so head to Southwest.com now to book your flight. These low fares are available for purchase on Southwest.com starting Tuesday, June 2 through Thursday, June 4, 2015, 11:59 p.m. for the respective time zone of the originating city, for travel except Fridays and Sundays, Auguest 24 through December 16, 2015. Blackout dates include September 3-5, September 7, and November 20 through December 1, 2015. Seats are limited. Travel to/from Florida or Nevada is valid only on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  Travel to/from San Juan, Puerto Rico is valid only Mondays through Thursdays. To see the list of available cities, prices, and to take advantage of these special fares, visit www.Southwest.com.   SOUTHWEST AIRLINES FARE RULES Purchase from June 2 through June 4, 2015, 11:59 p.m. for the respective time zone of the originating city. Travel August 24 through December 16, 2015. Blackout Dates Apply: September 3-5, September 7, and November 20 - December 1, 2015.  Travel is not valid on Fridays and Sundays. Travel to/from Florida or Nevada is valid only on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  Travel to/from San Juan, Puerto Rico, is valid only Mondays through Thursdays.  Fares are valid on nonstop service only. Displayed prices include all U.S. and international government taxes and fees. Seats are limited. Fares may vary by destination, flight, and day of week and won't be available on some flights that operate during very busy travel times and holiday periods.  Travel is available for one-way Wanna Get Away® Fares. Fares may be combined with other Southwest Airlines combinable fares. If combining with other fares, the most restrictive fare's rules apply. Sale fares may be available on other days of week, but not guaranteed. Fares are nonrefundable but may be applied toward future travel on Southwest Airlines, so long as you cancel your reservations at least ten minutes prior to the scheduled departure of your flight.  Failure to cancel prior to departure will result in forfeiture of remaining funds on the reservation. Any change in itinerary may result in an increase in fare. Standby travel requires an upgrade to the Anytime Fare®. Fares are subject to change until ticketed. Offer applies to published, scheduled service only. ... View more

As the national director of gaming for Cintas, Karla Perez-Larragoite oversees a team that designs and implements uniform programs for casinos. Although she frequently works in Las Vegas, she also trains and mentors team members across the country. Thanks to Southwest Airlines’ flight schedule, maintaining those relationships is easy. Even in the air, Karla can keep in touch thanks to free onboard WiFi—a perk of being an A-list Preferred Member of our Rapid Rewards frequent flyer program. Karla became a Southwest Customer 10 years ago. She had no trouble making the airline her carrier of choice. In addition to the Rapid Rewards program, ontime flights, and exceptional Customer Service, she’s found that flying Southwest provides an unexpected professional benefit: “The Customer experience inspires me in my own career,” she says. “It’s flexible, fun, and trustworthy, and allows me to arrive on time to important meetings and events.” The flexibility that comes with no change fees also helps Karla’s work-life balance. “Southwest allows me to be the best working mom I can be,” she says. “I have a son with epilepsy, and if I need to get home for an emergency, I know I can, quickly, safely, and easily.” She has earned the Companion Pass, which allows her to designate someone to fly free with her for the whole year, and she redeems her Rapid Rewards points for vacations so her family can recharge and reconnect. Karla’s favorite part of being a Southwest Customer is witnessing the passion and joy exuded by the Crews: “I can count on service with a smile.” Thank you, Karla, for your continued loyalty to Southwest Airlines. With you as a Customer, we hit the jackpot! ... View more

What is the craziest thing you’ve ever wished for? For Caleb Yao, son of Southwest First Officer Hans Yao, his wish was that for his sixth birthday he could get 10,000 model planes. What’s even more unbelievable? To date, he’s received more than 250 planes. Caleb’s birthday wish came during a particularly hard time for him and his family. Caleb’s mother, Karen, was nine-weeks pregnant with Caleb when she found out she had breast cancer. She underwent chemotherapy and a mastectomy while she was pregnant with him, and Caleb was born healthy.  Karen’s treatment worked and she was in remission, until about 18 months ago, when she discovered she had recurrences in brain and bone. Hans was a new Pilot at Southwest Airlines when the recurrences were discovered and Karen restarted her treatments. During those treatments, Hans’ fellow Southwest Pilots started a fund drive for Karen, and many Pilots have generously contributed nearly $50,000 to date! From time-to-time, Hans updates her status and treatment on the donation website and discussion thread on the Southwest Airlines Pilot's Association (SWAPA) website. Last month, one of those updates was from Karen’s blog, in which she mentioned that Caleb had told her he wanted 10,000 model airplanes for his birthday. From there, Southwest Pilots responded and boxes of model planes began arriving at their home—over 200 boxes full of airplanes came with Caleb's name on them and the jetstream hasn't stopped yet. The Yao family could hardly believe the outpouring of support that Caleb received to fulfill his wish. “Caleb’s birthday wish seemed so far-fetched,” says Hans. “But as we saw the model planes come in, we knew that our Southwest Family was supporting us. It made us smile when we haven’t in a while.” The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) heard about Caleb’s story and wanted to continue celebrating Caleb’s birthday. So, they took him for a plane ride a few days after and also donated some model planes to add to his growing collection. Some wishes are beyond imagination, and some, like Caleb’s, can come true, all thanks to the kind Hearts of Southwest Employees. ... View more

This post is a guest post from Turbo Roo, who received the Underdog of the Year at the World Dog Awards.  He was born with only his two back legs, and thanks to some special love, he was adopted by Ashley Looper and Raymond Hurt and outfitted with a special mobility device. One morning, my parents woke me up super early, and I wasn’t sure why. They said we were going on a “trip”—whatever that means! So we headed off to the airport in Indiana, where we were met by really nice Southwest Airlines Agents. They helped us get our luggage checked in and printed our boarding passesfor our flight. Once we were all checked in, I got to roll around the concourse and saw lots of people with bags that had wheels, just like me! It was super cool considering my wheels were the best looking! Lots of people took my picture and asked where I was headed off to—I proudly told them that I was heading to Los Angeles for the filming of the World Dog Awards! I was so excited, especially knowing that I had won the prestigious honor of Underdog of the Year. Pretty soon, we boarded a HUGE plane. We stopped quickly in a place called Denver, then quickly boarded another flight on our way to California! Once we landed, I knew this was going to be an awesome trip. There were palm trees all around and the sun was shining—it was much warmer than at home in Indiana! We went to a little hotel right by the beach where I got to experience sand for the first time. Wow, did I like that. It was so soft on my chest! The next day, it was time for my V.I.P (Very Important Pet) treatment to continue. We headed to Los Angeles, where the World Dog Awards were going to be filmed. I felt so special at our hotel, because they had a sign with my name on it, and a comfy dog bed, dog bowls, and my own toy with my name on it in the hotel room. I also got to make friends with some of the other dogs who were nominated at the World Dog Awards. The filming of the show was so much fun. I cheered for my new friends who were nominated for honors, such as Most Pawpular Dog, Dog of the Year, Top Movie Dog, and even Most Dog-Like Cat! I knew that this was an experience I would always remember. After the filming, it was time to head back home. Now that I had one flight under my belt, I felt like a travel pro! Our trip home was as special and fun as it was on the way to Los Angeles, and the Southwest Airlines Employees treated me like a real VIP. Once I was on the plane, I made some new Flight Attendant friends! I had so much fun on my first plane trips. Thanks, Southwest, for all of the hospitality that you showed me! Be sure to tune in to The CW on Thursday, January 15, to see the World Dog Awards and see me accept the Underdog of the Year Award and to see which pet will win! ... View more

Some of you may remember the movie Homeward Bound, in which household animals become lost from their family and make the Incredible Journey to reunite with their loved ones.  It’s truly a heartwarming story. But that doesn’t just happen on the big screen—it also happened on one of our Southwest 737s. Meet Spice the Kitten, who slipped out of her home in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Halloween night and ended up in Portland, Maine—about 2,300 miles away from her home.  She was found outside of a Portland thrift store in a gym bag, and, after being taken to the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland, a scan showed that she had a microchip.  From that microchip, her family was located. When Tom Labrie, Southwest Airlines Station Manager at the Portland Airport, heard the story, he and Kristean Jacobs immediately wanted to help get Spice back to her home.  After working with the Animal Refuge League and IDEXX Laboratories, a company that specializes in veterinary technology, flights on Southwest Airlines were arranged to fly Spice and representatives from the Animal Refuge League to accompany her on the flight.  Just yesterday, Spice flew in style in her very own Southwest-branded pet carrier that fit under the seat in the aircraft cabin. At Southwest, we’re in the business of connecting People (and in this case, kittens!) to what is important in their lives.  Thanks to our friends at IDEXX Laboratories and the Animal Refuge League, we were able to connect Spice back to her family and help create another incredible journey. ... View more

Did you know that in the United States 38 billion waters bottles are thrown away each year?  That’s a lot of plastic—more than $1 billion worth! At Southwest Airlines, we try to recycle and reduce our waste, which often saves costs too.  Here are some tips to help reduce your plastic footprint: Invest in a reusable water bottle and skip the bottled water.  Not only does this help reduce the number of bottles you use, but it’s also more cost efficient than purchasing bottled water.  In fact, the price of bottled water is up to 10,000 times the cost of tap water. The simple act of purchasing a reusable bottle will help reduce these costs and cut down on waste. Ask for tap instead of bottled when you’re dining out.  Both tap and bottled water must meet FDA and EPA standards, so there’s no need to worry about the quality of your water.  At least 40 percent of bottled water actually comes from tap, meaning you’re paying for the packaging and manufacturing. Always recycle plastic bottles.  Sometimes you have to grab bottled water.  Just make sure that bottle makes it to the recycling bin!  It's just as easy to recycle as it is to throw it in the trash, but recycling will prevent plastic bottles from ending up in a landfill.  It takes more than 450 years for one plastic bottle to break down if it’s not recycled. Making the extra effort to follow these tips can make a huge difference.  How do you help reduce waste? Let us know by commenting below. ... View more

Now that Labor Day has passed and fall is coming, it’s a great time to take advantage of the cooler weather and add to your vegetable garden. The plants that will thrive best depend on where you live, so be sure to do some research—Organicgardening.com has a great list of items by region to plant. Here are some tips to get the most out of your garden: Create a good base for plants to grow with a mixture of soil and compost. By having good soil, you can help ensure that your plants will be healthy. Try using a raised bed garden, which can be more space-efficient. Create more space and provide more room for plants to grow by using trellises for vine plants. Tomatoes and beans are great examples of vegetables that grow well on stakes or trellises. Use mulch to help prevent erosion and keep the soil around plants warm in colder months. Choose your location wisely. Remember that some plants, especially vegetables, prefer sunlight, so make sure that the plants will receive enough sunlight each day. Expert gardeners suggest at least six hours of sunlight per day. Cultivating your own vegetable garden not only helps add fresh, tasty touches to your meals, but also can help reduce emissions from transporting produce to your table. Do you have a vegetable garden? Let us know by commenting below! ... View more

Are you ready for some football?  I know I sure am! One of my favorite things about fall—besides cooler weather—is football season, because I LUV cheering on my favorite teams to victory each week (the Green Bay Packers and the University of Georgia Bulldogs)! Here are a few tips to use that will help you score a GREEN touchdown this football season: Throw a flag when it comes to waste!  Whether you attend a game, tailgate, or watching party, be sure to recycle any items you can, including cans, bottles, and paper goods. Be a green referee.  After games and tailgates, leave the area as clean, or cleaner, than when you arrived.  Have a location set up to collect trash, recyclables, and items to compost, and encourage other fans to do the same. Take a timeout from plastic utensils and Styrofoam cups and plates.  Many brands have now switched to materials that are recyclable or compostable, and made from renewable resources.  Check out the selection at the Biodegradable Store. Score an extra point for the environment by using local ingredients for any food items you serve.  Try using local or farm raised chicken for your famous Buffalo wings, or local veggies for your dip trays. By following a few of these tips, you can make sure that your football season is green from kickoff to the playoffs.  What are some green ways that you plan to tailgate this football season?  Let us know by commenting below!  Have a suggestion for how to live and work Green? ... View more

At Southwest Airlines, we have established an onboard co-mingled recycling program that we are proud to report has diverted more than 12,500 tons of paper, plastic, aluminum, and cardboard from landfills into recycling facilities since August 2008.  That’s the weight of nearly 300 Boeing 737-700 aircraft! When they’re not on our canyon blue planes, many of our Customers and Employees also recycle commonly-known items, including paper, plastic, aluminum, and glass.  But many other items can be recycled, and some of them on this list may surprise you: Wine corks: After you’ve enjoyed that bottle of wine, you can actually recycle both the bottle and the cork stopper.  ReCork is a company that recycles cork and upcycles it into other products. Batteries: The best way to get rid of batteries after you are finished with them is to recycle them—rather than throw them in the trash.  Check with your local Hazardous Waste Facility, or consider using a mail-in battery recycling program.  Even better yet, use rechargeable batteries to get more use out of them. Carpet: If you’re remodeling or replacing carpet at home, consider recycling rather than throwing out old carpet.  According to the Carpet America Recovery Report, which provides carpet recycling resources, more than 500 million pounds of carpet was diverted from landfills and had a variety of uses, including providing power and creating new materials, like composite lumber. Crayons: These can be recycled through companies such as Crazy Crayons, which takes crayons that people send in and reforms them into fun shapes that can be used again.  According to this group, they have collected more than 96,000 pounds of crayons and have prevented them from being tossed into a landfill.  If you’re feeling crafty, try this tutorial from Martha Stewart to remold crayons into usable pieces. Recycling is a process, and we can always continue to find new ways and items to recycle and reuse.  What are some surprising items that you recycle?  Let us know by commenting below. ... View more

Happy Green Tuesday! If you’re anything like me, you spend plenty of time looking at labels on food and products when making purchasing decisions to best fit your budget and needs.  But have you wondered what exactly the labels mean? Well, here’s a chance to get those answers and perhaps clear up questions about the labels on our food and other items. Energy Star You’ll find this seal primarily on household and office supplies, such as refrigerators and light bulbs.  An Energy Star product adheres to guidelines set by the Environmental Protection Agency, and it means that the product can help reduce cost and emissions.  For example, an Energy Star light bulb can save $40 to $135 over its lifetime and uses 75 percent less energy than a traditional light bulb.   USDA Organic In order to have this seal on a product, it must pass standards set by the United States Department of Agriculture, which includes not using genetically modified ingredients, as well as allowing animals to have outdoor access for their natural behaviors.  This seal means that the item is truly considered “organic,” and you can find it on a variety of foods, including fruits and vegetables, meat, and even packaged snacks and products.   Fair Trade Certified    This label will only be found on products from companies that have earned a Fair Trade certification, which means that the products come from certified farms and have been purchased at a fair price and the process is monitored each step of the way. Fair Trade Certified does not mean that the product is organic; however, many items are. For a list of Fair Trade Certified companies, visit Fair Trade USA's website.   For additional resources to learn about the labels on our food and other products, check out Greener Choices, which allows you to search by label, product type, or certifying organization. What are some of the labels that you look for when making your purchases? Let us know by commenting below.  Have a suggestion for how to live and work Green?  Comment below too! ... View more

Southwest Airlines continued to extend its international service yesterday by operating inaugural flights between Orange County/Santa Ana and San Jose del Cabo/Los Cabos, Mexico, and between Cancun and both Atlanta and Baltimore/Washington. These flights are an important achievement in an already milestone year, and there was plenty of excitement on the ground in both Orange County and Los Cabos! In addition to a news conference in Orange Country prior to the first flight’s departure, Southwest Airlines and the State Tourism Trust of Los Cabos celebrated the flight’s arrival in typical fashion with goodie bags for the first flight Customers and gifts for the Station Employees, as well as a news conference with representatives from the State Tourism Trust. The celebration will continue in Cancun on Tuesday in a similar manner, with the Ministry of Tourism of Quintana Roo greeting the ceremonial first flight from Atlanta and providing gifts for the Customers onboard. Stay tuned for the next wave of international service, as Southwest airlines spreads its wings to serve Mexico City, and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic*, on November 2! *subject to Government approvals ... View more

Southwest Airlines Employees aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty, especially when it comes to volunteer clean-up projects in the cities in which we work and serve. This hold true for a group of Customer Relations Employees—Francheska Gomez, Dianna Haun, Alex Bagnall, Kim Seale, Jack Turlington, Cyrus McVey, and project organizer, Gary Reyes—who spent their day off last Saturday to clean up a drainage ditch in front of the Training and Operation Support building at Headquarters. Gary put in a great deal of planning for the project to ensure that the clean-up would go smoothly.  Although the waterway runs along the south side of the Southwest building, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers actually owns it, so Gary worked with a variety of departments to obtain approval to host the clean-up event.  Gary even went as far as to purchase tools, gloves, and trash bags for the project with his own money.  The group spent the day cleaning up the waterway and the banks on either side. “This type of Servant’s Heart is very consistent for Gary, and is indicative of the sense of social responsibility he brings to his job at Southwest,” said project volunteer and Customer Relations Representative Kim Seale.  “We are fortunate to have him at SWA and as an integral part of our CR Family.”  Thanks to Gary and his Team of volunteers for showing your Servant’s Hearts! You, too, can get involved with volunteer clean-up events across the country.  Southwest Airlines is a proud partner of the Student Conservation Association, so be sure to check out their web site for upcoming projects. What are some ways that you get involved in your community’s clean-up efforts?  Let us know by commenting below. ... View more

There are a variety of ways that we as Southwest Employees get to work each day.  Some people ride their bicycles, carpool, use city transit systems, and some even utilize our Southwest airplanes to commute to their locations! Last September, we posted a Pulse Point survey question to our internal intranet site SWALife to see how our Employees travel to work, and here’s what the responses were: The majority of responders (70 percent) said that they use a single passenger car or SUV to commute Nine percent use a Hybrid vehicle, motorcycle, train/subway, or carpool (two-three persons) Roughly two percent ride to work via bus or van-pool One percent of responders walk or bike to work May 12-16 is National Bike to Work Week, sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists.  You may be surprised to know that the number of people who ride a bike to work in America has increased about 60 percent in the past ten years, according to a recent article by USA Today. In honor of National Bike Week, even if you live too far from work to get there via bicycle, here are some other ways that you can Green your commute: Utilize your city’s public transportation system.  Many buses and trains are able to transport bicycles, so ride your bike to the station. If you don’t already carpool, consider getting a group of Coworkers together to share the ride. Not only will you cut back on costs and emissions, you may also make a new friend! If you must drive your car, be sure to keep up with regular maintenance—oil changes and properly inflated tires help increase fuel efficiency. What are some ways that you can commute to work and use a green filter?  Let us know by commenting below! ... View more

As Southwest Airlines Employees, we consider our Coworkers as Family, drawn together by our common Purpose and Vision. But there are some Employees who are linked by more than that—they’re united by the branches of their family tree. In honor of Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day today, here are some Southwest Airlines Employees who “brought” their sons or daughters to work in the long-term sense of the word. Because they brought their son or daughter to work, these Employees now have the chance to have their family members be a part of their Southwest Family. Mitzie James, currently a Customer Service Agent in Lubbock, previously worked as an Administrative Assistant for Colleen Barrett from 1984-1987, and she introduced her son, Jared Brown, to the Team at the office. Jared now works at Southwest Airlines as a Documentation Specialist in Customer Support and Services (CS&S).    David (Bubba) Edens is a retired SWA Pilot, who now works in Flight Operations, and his son Erik Edens currently is a First Officer. In 1995, Erik was in attendance to pick up the California One specialty plane, which Bubba piloted. Since then, Erik and Bubba have had the chance to share the cockpit on a few Southwest Airlines flights.     Vickie Shuler, Executive Assistant in the Executive Office, brought her two daughters, Tara and Tiffani Shuler to work at Southwest Airlines as Flight Attendants—her two daughters were even in the same Inflight Class and are now both based in Baltimore!   Melanie Jones, Senior Advisor in Communication and Outreach, has made a career at Southwest Airlines for the past 28 years, and brought her son, Gordon Jones, to work at Southwest in 2011 as a Ramp Agent in Austin.     LUV Couple, Sandy and Jon Shubert, created a LUV Family, when they brought their daughter, Hillary Shubert, Customer Relations Senior Representative, to work at Southwest Airlines.   Top:  Hillary, pictured here with her brother, Garrett,  is a sure “fit” at SWA!  Bottom: Hillary and Sandy Pat Stock, a Customer Service Agent in Dallas, brought both of her children—Christina Berryhill  Malquist, who is a Flight Attendant, and her son, David Berryhill, a Ramp Agent in Dallas—to work at Southwest Airlines. Christina recently married Dallas Ramp Agent, Rick Malquist, in January, so maybe their children will work for Southwest one day!     Erica Wotton, Senior Crew Scheduler in Flight Operations, came to work at Southwest Airlines alongside her father, Dave Wotton, who serves as Director of Automation in Flight Operations. She was exposed to Southwest Culture from a young age when she attended the Employee for a Day event at the Dallas Station, and the Chili Cookoff in 1995.     Father and son Employees, both named Wayne Dacosta, not only share a name, but also a LUV for Southwest Airlines. Wayne, Sr., is Manager of Airworthiness Directive Compliance in Tech Ops and his son, Wayne, is a Ramp Agent in Orlando. Wayne, Sr., began his career at AirTran and brought his son to work there in 2006. Prior to the AirTran acquisition in May 2011, Wayne, Jr., joined the Southwest Airlines Team, and brought his father to work at Southwest in 2012—how’s that for a twist!   Top: Wayne, Jr., at work in Orlando.  Bottom: Wayne, Sr., while working at AirTran.   Kami Gaffin has worked at Southwest Airlines as a Flight Attendant since 2006, and LUVs her job so much that she inspired her daughter, Kelcy Puls, to take to skies as a Flight Attendant, as well.   Customer Relations/Rapid Rewards Director, Wayne Shaw, brought his son, Trey, to work at Southwest Airlines starting as a Customer Relations/Rapid Reward representative, Trey now works as an Emerging Leader Development Program (ELDP) Ramp Supervisor in Nashville.       Ground Operations Senior Manager of Administration, Kim Ramirez, and her children Kristina Snyder, Assistant Manager in Online Marketing; Jeremy Ramirez, Flight Operations Automation Specialist; and Robbie Ramirez, Revenue Management Analyst, keep work all in the Family at Southwest Airlines.   Top: All three Ramirez children followed in their parent's footsteps.  Bottom: Kim and Robbie at the Red River Rivalry Plane Pull at the Dallas Hangar, one month after Robbie was hired. While “Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day” may be a one-day event for some folks, at Southwest Airlines, we’re thrilled to have celebrate this opportunity in the long run! Do you currently have a parent, son, or daughter who works at Southwest Airlines?  We’d love to hear from you in the comments below and post photos of you and your family on social media and use #SWApic.   ... View more

Each week on Going Green we post ideas and steps that we can all take to live and work green, conserve, and recycle. One of the topics we cover often provides advice on cleaning up litter to prevent garbage from getting into our water sources.  By finding ways to recycle items rather than fill up landfills, we beautify the places we live and work. But as Southwest Employees, we don’t just talk the talk—our actions make positive change!  All across our system, we log hundreds of volunteer hours cleaning up parks, schools, and local areas, and every little bit helps to make a difference. One cleanup movement that is gaining support in the North Texas area is Reverse Litter’s Ten on Tuesday.  This campaign encourages people to pick up at least ten pieces of litter each Tuesday through organized cleanups or individual efforts.  There are also great educational resources about recycling available on Reverse Litter’s web site.  Although this campaign is geared toward North Texas, it’s a movement that can be implemented in any city.  Here are some things that you can do to clean up your city: Manage the amount of trash that you throw away each day by recycling items when able Store items in reusable, rather than disposable, containers.  One easy way to do this is bring reusable shopping bags to the store with you Dispose of small trash—such as wrappers and cigarette butts—in trash containers rather than throwing them on the ground Make the pledge today, whether on ReverseLitter.com or with a group of Coworkers to pick up ten pieces of trash each Tuesday, and let’s see the difference we can make and the positive change that we can bring to our communities across the nation. How are you going to reduce litter in your city?  Let us know by commenting below.  DING!  You are now free to be Green! ... View more

Did you know that according to our last U.S. Census, about 12 percent of Americans move every year?  With that many people moving, there are a number of opportunities to implement greener practices when relocating. Here are some tips to "eco-boost" your next move: Utilize reusable bins when moving. This will help you organize your items, and the bins can be reused as storage when you get to your new location.  Or, rent reusable bins from your moving company.  These bins are typically stacked and wheeled into your place on a dolly; left there for you to fill; packed by the mover; and then left at your new address for a week or two for unpacking.  Since the provider of the bins then collects them, there’s no worry on your part about collapsing, recycling, or donating cardboard boxes.  If your mover doesn’t offer bins, there are plenty who do: RentAGreenBox.com, EZBins, and Zippgo are just a few examples. Clean out closets and drawers prior to moving. You can donate gently used items you no longer need to shelters and consignment stores. Moving with fewer items will also burn less fuel in your car or moving van. Use biodegradable replacements. There are green alternatives to plastic bubble wrap, packing peanuts, and foam wrap.  Often, the alternatives are literally green in color, to alert you to the difference.  Green packing peanuts are made from bioplastics, a form of plastic derived from renewable sources like vegetable oils or corn starch. Get creative with what you have.  Perhaps the most resourceful way to securely pack your fragile belongings is to wrap them with towels, bedding, and clothing that you already have lying around the house.  And, it’s a “two-fer,” since you need to pack these items anyway. This week’s bonus Green Tuesday tip comes from Denver-based Flight Attendant Stefan Braham, who submitted his idea to the Southwest Green Team: If you do use cardboard boxes to move, after you have finished with them, cut them up and make one layer of cardboard under a three-to-four-inch layer of topsoil. The cardboard holds moisture that isn't otherwise available and makes a fantastic weed blocker, as well.  Each year or two, simply till the old cardboard into the soil for additional moisture retention and replace the layer with new cardboard. Stefan’s garden in Colorado is doing as well as the one he had in Delaware, even though his garden receives just 25 percent of the rainfall he experienced on the East Coast.  Thank you, Stefan, for sharing! What are some of the Green tips you utilize in your home or at work? Let us know by commenting below.  DING!  You are now free to be Green. ... View more

Have you ever looked on the bottom of a plastic bottle or flipped over a box and seen a recycling symbol?  Today, those symbols are fairly commonplace, but do you ever wonder what exactly they mean? Sometimes it might seem like there’s a lot of decoding to do when looking at the recycling emblems, but when you get down to it they’re pretty easy to understand.  Here’s a quick guide on what common recycling symbols mean. This symbol with three arrows in a rounded triangle means that the item can be recycled.  It represents “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.”  You’ll see this on items made of recyclable metal, paper, and plastic. This is a variation of the traditional recycling symbol.  The black background means that some of the items that created the product come from non-recycled materials.  You’ll see in the middle of the circle is a number, which details the percentage of recycled materials used to create the product. You’ve probably seen this symbol on a cardboard box, such as a cereal box.  It represents that the box is made of 100 percent recycled materials.  These items are able to be re-recycled, so be sure to recycle the box when you’re finished with it. Plastic items have a wide variety of recycling symbols to differentiate what they are made of and if they are recyclable.  A great resource, thedailygreen.com, helps to explain them.  Here’s a quick guide to common plastic symbols that you may run across: This symbol appears on plastic bottles and food containers.  Nearly every recycling program accepts plastic marked with this symbol.  What’s more, these plastics can be recycled into wearable items! Patagonia uses plastic bottles to make their Synchilla jackets. The HDPE stands for high density polyethylene, and this symbol appears on common plastic household containers, like milk jugs and detergent bottles.  Items marked with this symbol are typically accepted in recycling programs. Plastic grocery bags, bread bags, and dry cleaning bags fall into this symbol’s category.  While curbside recycling does not accept these items often, these bags can be turned in at grocery stores to be recycled.  Utilize a reusable shopping bag next time you go to the store to help eliminate the number of these bags in circulation. At Southwest Air lines, paper, cardboard, plastic, and aluminum are collected onboard our aircraft and are recycled through our co-mingled recycling program.  Since 2008, Southwest has recycled the weight equal to nearly 233 Boeing 737-700 aircraft thanks to our Employees and Customers. What recycling tips do you have?  Let us know by commenting below.    DING!  You are now free to be green! ... View more

Across our system, Southwest and AirTran Employees implement ways to operate with a green filter both at work and at home.  One of our newer stations, Key West, is no exception. There, the Team worked together to recycle items that would normally go to waste and use them for a good cause. Laurie Snow Hawkins, a Ground Ops Customer Service Lead, and Ali Laird, the Key West Station Administrator, seized an opportunity to provide for the greener good when they noticed old ticket jackets that had to be destroyed because of outdated information.  Laurie had volunteered at a Greenville County Animal Shelter, and saw that paper was used for lining the animal beds.  After thinking it over, the two decided to shred the ticket jackets and donate the shreddings to a local pet shelter to be used as a soft lining for pet beds. In addition to donating the shredded ticket jackets, Laurie also volunteers to walk dogs at the shelter and hopes to implement a training and walking program similar to the one that she helped develop at the Animal Care Center in Greenville. Pet shelters are great places to put gently used or recyclable items to use.  Other items that can be utilized at pet shelters are: Old towels, sheets, blankets, and bedding Old plastic storage containers Gently used leashes, collars, and harnesses Dry pet food that your finicky pets don’t eat Do you recycle at home and work?  Let us know by commenting below.  DING!  You are now free to be green! ... View more

My mom, aunt, and I love going to flea markets together and scoping out items that can be transformed into something new. Not only is it a cost-effective way to outfit a home, but it’s also a great way to reuse items that would otherwise go to waste. While I sometimes have a hard time envisioning what the final product will look like, my two shopping partners are able to see how a little elbow grease and paint can transform an item into an extraordinary piece. This was the latest project that our trio worked on – a chair and side table. In the “before” picture, you’ll notice that the table is pretty scratched up and the chair needed some serious TLC. For the side table revamp, we had to sand it down, then we applied a couple coats of white paint, which was leftover from an earlier painting project. You can see that the time and work paid off! As for the chair, that required a bit more work. The springs in the seat had come loose, so we had to tie them up to tighten them. We painted the wood with black paint, which was also left over from a previous furniture makeover. We then recovered the cushions with a cowhide that had been given to my aunt, and secured it with studs. The Flea Market can be an excellent source for unique pieces for your home. You never know when someone else’s trash will be your new treasure! Do you have any Flea Market finds? Let us know by commenting below.  DING!  You are now free to be green! ... View more