Southwest Airlines Community

Southwest Airlines is joining in this month’s excitement! We aren’t giving away a billion dollars for predicting the winner, but one entrant will win a pair of roundtrip tickets on Southwest. Which plane will make or break your bracket? Simply comment on the Southwest Airlines Plane Palooza Facebook photo introducing this year’s competing planes with your prediction as to which plane you think will be named champion after a series of nose-to-nose competitions. During each matchup in the competition, Fans can vote for their favorite specialty aircraft by either Like or Share, as indicated by the graphic in that round. The plane with the most votes will move onto the next round. The first matchup will begin on Tuesday, March 18, 2014 so only comments made before 11:59PM PT. on March 17, 2014 will be eligible for the drawing. After the March 28, 2014 championship matchup, all comments that correctly predicted the final winner will be entered into a random drawing. See Official Rules below for details.  Good Luck!   ‘Plane Palooza’ Sweepstakes Official Rules Sweepstakes:  Plane Palooza NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING. VOID IN PUERTO RICO AND WHERE PROHIBITED. 1. How to Enter the Sweepstakes a. Southwest Airlines’ Plane Palooza(“Sweepstakes”) will run from Sunday, March  16, 2014 to Monday, March 17, 2014. (“Sweepstakes Period”). 9:00 a.m. C.T. on March 16, 2014 until 11:59 p.m. P.T. on March 17, 2014. During the Sweepstakes Period potential entrants should follow Southwest Airlines on Facebook via Southwest Airlines page to receive notice of the Sweepstakes and be directed to the Official Rules on the Nuts About Southwest blog. b. To participate in the Sweepstakes, you may enter via the following method: Go to the Southwest Airlines Facebook page and comment on the intial Plane Palooza photo introducing all the planes with a prediction of the Plane Palooza bracket champion. Planes will compete in quarter finals, semi finals, and finals. The winner of each matchup will be the specialty planes with the most votes, by either Like or Share, as indicated on the graphic for that matchup. 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 Southwest. Southwest Airlines’ computer is the official time keeping device for the Sweepstakes. Southwest 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 Sweepstakes, you agree to abide by these Official Rules and acknowledge that this Sweepstakes is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by or associated with Facebook and you agree to hold Sponsor, Facebook, and each of their parent, subsidiary and affiliated corporations, and the officers, shareholders, directors, employees, agents and representatives of same harmless against any and all claims or liability arising directly or indirectly from use or misuse of a prize or participation in the Sweepstakes. c. One entry per person is permitted during the Sweepstakes Period. Any person found using multiple Facebook accounts to enter will be found to be ineligible. 2. Eligibility Restrictions a. The Sweepstakes is open to all legal residents of the 48 contiguous United States and the District of Columbia, excluding Rhode Island, who are 18 years of age or older and the age of majority in their place of residence and have a valid e-mail address and a Facebook account as of the beginning of the Sweepstakes Period.  Void in Puerto Rico and where prohibited or restricted by law. The Sweepstakes is offered only in the United States. Employees of Southwest Airlines, AirTran Airways, 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 Sweepstakes is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. b. Only one winner per household is permitted in any Sweepstakes administered by Southwest Airlines. 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 will also delete any entry received from persons under the age of 13 in compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act.   3. Prizes: a. Grand Prize: One winner will be awarded two (2) Southwest Airlines roundtrip tickets on Southwest Airlines.  Southwest Airlines tickets are subject to Southwest Airlines terms and conditions; certain restrictions may apply. No blackout dates. Tickets valid on Southwest-operated, published, scheduled service only in the United States and Puerto Rico. Tickets are not valid on code-share or AirTran operated service 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. Prize must be accepted as awarded.  Approximate Prize Value (“APV”) of grand prize is $800.00.  Value of actual prize awarded may vary based on winner’s choice of destination. No prize substitutions, cash equivalent, or transfer of prize is permitted except at the sole discretion of the Sponsor. Prize subject to availability and the Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to award a prize of greater or equal value if the advertised prize is unavailable. Taxes and any other costs and expenses associated with the prize are solely the responsibility of the winner. b. In the event that a prize is mailed to the winner, it 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. 4. Selection of Winner: A random drawing from all eligible entries received during the entry period with the correct prediction of the Plane Champion will be conducted by Sponsor on or about March 31, 2014. Sponsor’s decisions are final on matters relating to this sweepstakes. The prize is guaranteed to be awarded.  Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value.  Odds of winning for an entry period will depend on the total number of eligible entries received during that entry period  Entrants need not be present to win. Potential winner notification will be made on or about March 31, 2014 by Sponsor via Facebook. Potential winner will be direct messaged on Facebook and given an e-mail address to contact for validation. Once the validation occurs, the potential winner must execute and return any required affidavit of eligibility and/or liability/publicity release in which they agree to hold Sponsor, Facebook, and each of their parent, subsidiary and affiliated corporations, and the officers, shareholders, directors, employees, agents and representatives of same harmless against any and all claims or liability arising directly or indirectly from use or misuse of a prize or participation in the Sweepstakes. Affidavits will be mailed or emailed 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 their 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 affidavits and release, winners should expect to receive their prize in the mail within two weeks. 5. Conditions a. Payments of all federal, state and local taxes are solely the responsibility of the winner. Winner may be required to sign an IRS Form W-9 or the equivalent. b. By participating in the Sweepstakes, the winner agrees to have their name, voice, or likeness used in any advertising or broadcasting material relating to this Sweepstakes, including the Winner’s List, 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. Southwest Airlines is not responsible for lost, stolen, mangled, miss-delivered, 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 Southwest Airlines website, or otherwise in violation of the rules. It further reserves the right to cancel, terminate or modify the Sweepstakes 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 rules of the Sweepstakes, including the substitution of a prize of greater or equivalent value, which will become effective upon announcement. f. Failure to comply with the Sweepstakes rules may result in an entrant’s disqualification solely at the discretion of the Sponsor. g. The Sponsor is not responsible for typographical or other errors in the printing, the offering or the administration of the Sweepstakes, or in the announcement of a prize. h. Copies of the written Sweepstakes rules and a list of winners (when complete) are available during regular business hours at Southwest Airlines, Emerging Media P.O. Box 36611, Dallas, TX 75235-1611. For a winner’s list, send a self-addressed return envelope, after April 1, 2014. All requests must be received by April 15, 2014. 6. Sponsor Southwest Airlines Co., Emerging Media, P.O. Box 36611, Dallas, TX 75235-1611. ... View more

As a first-time mom, in the beginning I was (and sometimes still am) nervous to take my new baby to the grocery store, out to a restaurant, or really anywhere in public where I ran the risk of forgetting a crucial item from his diaper bag or coping with a crying and upset baby in front of strangers.  Apparently, these are all super normal new-mom feelings!   Thankfully, as he has gotten older and I've learned the ropes a bit, we are much more confident leaving the house.  I have somehow moved past my fear of germs on every surface, and I don't break out in hives now when he cries (I'm being a bit dramatic here, but you get the idea). But, by no means am I a seasoned pro travel mom. When the idea came up at work to put together a blog series all about traveling with babies, I volunteered to document Collin's first flight experience without batting an eyelash.  Fast-forward to the night before the big travel day, and I somewhat regretted that decision.  On one hand, I was about to have a professional film crew document my son's first flight for the world to see and learn from … and other the other hand, I was volunteering to document what could have been a very crazy, wheels-off situation!  Luckily, as you will see, everything went according to plan, and Collin's first flight was a success and super memorable. I owe many thanks to my amazing Southwest Family who helped us through this experience! Along the way, I learned a few quick tips for flying with a little one: Make a list the night before you leave with all the items that you'll need for travel. I'm a list maker by nature, so this really helped me make sure I remembered everything! (See attached picture for my list) Pack enough stuff, but do not over pack!  Remember, you'll have to lug that stuff around the airport! Read through the Southwest Airlines infant policy before you leave the house! Don't forget that birth certificate! Pack a small container of dish soap so you can clean used bottles and reuse (instead of packing a ton of bottles). Don't forget to put an extra shirt in your carry-on in case your little one decides to spit-up or spill something on you! Take pictures!  Thankfully, I had an award-winning photographer on hand to capture our experience, but document your journey! Ask the flight crew for a picture with your little peanut! I'm sure there are many more tips out there for new parents who are excited to fly with their little ones.  What tips should we add to this list?  Tweet us with #babyonboard to share your ideas! ... View more

Imagine you are a U. S. soldier deployed and far away from home with the holiday season just days away!  How would it feel to receive a message of love and support from home at this special time of year? During November, Southwest’s Military Heroes Month, Southwest Customers and Employees wrote more than 6,000 patriotic and inspirational messages on our “We LUV Our Troops” cards.  These individualized and unique messages included children’s drawings, veterans’ recollections, quick lipstick kisses, holiday remembrances, and simple messages of support and appreciation.  The A Million Thanks organization will send these cards to military bases around the globe just in time for Christmas. Southwest provided “We LUV Our Troops” cards in the gate areas of the 73 airports we serve for Customers and Employees to sign, and we joined with A Million Thanks (a non-profit organization) to deliver the messages at no cost to the troops.  The A Million Thanks Campaign began in 2009 with a lofty goal of one million messages of appreciation to be delivered to our troops; that original goal was met within six months.  To date the campaign has sent 5.2 million messages from a grateful nation, and that number doesn’t include the more than 6,000 being sent from Southwest.  These messages are a simple “Thank you”’ and a “We are thinking of you”’ from the millions of Americans whose freedoms these soldiers are ensuring and protecting.   We hope this touch of home conveys just how grateful we are, especially during this time of year. "You have definitely hit it on the head; support from home makes a big difference to us and is an enormous morale booster."  "Thank you for your kindness and support. I really appreciate all of the words and prayers that I receive.” "Thank you very much for your continued support of the Soldiers and Airmen in Qalat, Afghanistan. We truly appreciate all that you do for us, to include the pictures, drawings, and letters of support." "Your support and patriotism has helped strengthen the resolve of our Marines. It's people like you that keep the Marines motivated and proud to serve our country." Because we get it, and we understand how important it is to be together, especially over the holidays, we offer our thanks to our Customers and Employees for providing a little bit of home for those that are so far away.   From our grateful hearts to your warm hearts, we wish you a Merry Christmas and to all—including our U.S. Troops—a good night. - See more at: http://www.blogsouthwest.com/blog/million-thanks#sthash.fa56xBs7.dpuf   ... View more

You know every family has their fair share of awkward holiday photos through the years.  The crazy haircuts, the holiday sweaters, and the strange props make these Holiday photos memorable for years and years!  Sometimes, if you were lucky enough, mom would share those photos via Holiday card with friends, relatives, and fortunately for us…co-workers!  At Southwest Airlines we have a time honored tradition of celebrating the Holidays to the extreme!  Our Employees LUV to get in the spirit and share holiday cheer!  In the halls of the Southwest Airlines Headquarters, in Dallas, TX, lurk some of the best treasured memories of past holidays.  In the images below, we’ll share with you the best of the best Southwest Airlines Holiday Cards and photos that have been shared through the years.  These cards and photos have been shared with the Company by real Employees and Customers.  Our Social Media Team provided captions to help bring the images to life, but feel free to share with us your best photo captions!  Or, upload your own funny holiday photos and share with us on Instagram or Twitter using the Hashtag #SWAwesome   Southwest: Having FUN and modeling our tackiest Christmas sweaters since 1971!  Happy Holidays!   1988 called... and wanted to wish you a Happy Holidays!  Oh, and it also made you a mix tape full of its favorite hair bands. Rock on! Santa Claus and his upgraded sleigh. Hope your Holiday Season is Puuurrrrrfect! I don't always fly on an airplane during the holidays, but when I do, I fly Southwest Airlines. - Santa Santa’s Helpers Fly SWA! Southwest Airlines: Your Personal Air Chauffeur! Who needs reindeer when there’s TJ LUV? Santa touches down in Columbus for a photo op!  A Classic display of Warrior Spirit and holiday cheer! Christmas in Texas Y’all! Because nothing says Happy Holidays like ornaments with heads in them! 'tis the season of giving!  Happy Holidays! Hope your holiday season is a splash! Southwest Airlines is proud to give you the Freedom to Fly. And we even got you these golden reindeer! Okay, fine. They're chocolate. Season's Greetings!  Did anyone ask the golden bear if this was okay with him?  ...and has anyone seen my red vest? Don't worry, girls, Phil called and he is on his way.  But he has some questions about this year's outfit. You know you're in Texas when people are wearing shorts in a Christmas picture and still smiling. There's something on the wing.  Some... THING! Tom's gotten really good at whittling, but he can't stop showing off his work.  Wait so... does this thing have a chimney? There are precisely two normal things going on in this picture. Can you name them? Charity break!  If you clicked on this picture, go and spread some holiday cheer in your community! Okay, once you see the sleigh, we gotta move fast if we're gonna take off after him! Uh, Santa?  I think we better turn around and pick up the other reindeer. Get out there and give back this Christmas season! Gals, do you think anyone noticed that I reused my Robin Hood costume from Halloween? Two satisfied Customers! Exact replica of one of our planes. But right? I think the shoes have poms on them, and that is in no way disappointing.     It's no apple, but I think we can detach the star and time it appropriately to ring in the New Year! ... View more

As Hurricane Sandy began to take shape over the weekend, so did the Weather Disruption Task Force at Southwest Airlines. This is a team of our Operational Leaders that meet to discuss the impact that the storm could have on our Operation, our Customers, and our Employees. The Team meets several times a day to review current status and forecast (with our team of in-house meteorologists) what the next steps will be to get back to a full operation. As of today (Tuesday, Oct. 30) at noon CDT, the WDTF is reporting that conditions are improving across most of the region, and Southwest Airlines and AirTran Airways anticipate returning to normal operations by midday Wednesday, October 31 across most of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, with the exception of airports nearest the center of the NY/NJ area: New York La Guardia (LGA), Newark Liberty International (EWR), Philadelphia International (PHL), and Long Island MacArthur (ISP). We are still evaluating damage incurred by Hurricane Sandy in those areas. Affected Customers continue to be contacted and offered options to change their travel plans. Southwest has canceled a total of nearly 1300 flights from Sunday evening through midday Wednesday. AirTran Airways has canceled a total of nearly 400 flights from Sunday evening through midday Wednesday. To provide context, Southwest Airlines was scheduled to operate more than 3200 flights across the Country each weekday this week; AirTran Airways currently has a published systemwide flight schedule of nearly 600 flights a day. Here are some behind-the-scenes photos of the morning meeting of the WDTF: ... View more

Coming soon to a runway near you, cute and stylish dresses for our Flight Attendants!  The Southwest Airlines Flight Attendant uniform is one of our most cherished brand identifiers – from hot pants to go-go boots, the legendary Southwest Airlines Flight Attendant uniform continues to evolve.  Over the next few months, you may start seeing our Flight Attendants in their new uniform dress.   The dress is navy, one of my personal favorite colors for fall and can be spruced up with approved accessories such as the super cute scarf or Southwest cardigan.   We created a Travel Style board on our Pinterest page, feel free to tweet us a link to favorite Southwest or travel-inspired look to @SouthwestAir and we’ll add it to our board!   ... View more

Today our Customers had a very special treat waiting for them at Dallas Love Field.   As the Official Airline of the Texas Rangers, a few of our favorite Rangers pitchers were on hand to “relieve” Southwest Airlines Employees by marshaling in a Southwest Airlines 737, unloading baggage from the aircraft, and greeting Customers as they arrived at Dallas Love Field. The players included Robbie Ross, Mark Lowe, and Derek Holland – all part of the Rangers stellar bullpen.  The guys were joined by the Rangers Six Shooters and everyone’s favorite mascot, Captain.   The players signed autographs for our Customers and posed for photos, and a little Dallas rain shower didn’t stop these guys from helping out on the ramp – actually, I think they enjoyed the cooler temperatures! Another fan favorite of the day was Derek Holland doing the boarding announcement in the voice of famed sports announcer Harry Caray!  It was a spot-on impression! The Rangers face off against the Baltimore Orioles tonight at home.  Hopefully they’ll have time to rest up a bit before they suit up, we worked them pretty hard this morning!  ... View more

What an amazing milestone! Apparently the “LUV” airline is easy to LIKE!  We are celebrating the Three Million Fan milestone with a special discount offer and a signature “concept” plane dedicated to our fans! Southwest Airlines was the first airline to reach a million Facebook Fans back in 2010, and now is the first airline worldwide to amass three million Facebook Fans!     Of course there are a million ways we could celebrate!  We thought long and hard about sending a taco truck to the homes of every Facebook Fan to offer free lunch, we considered giving everyone a free kitten, and we also thought offering our fans a special discount available today only (clearly the winning idea)!     Here’s the scoop:  Fans can get 50 percent off a roundtrip “Wanna Get Away” fare simply by using the promotion code: LUV2LIKE.  This promotion code is good through Aug. 3, 2012, 11:59 p.m. PST and is available for travel 9/5, 9/11, 9/18, 9/25, 10/2, 10/31, and 11/6/12 (seats limited, and some exclusions may apply). Customers can learn all the details and use the promo code right here.   We’ve also had a little FUN in creating a rendering of our own “concept” Facebook aircraft paint scheme.   We thought our Facebook Fans would particularly “like” to fly on Southwest’s Facebook One!     <insert approved Facebook One>   Terms & Conditions • The multi-use discount code is required to be used in the Promo Code box in order to receive 50% discount on the valid travel dates listed below.  • 50% discount is valid for up to eight Customers on a single reservation and is only valid if purchase is made on southwest.com or SWABIZ.com.  • Discount is valid only on new reservations and purchase must be made by 11:59pm PST August 3, 2012 for travel on 9/5, 9/11, 9/18, 9/25, 10/2, 10/31, or 11/6/12. • 50% discount code is valid for the Wanna Get Away Fares only and is applied before taxes and fees.  • Roundtrip Required.  • Discount will apply only on the valid travel dates.  If one direction of the trip is outside the valid dates and one is within the valid travel, only the portion of travel falling within sale dates will be discounted.  • To obtain discount on existing reservations meeting all requirements of this discount offer, the reservation must be cancelled and a new reservation booked using the discount code (fare rules apply).  • The discount is only valid with the provided Promotion Code and is not combinable with other Promotion Codes or fares available exclusively through the web tool DING!  • Discount is not valid on reservations made using Rapid Rewards points.  • Discount is not valid on Jackpot or Southwest Vacation package deals • Changes made to the itinerary after purchase will eliminate qualifications for this promotion. What a milestone! Apparently the “LUV” airline is easy to LIKE!  We celebrated the Three Million Fan milestone with a special discount offer and a signature “concept” plane dedicated to our fans! Southwest Airlines was the first airline to reach a million Facebook Fans back in 2010, and now is the first airline worldwide to amass three million Facebook Fans!  ... View more

This past Sunday, June 3, AirTran began service to Los Cabos International Airport (SJD, serving San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas) from Orange County (SNA)! The first flight to SJD arrived promptly at 3:30 p.m. and was greeted with a water cannon salute.    All the Customers onboard the inaugural flight were given AirTran t-shirts and swag, and a few lucky winners received excursion packages from our friends at Cabo Adventures (think … swimming with dolphins, snorkeling, and zip-lining)! As the beautiful plane parked on the tarmac and Passengers deplaned via air stairs, we had a mariachi band, chilled Coronas and margaritas, fresh seafood from the Baja Coast, and a festive celebration awaiting their arrival in the airport. The smiles and enthusiasm on the faces of the Customers as they walked into the party atmosphere were priceless.   We held a press conference where Southwest’s Community Affairs Manager Lidia Martinez (above right) spoke about the introduction of AirTran’s low fares and excellent Customer Service to Los Cabos and a little about our ongoing integration efforts. Raul Revuelta (above left), Chief Operating Officer at Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (the company that manages the airport) and Ruben Reachi (above middle), Secretary of Tourism for Baja California Sur, both spoke about their support of the new service and more.  The event received tremendous media coverage, which helped spread the word about the arrival of AirTran.  We currently have one flight daily between Los Cabos and Orange County.  Be sure to put this destination on your list of summer nonrev trips.  The beaches are beautiful, the food is world class, and the people are so nice and hospitable.  Viva Los Cabos! ... View more

This weekend Southwest is in attendance at the Resort Showcase at the Walt Disney World® Resort  in beautiful, sunny Orlando!  The Disney Resort Showcase is an exclusive, invitation-only, event held once a year intended to give the media and others a behind-the-scenes look at all the latest and greatest happenings at the Walt Disney World® Resort!  Even though this event is not open to the public, we thought it would be fun to bring the park to you folks at home (or maybe reading this blog post from work).  Since we’ll be exploring the parks, we thought it would be appropriate to use one of our favorite social media channels, Twitter!  Follow us throughout the weekend on Twitter (@SouthwestAir) to take part in our #Hunt4Magic, also known as the Southwest Scavenger Hunt.   Throughout the Resort Showcase our Social Media Team will be posting photo riddles to the Southwest account on Twitter.  Some riddles will be challenging, so make sure you are brushed up on your Disney Parks trivia!  The questions all will relate to the brand new resort, the Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. The first person to reply to the @SouthwestAir account using the hashtag #Hunt4Magic, will get their name entered in a drawing for a chance to win a pair of roundtrip tickets on Southwest Airlines from Southwest!  There will be several riddles posted on each day throughout the weekend, so you have multiple opportunities to enter your name in “the hat” for a chance to win the roundtrip tickets!  We’ll announce the winner on Monday, April 30 th . Read the rules below for all the details on this sweepstakes!  See ya on Twitter! OFFICIAL RULES Southwest Scavenger Hunt 1. To Enter: No purchase or obligation necessary.  Sweepstakes runs from April 26 th , 2012 12 a.m. PT– April 28th 2012 12 a.m. PT.  To enter without purchase or obligation, look for the daily clues on the @southwestair Twitter page and tweet your answer to the riddle provided. If you are the first to answer the riddle correctly and use the hashtag #Hunt4Magic, you’ll be entered in a drawing for roundtrip plane tickets on Southwest Airlines.  All entries become property of Southwest Airlines, the sponsor of this sweepstakes (“Sponsor”), and will not be returned.  Entries limited to one (1) per person per riddle. Any person found using multiple Twitter accounts to enter will be found to be ineligible  Sponsor is under no obligation to post any entry.   Sponsor’s computer is the official time keeping device for this sweepstakes. 2. Drawing:    A random drawing from all eligible entries received will be held on or about April 30, 2012.  Entrants need not be present to win.  The prize is guaranteed to be awarded.  Odds of winning will depend on the total number of eligible entries received. 3. Prize: Two tickets on Southwest Airlines, on published scheduled service (subject to Southwest Airlines terms and conditions; certain restrictions may apply), to winner’s choice of a Southwest city destination.  Airline tickets awarded will expire one year from the date of issue and may not be extended. Approximate retail value: $800.  No substitutions, cash equivalents or transfers of prize permitted, except at the sole discretion of Sponsor.  Prize is not transferable (and must be accepted as awarded), may not be resold, offered for resale, and is not redeemable for cash. 4. Eligibility:  Sweepstakes open to all legal US residents, 21 years and older as of the start of the sweepstakes.  Void where prohibited or restricted by law.  Sweepstakes subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.  By participating, entrants agree to these official rules and accept decisions of the Sponsor as final.  Void in Puerto Rico and where prohibited by law. The sweepstakes is offered in the United States only and shall only be construed and evaluated according to United States law.  Do not proceed in this site if you are not located in the United States. 5.  To Claim Prize: The correct riddle guesser will be notified by via Twitter after each riddle is posted.  The potential  winner of the Grand Prize will be notified via Twitter and will be required to complete and sign an Affidavit of Eligibility and Liability Release and, where legal, a Publicity Release, which must be returned within seven (7) days after prize notification or prize will be forfeited and awarded to an alternate winner.  If prize notification via Twitter is returned undeliverable, the prize will be awarded to an alternate winner in a random drawing.  Grand Prize winner’s guest, or if minor their parent(s)/legal guardian(s), must execute Liability Releases, and where legal, Publicity Releases prior to the issuance of travel documents.  Unclaimed or undeliverable prize will be forfeited and awarded to an alternate winner.  Prize is not transferable or redeemable for cash.  Prize is guaranteed to be awarded.  Acceptance of prize constitutes permission (except where prohibited) to use winner’s name, hometown and likeness for purposes of advertising, promotion and publicity in any media without additional compensation. 6.  Limitation of Liability: Neither Sponsor,  Disney Destinations, nor their affiliated entities, are responsible for printing or typographical errors in any related materials; stolen, fraudulent, entries or mail; or transactions that are processed or lost due to computer or electronic malfunction.  Winner is solely responsible for payment of all federal, state, and local taxes on prize and for any travel or other expenses not specifically mentioned in prize description.  Sponsor reserves the right to cancel or modify the sweepstakes if fraud or technical failure compromises the integrity of the sweepstakes as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion.  This sweepstakes offer is being made exclusively by Sponsor. Sponsor not responsible for technical, hardware, software or telephone failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections or fraud, incomplete, garbled or delayed computer transmission whether caused by Sponsor, user, or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the sweepstakes or by any technical or human error which may occur in the process of submissions which may limit a participant’s ability to participate in this sweepstakes. 7.  Winner’s List: To request a Winner’s Name List, send a self addressed stamped return envelope, after May 1, 2012, to Southwest Airlines Emerging Media Dept..  All requests must be received by May 30, 2012.  Utah and Washington residents may omit return postage. 8. Sponsor: Southwest Airlines Co., P.O. Box 36611, Dallas, TX.  75235-1611  ... View more

Southwest Airlines and AirTran Airways Meet Another Important Milestone in Their Integration of the Carriers. Customer Travel Plans Unaffected. DALLAS—March 1, 2012—Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) and its wholly owned subsidiary AirTran Airways announced today the carriers received approval by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for a Single Operating Certificate (SOC), marking a key milestone in the integration of the two airlines. The process of a full integration of the AirTran Airways fleet into the Southwest Airlines fleet (i.e., paint scheme and interior configuration) is not complete and the transition to a single ticketing system is a large and complex process that will take several years to complete. “While this is an important milestone and one that we are extremely proud to achieve, as a practical matter, most Employees and Customers will see little or no immediate difference in the two airlines’ flight operations, as allowed by having both carriers named on the Single Operating Certificate,” said Mike Van de Ven, Chief Operating Officer at Southwest Airlines. “This will enable us to continue our integration in a coordinated and thoughtful manner while our Customers will continue to receive the highest level of service and Safety they have come to expect from both carriers.” The FAA, Southwest Airlines, and AirTran Airways will address the following regulatory changes today: • The Southwest Airlines Air Carrier Operating Certificate will be amended to read “Southwest Airlines Co. and/or AirTran Airways Inc.” • The two airlines will conduct operations under a single set of FAA Operations Specifications. Southwest Airlines and AirTran Airways Customers will continue to experience the same great service from each airline. Customers flying on AirTran will continue to make reservations or check in at airtran.com or by calling 800-247-8726, and visit AirTran kiosks and airport ticket counters. AirTran Employees will still work on scheduled AirTran flights. Customers flying on Southwest can continue to find low fares or check in at southwest.com or by calling 800-435-9792, or at Southwest kiosks and airport ticket counters. Southwest Employees will still work on scheduled Southwest flights. Customers will continue to earn and redeem currency through the respective frequent flier loyalty programs, as they do today. These programs will be integrated over time. “We cannot overstate the significance of having received our Single Operating Certificate—it is a monumental step in the regulatory process—and achieving it enables us to move forward with the integration of the two airlines into a single carrier. I would like to thank the Employees of Southwest and AirTran, the FAA, and the Department of Transportation for the countless hours of work they have dedicated to achieve the Single Operating Certificate,” said Van de Ven. Southwest Airlines announced plans to acquire AirTran Airways on September 27, 2010, an acquisition that significantly expanded Southwest Airlines’ low-fare service to more Customers in more domestic markets, creating hundreds of additional low-fare itineraries for the traveling public. Since Southwest Airlines closed the deal to purchase AirTran Airways on May 2, 2011, both carriers have worked hard to guarantee a thoughtful and smooth integration process while providing the same high level of Customer Service that Customers have come to expect. Throughout the next several years, Southwest Airlines will continue the process of welcoming AirTran Employees to the Southwest Family, converting AirTran Airways aircraft to the Southwest paint scheme and interior configuration, and transitioning AirTran Airways gates to Southwest Airlines gates (beginning with Seattle in August of 2012). ABOUT SOUTHWEST Southwest Airlines continues to differentiate itself from other low-fare carriers—offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service. Southwest Airlines is the nation's largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded and has acquired AirTran Airways, now a wholly owned subsidiary of Southwest Airlines Co. Southwest serves 73 cities in 38 states and remains one of the most honored airlines in the world known for its commitment to the triple bottom line of Performance, People, and Planet. To read more about how Southwest is doing its part to be a good citizen, visit southwest.com/cares to read the Southwest Airlines One Report(TM). Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,200 flights a day and has more than 37,000 Employees. ABOUT AIRTRAN AirTran Airways, a wholly owned subsidiary of Southwest Airlines Co., has been ranked the top airline in the Airline Quality Rating study twice in the past four years. AirTran offers Gogo Inflight Internet Connectivity and coast-to-coast service on North America's newest all-Boeing fleet. The airline's low-cost, high-quality product also includes assigned seating and Business Class. To book a flight, visit airtran.com. southwest.com ... View more

Today we are excited to begin our third season with The Artist’s Den!  We’re hitting up the City of Angels to bring in the talented Mayer Hawthorne to serenade an exclusive group of fans at the Legendary Park Plaza Hotel.  The Artist’s Den organization celebrates music by hosting top secret performances at iconic venues.  Past shows have included Death Cab for Cutie at the Brooklyn Museum, Grace Potter at the Southwest Porch at Bryant Park, Amos Lee at the Fox Theater in Tuscon, and how could we ever forget Kid Rock at Graceland!  There have been too many amazing shows to mention in this one post, but trust me…attending an Artist’s Den show is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.   The Artist’s Den shows are always kept top secret, but if you are interested in attending any of the season three tapings you can sign up for email notifications here (link).  You can also pay attention to our Twitter account because you never know if we have a few extra tickets laying around for our loyal Twitter followers!  As a matter of fact, later today I’ll announce a Happy Hour spot in Los Angeles where you can meet up with the Southwest Airlines team to win free tickets to the Mayer Hawthorne show tonight…so stay tuned! We’ll be tweeting from the show tonight using #MHinLA if you’d like to follow the fun online! ... View more

Something I’ve always noticed when flying is the various ways people choose to eat our famous onboard snack… peanuts.  Beginning this week, we’ll start the rotation back to Lightly Salted Peanuts (we rotate from Honey Roasted to Lightly Salted every few months) so I thought it would be prime time to ask our fans online their different peanut-eating styles.  Personally, I prefer the lightly salted peanuts and I eat them one at a time with my favorite onboard drink, Ginger Ale (sometimes I add Wild Turkey if I’m traveling for fun).  So cheers to Lightly Salted Peanuts for the next few months, and maybe try out some of these snacking techniques next time you fly courtesy of our Twitter followers: ... View more

A few weeks ago, we announced that we would be joining forces with the TLC network to produce a new series giving viewers a behind-the-scenes look at modern air travel.   The show is slated to appear in spring 2012.  We’ve already started taping in Baltimore and Denver, so if you are passing through those airports be on the lookout for camera crews capturing footage of our Employees hard at work and our Customers traveling! If you are not traveling through Denver or Baltimore anytime soon, we are still interested in hearing your stories of why you are flying Southwest.  We’ll have another camera crew on staff to shoot Southwest stories from around the system.  This crew will actually travel with selected Customers to film their experiences.  Maybe you are going on a girls' trip to Vegas, or headed to meet your long lost high school sweetheart in Chicago.  Wherever the skies may take you over the next few months, please consider if you’d like a camera crew to follow along with you to capture the memory and share it with a television audience! You can tell us your story here:  http://www.myswatrip.com/ Just follow all the steps provided on the web site, and a representative will be in touch if your story is selected to be filmed.   ... View more

Halloween is in full effect here at Southwest Airlines Headquarters.  Why do we LUV Halloween so much?  It’s a great way for us to be a little kooky, crazy, and have FUN at work!  It’s also a great chance to bring out our competitive side.   Every year we turn our Headquarters into a Haunted Headquarters.  All departments are eligible can enter a contest with skits, others do creepy walk-throughs, I’ve even seen some pretty scary haunted houses.  It’s no secret that we celebrate this holiday to the max.  But we don’t want to leave our Customers out!  You might also see our Flight Crews dressed up in costume and our gate areas decorated.  Also, to help get you in the “spirit” on Oct. 31 st  Customers traveling can enjoy a complimentary adult beverage to help celebrate!  Here are some fun photos from around the system!  If you have more you can tweet them to us @southwestair Happy Halloween! Fun at Gates 41 & 43 in HOU A witch guarding another HOU gate A Nightmare Before Christmas at PDX More Nightmare Before Christmas in PDX Ticket Counter in CMH ... View more

Additional reports from our Employees and Customers onboard flight 2274 during a stop in El Paso on Sunday now confirm profane language was being used loudly by two passengers.  At least one family who was offended by the loud profanity moved to another area of the cabin.  Although we have reports of what Customers characterize as an excessive public display of affection, ultimately their aggressive reaction led to their removal from the aircraft.  We do not tolerate discrimination against anyone for any reason.  In this situation, their removal was directly and solely related to the escalated conversation that developed onboard the aircraft. Our tenets of inclusion and celebration of diversity among our Customers and Employees—including those in the LGBT communities—anchor our Culture of mutual respect and following the Golden Rule.   The more than 100 million people who fly Southwest each year reflect the great diversity of our country and our Company — and ALL are valued and welcome.  In fact, we've been recognized as a leader in diversity throughout our 40 years of service. Our Customer Advocacy Team reached out to extend goodwill and a full refund for an experience that fell short of the passengers' expectation. ... View more

Initial reports indicate that we received several passenger complaints characterizing the behavior as excessive. Our crew, responsible for the comfort of all Customers on board, approached the passengers based solely on behavior and not gender. The conversation escalated to a level that was better resolved on the ground, as opposed to in flight. We regret any circumstance where a passenger does not have a positive experience on Southwest and we are ready to work directly with the passengers involved to offer our heartfelt apologies for falling short of their expectations. ... View more

Southwest Airlines has always been known as a fun and laid-back airline and for some of our Customers, and that attitude is enhanced by a fantastic onboard selection of adult beverages.  We know it’s a treat to unwind on a flight with a glass of wine or a cocktail, and we want to fill you in on some changes brewin' with our Drink Coupons.  Beginning tomorrow, September 1, 2011, Southwest Airlines Flight Attendants will only accept Drink Coupons with a valid expiration date.  We announced last year that Customers would have a full year to use up the coupons without an expiration date. As a reminder, Business Select Drink Coupons are valid only on the date of travel for the Business Select ticket. Business Select Customers may use their drink coupon on a connecting flight, as long as it is used on the day of travel printed on the coupon. Remember, even on that 8 a.m. flight: it’s 5 o’clock somewhere! How do you get Drink Coupons, you ask?  There are two ways Drink Coupons are offered: -  Business Select Tickets: With the purchase of a Business Select fare, you receive a premium Drink Coupon valid for your day of travel. You can read more about the perks of purchasing Business Select here. -  Rapid Rewards:  Enroll in our All New Rapid Rewards program and earn four drink coupons following the completion of 10 one-way qualifying flights.   The Drink Coupons expire one year from the last day of the month in which the coupons are issued.  For example, if coupons are issued in October 2010, the expiration will be October 31, 2011. Of course you can always use a credit card to purchase liquor, beer, wine or Monster Low-Carb Energy Drinks onboard our flights.  We're proud to have some of the lowest prices in the air for liquor, beer, and wine.  And of course, all other non-alcoholic beverages and snacks are free.   ... View more

On Monday, we’ll be celebrating one year of service to Panama City Beach, Florida (ECP)!  Can you believe it’s already been a year?!  We entered the market last year with eight daily nonstop flights to four Southwest destinations and to date we have carried nearly half a million people in and out of the beautiful airport. We’ll be joined in celebration by the community and airport officials who will be commemorating one year since the nation’s newest international airport opened!  The airport is hosting a celebration on Monday that will feature:  A chance for Customers to win airline ticket vouchers valued at $250 each   Entertainment by local band Stainless Steel  Fun photo opportunities  Cake and beverages Community members are invited to join this free event sponsored by the Bay County Tourist Development Council and the Walton County Tourist Development Council. The event festivities will kick-off at 11 a.m. Attendees can enjoy live music and take fun beach-themed photos, which they can later access on the airport’s newly launched “I Fly Beaches” Facebook page. On Tuesday, the Southwest Airlines Culture Committee will be on hand continuing the celebration with coffee and snacks in the morning, a business card laminating service, and fun games for our Customers and Employees! If you haven’t taken advantage of our service to Panama City Beach yet, I recommend you put it in your travel plans asap!  It’s super convenient to get to, the folks down there are extremely nice, and the beaches are BEAUTIFUL!  I hope to see you all on the Beach this summer!  ... View more

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES RELEASES STATEMENT REGARDING FLIGHT 1919 AT CHICAGO MIDWAY Plane Slides Off End of Runway Upon Landing; No Injuries Reported DALLAS—April 26, 2011—Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV) confirmed this afternoon that flight #1919, scheduled service from Denver to Chicago Midway, slid off a runway upon landing at Chicago’s Midway Airport. Local officials report heavy rain in the area at the time the aircraft landed. Initial reports are that no one was injured. The passengers have been safely deplaned from the aircraft using air stairs and have been bused to the terminal. Southwest officials will be working with passengers to get them to their final destinations. The aircraft is a Boeing 737-700. ... View more

Happy Birthday Nuts About Southwest! Today we are excited to celebrate 5 years of LUV in the Blogosphere with a fun trivia contest! Our resident Blog Boy, Brian Lusk, will post a trivia question each hour beginning at 10:00 a.m. CST and ending at 2:00 p.m. on the Nuts blog.  The first person to answer the hour’s question correctly within the comments section of the blog will win a roundtrip ticket on Southwest (time will be determined by the timestamp of your comment)!  Each person that provides the correct answer within the hour for that hour’s specific question will also be entered into a drawing to win an official Southwest bike! So many ways to win!  The questions will be challenging, exhilarating, and in some cases…buried deep within the five year history on the blog! Comments will not be moderated until each trivia hour is up!  Winners will be notified via email so it is crucial that you register on the blog and provide us an e-mail address! Please read the full contest rules below...you have about an hour to mentally prepare yourself for this awesome online scavenger hunt!    OFFICIAL RULES Southwest Airlines – Happy Birthday Nuts about Southwest 1. To Enter:  No purchase or obligation necessary.  Contest runs April 21, 2011 from 10:00 am CST – 2:00 pm CST.  To enter without purchase or obligation, correctly answer the trivia question in the comments section during that question’s one hour time frame.  You must create an account with Blog Southwest in order for your answer to be considered.    All entries become property of the sponsor and will not be returned.  Entries limited to one (1) per person.(per hour)  Anonymous entries will be considered invalid.  You warrant your comment will not be sexually explicit, unnecessarily violent or derogatory. . 2. Selection of Potential Winners: Potential ticket winners will be selected each hour beginning at 11:00 am on April 21, 2011. Members of the Southwest Airlines Emerging Media Team will review all eligible entries received and choose a potential ticket winner based on the time the entry was received, as determined by Southwest’s computer, and on the correctness of the answer.    Upon the close of the contest, a member of the Southwest Airlines Emerging Media Team will draw a name from those who provided a timely, correct answer during the Contest for a Southwest bike. Prizes are guaranteed to be awarded.  Odds of winning will depend on the total number of eligible entries received. 3. Prizes: Five (5) Prizes to consist of Four (4)  roundtrip tickets on Southwest Airlines from the closest airport to each winner's residence served by Southwest Airlines (subject to Southwest Airlines terms and conditions; certain restrictions may apply), APV for Southwest Airlines tickets is $400), and one (1) Southwest bike (APV - $500). Sponsor will ship the bike to the winner.  The APV includes an estimated shipping cost.      4. Eligibility:  Contest is open to all legal US residents, 21 years and older as of April 21, 2011.  Employees of Southwest Airlines Co., and their advertising and promotions agencies, and their immediate families (spouse and parents, children and siblings and their spouses) and individuals living in the same households of such employees are ineligible.  VOID WHERE PROHIBITED or restricted by law.  Contest subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.  By participating, entrants agree to these official rules and accept decisions of the Sponsor as final.  Void in Puerto Rico and where prohibited by law. The promotion is offered in the United States only and shall only be construed and evaluated according to United States law.  Do not proceed in this site if you are not located in the United States. 5.  To Claim Prize: Potential winners only will be notified by Southwest Airlines via e-mail.  Unclaimed or undeliverable prizes will be forfeited and awarded to alternate winners.  Prizes are not transferable or redeemable for cash.  Prizes are guaranteed to be awarded.  Acceptance of a prize constitutes permission (except where prohibited) to use winner's name, hometown and likeness for purposes of advertising, promotion and publicity in any media without additional compensation.  Potential winners must execute and return any required affidavit of eligibility and/or liability/publicity release within one (1) day of notification attempt or prize will be forfeited and an alternate winner may be chosen. If a potential winner cannot be contacted, 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. 6.  Limitation of Liability: Southwest Airlines is not responsible for printing or typographical errors in any related materials; stolen, fraudulent, entries or mail; or transactions that are processed or lost due to computer or electronic malfunction.  Winner is solely responsible for payment of all federal, state, and local taxes on prize and for any travel or other expenses not specifically mentioned in prize description.  Sponsor reserves the right to cancel or modify Contest if fraud or technical failure compromise the integrity of the Contest as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion.  This Contest offer is being made exclusively by Sponsor. Sponsor is not responsible for technical, hardware, software or telephone failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections or fraud, incomplete, garbled or delayed computer transmission whether caused by Sponsor, user, or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the promotion or by any technical or human error which may occur in the process of submissions which may limit a participants ability to participate in this promotion. 7.  Winner's List: To request a Winner's Name List, send a self addressed stamped return envelope, after April 22, 2011, to Southwest Airlines Emerging Media.  All requests must be received by April 30, 2011.  Utah and Washington residents may omit return postage. 8. Sponsor: Southwest Airlines Co., P.O. Box 36611, Dallas, TX.  75235-1611 ... View more

Southwest Airlines Resumes Regularly Scheduled Operations Tuesday, April 5, 2011 Southwest Airlines said today as of 9:00 a.m. Central Time that it had completed inspections on all aircraft required to resume scheduled operations. Minor subsurface cracking was found in five aircraft that will remain out of service until Boeing recommends appropriate repairs and those repairs have been completed. Two aircraft are awaiting inspection, which will be completed within the next 24 hours, but Southwest is able to operate regularly scheduled service at this time. The FAA has notified Boeing operators that they will be issuing an emergency directive for a specific subset of the Boeing 737-300 fleet. With our knowledge of what the FAA had planned, we believe the 79 aircraft identified for inspection will accomplish this directive for Southwest Airlines. A reference in the FAA’s statement to similar inspections of certain 737-500 aircraft focuses on a particular set of airplanes not included in the Southwest fleet. Southwest will operate a full schedule on Tuesday. Customers can always view the latest information regarding their specific flight by visiting http://www.southwest.com/flight/flight-status-select.html ... View more

DALLAS—April 4, 2011—Southwest Airlines said today as of 3:30 p.m. Central Time that it had inspected nearly 90 percent of the 79 Boeing 737-300 aircraft it voluntarily removed from service this weekend. The airline has completed inspection of 67 aircraft and returned 64 of them to service. The remaining three aircraft did have findings of subsurface cracks and will be out of service until Boeing recommends an appropriate repair. The FAA said late Monday it will issue an emergency directive Tuesday related to the inspections we initiated over the weekend. With our knowledge of what the FAA has planned, we believe the 79 aircraft already identified for inspection will accomplish this directive for Southwest Airlines. The reference in the FAA’s statement to the 737-500 focuses on a particular set of airplanes that does not include Southwest aircraft. The airline expects to complete the inspections and be able to launch a full operation on Tuesday. For the latest information, Southwest encourages Customers to check www.southwest.com for updates on specific flights. ... View more

Monday, April 4 (10:30am) -- Southwest Airlines said this morning that 57 aircraft have been inspected and returned to service as part of an additional inspection program on a subset of the Southwest 737-300 fleet. The program was developed in cooperation with the Boeing Company. It has cancelled approximately 70 flights from its Monday schedule of 3,400+ scheduled departures. The airline continues to inspect aircraft and will put those with no findings back into service. The inspection involves a non-destructive test (NDT) in the form of Low-Frequency Eddy current of the aircraft skin. This test is designed to detect any subsurface fatigue in the skin that is not visible to the eye. The airline confirms that the additional inspections have identified three aircraft with the subsurface cracks. Those aircraft will remain out of service until appropriate repairs can be completed. Customers should continue to check southwest.com before heading to the airport to get specifics on their particular flight. The airline is working to minimize the impact to Customers. Southwest expects to complete the inspections late Tuesday. ... View more

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CONTINUES INSPECTIONS OF 737-300 FLEET, WORKS TO MINIMIZE CUSTOMER INCONVENIENCE FROM FLIGHT CANCELLATIONS Carrier Returns 19 Inspected Planes to Fleet So Far; Finds Cracks on Two Planes Requiring Additional Repairs DALLAS—April 3, 2011—Southwest Airlines today provided several updates related to the ongoing inspections of a subset of its Boeing 737 fleet: · In cooperation with Boeing, an additional inspection program was set up for a subset of the Southwest 737-300. The inspection involved a non-destructive test (NDT) in the form of High-Frequency Eddy current of the aircraft skin. This test is designed to detect any subsurface fatigue in the skin that is not visible to the eye. · As of 4 p.m. Central time Sunday, 19 planes had undergone the intense inspection with no findings, and those planes have been returned to service. · In two other airplanes, the testing did detect small, subsurface cracks. Further evaluation and potential repairs will be necessary before those planes are returned to service. · Inspections of the remaining aircraft in the sub-fleet (79 total) will continue for the next few days. As inspections are completed with no findings, those planes will continue to be put back into service today and Monday. The airline anticipates completing the inspections by late Tuesday. The 79 aircraft designated for the additional inspections were designed differently in the manufacturing process. · Southwest continues its cooperation to the ongoing investigation being led by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) into the cause of the hole in the airplane which diverted to Yuma, Ariz., on Friday, April 1. · Sunday, Southwest expects to cancel approximately 300 flights while the inspections are ongoing. Customers should continue to check flight status at www.southwest.com for any changes to their flights as a result of inspections and out-of-service aircraft. “I could not be more proud of our Maintenance and Engineering professionals who supported Boeing and the FAA in the establishment of these new inspection procedures,” said Mike Van de Ven, Southwest’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “Boeing has since identified an inspection program for this section of the aircraft. Based on this incident and the additional findings, we expect further action from Boeing and the FAA for operators of the 737-300 fleet worldwide.” Southwest operates a total 737 fleet of 548 planes. The fleet is constantly undergoing rigorous checks and inspections as directed by the FAA and Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer. These checks and inspections are dictated by number of cycles (a cycle is a takeoff and landing) and on a calendar basis as well. “Our highest priority is the safety of our Employees and Customers,” Van de Ven said. “Prior to the event regarding Flight 812, we were in compliance with the FAA-mandated and Boeing-recommended structural inspection requirements for that aircraft. What we saw with Flight 812 was a new and unknown issue. We regret any Customer inconveniences as a result of the inspections currently underway. Delays and cancelations are never the preference, however we are taking every precaution we can to ensure that our operation is safe.” ... View more

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES WORKS TO MINIMIZE CUSTOMER DELAYS AS IT INSPECTS AIRCRAFT Customers Should Check Their Flight Status on southwest.com DALLAS—April 2, 2011--Southwest Airlines said today it is working with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to determine the cause of a depressurization event during a Phoenix- Sacramento flight on Friday that diverted to Yuma, Ariz. Overnight, the airline worked with engineers from the Boeing Company to further assess the damage to the aircraft and develop an inspection regimen to look more closely at 79 (not 81 as was previously reported) of its Boeing 737 aircraft which are covered by a set of Federal Aviation Administration Airworthiness Directives aimed at inspections for aircraft skin fatigue. Those aircraft will be inspected over the course of the next several days at five locations. Southwest expects to cancel approximately 300 flights today to accommodate the inspections. Customers may experience sporadic delays of up to two hours on some flights today. Customers should check the status of their particular flight or rebook their trip on southwest.com before heading to the airport. "The safety of our Customers and Employees is our primary concern," said Mike Van de Ven, Southwest's executive vice president and chief operating officer. “We are working closely with Boeing to conduct these proactive inspections and support the investigation. We also are working aggressively to attempt to minimize the impact to our Customers' travel schedules today.” The 118 passengers on board Flight 812 have received a full refund along with an apology and two complimentary roundtrip passes on Southwest for future flights. Preliminary reports indicated the aircraft lost pressure and oxygen masks were deployed shortly after takeoff from Phoenix. After the plane landed safely in Yuma, the crew confirmed a hole in the top of the aircraft, approximately mid-cabin. One flight attendant was treated at the scene for a minor injury, as was at least one passenger. No injuries required transport to the hospital. The Company arranged for a Southwest Airlines aircraft to transport the Customers on Flight 812 from Yuma to Sacramento last night. ... View more

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES WORKING WITH NTSB, FAA, AND BOEING TO INVESTIGATE CAUSE OF DEPRESSURIZATION EVENT Carrier To Begin Aggressive Inspection of Fleet to Ensure Safety DALLAS—April 2, 2011—Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV) said early this morning it is working with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to determine the cause of a depressurization event during a Phoenix-Sacramento flight on Friday that diverted to Yuma, Ariz., for a successful emergency landing. Further, the carrier has decided to keep a subset of its Boeing 737 fleet out of the flying schedule to begin an aggressive inspection effort in cooperation with Boeing engineers. “The safety of our Customers and Employees is our primary concern, and we are grateful there were no serious injuries,” said Mike Van de Ven, Southwest’s executive vice president and chief operating officer. “We have launched personnel to Yuma to begin the investigation process with the NTSB, FAA, and appropriate parties to determine the cause of the depressurization.” There were 118 passengers on board and five Phoenix-based crew members aboard Flight 812. Preliminary reports indicated the aircraft lost pressure and oxygen masks were deployed. After the plane landed safely in Yuma, the crew confirmed a hole in the top of the aircraft, approximately mid-cabin. One flight attendant was treated at the scene for a minor injury, as was at least one passenger. No injuries required transport to the hospital. The Company arranged for a Southwest Airlines aircraft to transport the Customers from Yuma to Sacramento last night. Southwest is working with Boeing on an inspection regimen for the 81 affected Boeing 737 aircraft in the fleet, which are covered by a set of Federal Aviation Administration Airworthiness Directives aimed at inspections for aircraft skin fatigue. These aircraft will be inspected over the course of the next several days. Southwest is working aggressively to minimize Customer inconvenience. Customers are encouraged to check flight status at www.southwest.com before heading to the airport, and any inconvenienced Customers will be reaccommodated. Media please call Southwest Communication Office: (214) 792-4847 ... View more