Southwest Airlines Community

Looking forward to the continued expansion of flight to/from SMF, which, I believe, if I am not mistaken, includes the inaugural SMF-BWI nonstop this Sunday. One thing I read carefully is what Southwest predicts when its next schedule opening will occur. Looking earlier today, I noticed that the next schedule extension is forecasted, for now, to take place on November 1st, with flights available that date until June 2nd. Here is what gets me as far as that is concerned. Why is Southwest waiting about three months to extend the schedule of available inventory, yet once that happens, it will only add 39 days of flying past the 24th of April? This does not quite seem to add up to me. Could someone perhaps, at their convenience, please respond to my puzzling inquiry. I'd love to read and be educated on the response. Thank you so very much.   Sincerely,     Mike Barnbaum, Rapid Rewards Member Sacramento, California ... View more

Will Sacramento (SMF) be getting nonstop service to Long Beach (LGB) anytime soon. As the State Capitol, it would make complete sense to serve all three Los Angeles County Airports with round trip flights to and from Sacramento. With the new Golden 1 Center opening in Downtown Sacramento in approximately 80 days from the writing of this post, having Southwest nonstops to/from Sacramento and Burbank, Long Beach, and Los Angeles will have Los Angeles County residents and businesses covered at our State Capitol. Please consider this opportunity. Sincerely, Mike Barnbaum, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Member and Sacramento County Resident ... View more

Thank you for adding Sacramento to Baltimore as a nonstop route, effective Sunday 7 August 2016. This is a very important route for the people of the Sacramento Region and the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce when they and their members travel on the Annual "Cap-To-Cap" trip. This trip has the largest delegation of its kind meeting with a large congressional delegation on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. This becoming a nonstop flight on the previously aforementioned date bodes well versus an itinerary that involves a change of planes and a layover, so thank you for adding this route to your long list of nonstop destinations out of Sacramento International Airport. Speaking of layovers and plane changes, I happened to, earlier today, to book a one-way flight from Salt Lake City to Sacramento in September, but had noticed that the only flight (based on routing) that I could book without changing planes was a one stop same plane flight that stops in Phoenix, but as I previously stated, does not change planes. I frowned a bit at the list of Salt Lake City to Sacramento flights in September, solely because there were no nonstops to be found. For future reference, and future schedule openings, could you consider nonstop flights between Salt Lake City and Sacramento? Thank you, I would appreciate it. Thank you for what you have come up with as far as Sacramento to Baltimore is concerned. I look forward to the next schedule opening on or about Thursday 2 June 2016. Take good care. I will see you all onboard a Southwest flight soon. Sincerely, Rapid Rewards Member and Blogger, Mike Barnbaum of Sacramento, California ... View more

Thank you for adding daily nonstop service between Sacramento and Boise. I do have a question about this additional service, as there seems to me to be a difference of facts presented from two different articles. In this blog, I clearly read that this new introduction of service is daily. That tells me that it is once a day, everyday, without taking a day off. A similar article through a link from a tweet from the @SacBiz Twitter Handle - Sacramento Business Journal, indicates that this new daily service is being offered five days a week, rather than seven. Their article stated that this daily service operates everyday, except Friday and Sunday. So I am confused. Which article is correct? The blog here, or the Sacramento Business Journal? Will this new service operate once daily without a day off, like the blog here states, or will the service be operated, as the Sacramento Business Journal indicates, once a day with the exception of Friday and Sunday? Please clarify and let me know. In the meantime, I tend to agree with what the blog here is stating. I have been surprised before. Please let me know which article is correct, based on my clarifying question(s) regarding this new service. Have a great month of July ahead, as well as a safe and sane Independence Day. Sincerely, Mike Barnbaum of Sacramento, California Rapid Rewards Member Since 1997 ... View more

Thank you for spreading the "LUV" by adding a nonstop between Sacramento and Dallas Love Field. This is awesome. Meanwhile, I did check today, February 19th, and you are right!! Flight schedules are not only open until October 30th, but that only means one thing: COLLEGE FOOTBALL!! I booked a Sacramento - Seattle round trip the Friday and Sunday immediately after Labor Day to see Sacramento State at the University of Washington. Hallelujah!! Book those college football flights while you can as they are going to go really fast!! ... View more

Hi Bill: Long time, no speak!! Thank you for opening the schedule to early April. While I do not have any Southwest Airlines Travel planned for this particular schedule, your opening of the schedule now tells me on the Travel Tools page that you will be opening through early June during the last week of October. This is important to me as I have to travel round trip from Sacramento to Newark shortly after Memorial Day 2015 to just before the proposed June date listed in the Travel Tools Statement. Based on what I have read in your post, I fully understand that much of the behind the scenes work will involve Atlanta as we wait to see what comes from the October 27th Schedule Opening. I hope there will be some markets that folks like me in Sacramento can get an opportunity soon to fly nonstop to, like Boise, Salt Lake City, Spokane, Albuquerque, and perhaps Tucson. It seemed odd to me, as I was looking up schedules for a co-worker recently that when it comes to SMF-SLC service, a passenger, in some, but not all occasions, might have to change planes at Denver. That seems like back tracking to me and a bit unheard of. This might have been something Southwest likes to do, and I am just unaware of it. Hope you have a great Labor Day Holiday Weekend, and we will see you all on board my next Southwest flight, which will take me from Sacramento to Denver at 1:05pm on October 10th. Sincerely, Mike Barnbaum of Sacramento, California Southwest Airlines Blogger and Rapid Rewards Member ... View more

Brooks: I am saddened to read about the passing of Brian Lusk. I was introduced to Brian years ago by Monica Van Slate, whom you may recall. Monica always helped me over the phone with Southwest stuff, which she then turned over the duties to Brian to work with me on many things I had questions with regarding Southwest beyond the basics of reservations. Now, I don't know who I can turn to for help on many of my Southwest questions. I will say, however, that Brian introduced me to Laurel Moffatt (Hope I spelled that correctly). Based on that information, I will call Laurel and see what it is that I can do while I am on a Capitol Corridor Train tomorrow between Sacramento and San Francisco for the meeting of the California Transportation Commission. In being part of many grassroots efforts to save the Sacramento Kings from bolting to Seattle, the news about Brian Lusk has just shocked me. Brian was the biggest reason I became part of the (unpaid) Southwest Family by not only becoming a frequent flyer, but by joining this blog. Please inform Laurel that I will be contacting her shortly, as I don't know of any other avenue to go by right now. Sincerely, Mike Barnbaum, Regiatered Public Blogger & Rapid Rewards Member in (SMF) ... View more

Hi Bill: I actually am looking forward to the May 6 schedule opening, but like you said on March 4, 2013, I will check back as that date is subject to change. I can vouch that that has happened in the past, but on the other hand, not too often. Any way, what stood out to me in your posting is that, "Nonstops will be permanently eliminated in the El Paso-San Diego market." What caught my attention, and this might be thinking outside the box versus what most travelers are thinking of, is that in 2014, El Paso will be opening up a brand new "Triple-A" Ballpark that will be home to the top farm club of the San Diego Padres. For a third and final year, that team will be playing at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium in Tucson, Arizona. There are many nonstops between Tucson and San Diego these days making it easy for ballplayers being called up or sent down to use Southwest Airlines for their nonstop travel. When the Triple-A Club moves to El Paso, based solely on your blog post, the notion of nonstop travel to/from El Paso to/from San Diego will be gone, leaving the Padres Organization no alternative to move ballplayers in 2014 between Triple-A El Paso and San Diego other than by direct same-plane flights or connecting flights only as there will be no nonstop service. This may be far fetched, but hopefully you can fully understand where I am going with this if you just bare with me for a moment. In reading what I have stated earlier, would you consider "seasonal only" nonstop service between El Paso and San Diego for the reasons I stated above? But then when baseball is not in season, having the nonstops in play really would not matter because at that time of the year, the folks who would use it the most would be in their non-season. Even though, as you will remember, I am from Sacramento, and we have bigger things on our NBA plate, if you know what I mean, I would be interested in your take on what I have presented to you in the El Paso - San Diego situation and how Southwest could be better prepared when this matter really does come to the forefront in 2014. Thank you, and have a pleasant time scheduling and blogging. Sincerely, Mike Barnbaum, Registered Public Blogger & Rapid Rewards Member in (SMF) ... View more

Hi Bill: I hope things are going well with you. I can relate to the changes in the Southwest Schedule as this coming Sunday will be the date that major route and schedule changes are occurring at the Sacramento Regional Transit District. Those changes are mostly service improvements. Thank Goodness for that. Speaking of Sacramento, let's talk Southwest Air Service, shall we? Did the "retooling" of the Southwest Schedule for both seasonal and permanent have any impact (negative or positive) on Sacramento Service? Will the schedule finally allow "published" service from Sacramento (SMF) to Washington/Regan National Airport (DCA)? Same plane and/or connections are fine. I just don't like hearing from people, as I have lately, that there is service, but it must be sold as two tickets and you have to re-claim your checked luggage and then check it again. That reminds me of the rules under the old "Wright Amendment" at Dallas Love Field. As far as that is concerned, "Wright is Wrong!!" Thank goodness it is going away. I was fed up with the Wright Amendment. It caused many "inconveniences" that became a shame for people to go through. It should have never have happened in the first place. Meanwhile, did Sacramento Service include any new Medium distance nonstops to places like Salt Lake City, Boise, Spokane, Tucson, and Albuquerque? The reason I ask this question is that it seems odd to me that Sacramento gets nonstops to Denver, but not to Salt Lake City. Reno is too close. I will hop aboard the Amtrak ThruWay Bus for a Sacramento to Reno round trip and include a Sacramento to Fresno Amtrak round trip in the same reservation. Yes, it is true, Amtrak Website allows the passenger to book up to four segments under the heading of "Multi-City" right from the Amtrak Home Page. In the meantime, I do want to revisit the Southwest Schedule issues that not only I have brought up, but that other bloggers and authors like you have a say and comment on. I really look forward to a couple of “behind-the-scenes” blog posts from you over the next couple of weeks about what Southwest goes through to create the Southwest and AirTran schedules—and why they sometimes look a bit odd! I can't wait. Have a great upcoming Labor Day Weekend. I look forward to blogging, and perhaps, talking with you soon. Sincerely, Mike Barnbaum, Registered Blogger & Rapid Rewards Member in Sacramento ... View more

Hi Bill: Thank you for opening the schedule through Friday 8 March 2013. As for my favorite markets from Sacramento (SMF) I have checked the two Fridays in March that you now have inventory for and the schedules are fairly reasonable to/from CAK and EWR. These are my personal favorite Southwest Airports out of Sacramento for family purposes. That is the good news. Now for the bad news. I am still unable to find a "Capitol-to-Capitol" routing for Sacramento to Washington/Reagan or the reverse of this for the dates of 01 March 2013 and 08 March 2013. It appeared to me that the only California Market that has DCA service is the San Diego Airport for now. I'm not sure what caused this to be the case even in March. What can I do to help the California Capitol Region to get flights to/from DCA? Will Chicago Midway be playing an important role here, in a way that this market would be able to link SMF and DCA either with "same-plane" flights or with connecting flights? I know how important this is to the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce as well as the Sacramento Area Council of Governments among other business organizations to name a couple. Perhaps this will be looked into from now through the 26th of August so that when the 27th of August rolls around, we have something to talk and perhaps brag about. For now, I will not count the chickens before they hatch, because I fully recognize that scheduling (whether it's public transit, Amtrak, or Southwest) is a delicate process. At the end of the day, my hope is, is that this suggestion will be taken into careful consideration and the best will come for the California Capitol Region soon. As the old saying says, "Good Things Come To Those Who Wait." Have a great day and month ahead. I look forward to "blogging" with you again on the 27th of August. Sincerely, Mike Barnbaum, Blogger & Rapid Rewards Member in Sacramento, California ... View more

Bill, Brooks, or Brian: In the new schedule, that you have just opened this week, I tried to look in January for flights between SMF & DCA. For now, it doesn't matter if it is non-stop, same plane or connections. I'm flexible as to how to get there on Southwest. For now, as of the evening of 11 July 2012, the error message I am receiving is, "Invalid Route with departure Airport" when I want to depart from SMF and go to DCA. What am I doing wrong? How can we huddle together so that this does not occur in future schedule extensions? Thank you for looking into this situation. I look forward to what the July 16th and the next schedule opening will bring for the paths of Southwest Airlines travel between SMF & DCA. Oh, by the way, call me so that you can hear a "Southwest Airlines" rendition of the great Steve Miller Band Hit Song "Rock 'N Me" which I have already sung to Brian Lusk over the phone already. Personally, I think it is exactly what Southwest Airlines looks for, not only in Staff Members, but Passengers too. If I can convince you all further, it is "Made for SWA Stew" Material. You would not want to pass this up. Sincerely, Mike Barnbaum, Blogger & Rapid Rewards Member in Sacramento, California ... View more

This is so Great!! As mentioned, it took a great deal of work, and effort, which in the end has paid off!! Now Southwest and the DCA Airport need a new Capitol-to-Capitol with flights from Sacramento to DCA and back again. I recognize that the AUS-DCA Schedule actually originates at SAN in Southern California. Perhaps as a first step to SMF-DCA Nonstops, I would propose for now in future schedules a SMF-AUS-DCA that would stop in AUS in both directions, but not involve a change of planes. How does this sound? I think that Sacramento would accept of this to start with. It is much better than what exists there now. Believe Me. Thank you for rerading this blog post and taking this suggestion into consideration for future scheduling. Sincerely, Mike Barnbaum, Blogger & Rapid Rewards Member in Sacramento, California ... View more

This story demonstrates how Southwest is one-of-a-kind to "Share The Spirit" in the markets they serve. While 'Share The Spirit" is perhaps defined within the circles of Southwest to show how Southwest Employees Volunteer their time to give back to the communities they live in, Southwest was able to "Share The Spirit" in a uniquely different way that many would not likely see from other airlines. In this case, as I interpret Verity Kugelmann's writing, Southwest stepped in to assist in covering a fee that normally is the responsibility of the flyer. I fly Southwest wherever I fly, but I recognize in Sacramento that not all major destinations serve Sacramento with Southwest Flights, especially those that are close to Sacramento like Reno, Oakland, Fresno, San Francisco, and Oakland to name five. This is a big reason I "Share The Spirit" and volunteer over 100 Hours a Year at the Sacramento Valley (Amtrak) Station. I do receive, in return for my duties, a complimentary roundtrip ticket anywhere in California that Amtrak travels to. Back now to Joey to close this post. Thank you for such a great story that touched so many people throughout the "Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto" Media Market and now to people throughout the United States watching #OnTheFly on the TLC Network. I make sure that I am home every Thursday by 9:00 P.M. no matter what I am doing so that I can be glued to the television to be surprised as to what's next week-after-week. Thank you for having a camera crew in Sacramento to cover this "cute" story. I'm looking forward to more. Sincerely, Mike Barnbaum, Registered Community Blogger & Rapid Rewards Member in Sacramento, California ... View more

Brooks: In terms of the "floating crew" that TLC utilized to go around the Southwest System, was the scene on the June 7th where this was in effect in Sacramento? If so, that was the story about Joey who flew with his owner to Denver. Would you like advance notice of my next Southwest Flight at Sacramento so that the "floating crew" can capture a "registered community member" to this blog? Hopefully you answered yes. Meet me at Sacramento Terminal B during the afternoon hours on the Friday after Labor Day where I will be flying, of all places, to Denver. My trip purpose to to take in the Sacramento State Hornets Football Game at Boulder as they take on the Colorado Buffaloes. Thank you for the show, #OnTheFly on the TLC Network. I enjoy it quite well. Sincerely, Mike Barnbaum, Registered Community Blogger & Rapid Rewards Member in Sacramento, California ... View more

Bill: I do have questions. First of all, I hope you are doing well and the integration process is going to your expectations. In the meantime, I see that Washington Reagan National Airport (DCA) is a Southwest Airlines Airport as of July 8th. I have found it though, quite difficult finding flight schedules for "Capitol-to-Capitol" travel between Sacramento (SMF) and DCA. Like many "campaigns" that have been launched like "Free Hobby" being the latest and "Wright is Wrong" and "San Francisco Open Your Golden Gate" among others, I hear it every day from people in the Sacramento Region for affordable fares from "Capitol-to-Capitol" to happen. Now that I have read in the SwaMedia Website that DCA is part of Southwest in July, I'm now hoping that some careful thought can be put into some SMF-DCA service and in the schedule when it opens again on July 9th for travel through March 8th. For now, "non-stop" is not necessary. It would be great, but direct "same-plane" and even some connections would be nice too. I fully understand that this might mean that some consideration might be thought over in either adding an Austin - Sacramento nonstop or perhaps an Oklahoma City - Sacramento nonstop to the schedule so that Sacramento has the ability to connect to Washington Reagan National Airport. To some extent, I have talked to Southwest Airlines Communications Department Staff in regards to Sacramento - Austin and Sacramento - Oklahoma City. In looking over the two, if I had to vote for one, it would be Sacramento - Oklahoma City since the Sacramento Kings need to play the Oklahoma City Thunder and in Pacific Coast League Baseball, the Sacramento River Cats (Oakland Athletics) need to play the Oklahoma City Red Hawks (Houston Astros). There are no sports contests in which Sacramento would need to travel to Austin. At some point, I recognize that my question and my request is quite long here in this blog, but would be able to look this over carefully and reply back to me with your thoughts? Thank you so very much. Sincerely, Mike Barnbaum, Registered Community Blogger & Rapid Rewards Member in Sacramento, California ... View more

Jim: I did watch "On The Fly" Week One. I particularly enjoyed the story about the marriage proposal. That was "LUV"ing. Pun intended. Ha Ha. LOL. The part in which your were in was quite a scene. It made me think, "Am I going to have to go through this when I go to the Sacramento State - Colorado Buffaloes Football Game over the weekend after Labor Day Weekend?" If I remember, I am going to have a gigantic "Sacramento State" Flag with me for this trip. Are "Flags and Banners" legal on your flight? Hey, as far as I'm concerned, if you can fold it appropriately in your "waist pack" when going to the airport security check point, then I don't see why it would be a problem. I know that at SMF, I will have to get this "flag" by Station Trainer Laura, Bob Churchill, and David LaPlante first, prior to your seeing it in the Denver/Boulder Area. I'll see you "On The Fly" and then in-person in September with a "Flag" but without a Parrot, without a fish, and oh yes, without money because Southwest no longer accepts cash on-board for the in-flight services it "optionally" charges for. Sincerely, Mike Barnbaum, Registered Blogger & Rapid Rewards Member in Sacramento, California ... View more

Karen: In the points you make, and very well I might add, about DCA- AUS, I would make the same points about going forward with a formal request with the United States Department of Transportation for permission to fly nonstop SMF - DCA. As you mention, but let me put it in a Sacramento persprective, as your point has the same merits for Sacramento, in that, "The DCA - SMF market is currently underserved and overpriced, with inadequate travel options for those wanting to fly between these two capital cities." Your point is right on key, at least from a personal perspective coming from Sacramento. As you may now well be aware, SMF opened its new State-of-the-Art Central Terminal B to the traveling public back on Thursday 06 September 2011, and back on Tuesday 06 March 2012, the Sacramento City Council approved, by a 7-2 vote an agreed upon "term sheet" to construct a new Entertainment Sports Complex in its Downtwon Railyards and Amtrak Station. As the Capital of California, it would be the Capital of the eighth largest economy of the world, had California been its own country. That being said, and California still leading the nation in population over any other state in this great country of ours, it is my hope that Southwest Airlines would consider such an application with the U.S.D.O.T. to provide such nonstop service SMF - DCA for some great Capitol-to-Capitol service. I would step up my "game" on the marketing side of things, if this were to happen, and let folks know about it. In the meantime, we all have to help each other in some way, shape, or form. That being said, I have already signed the petition to be forwarded to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood for Southwest to pursue the AUS - DCA nonstop Capitol-to-Capitol service, and am always willing to help Southwest on any of its planned new routes. In conclusion, would you help me, and the Sacramento Region with this proposal I have put through to you today in this blog? Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Mike Barnbaum, Blogger & Rapid Rewards Member in Sacramento, California ... View more

Hi Bill: Quite an extensive schedule, I must say. I was successful in utilizing travel funds from another confirmation number and have saved some money over the advertised $117 Web Only Wanna Get Away Fare for a trip to Denver the weekend after Labor Day Weekend. I will be traveling on Denver's RTD Route "AB" between The Airport and Boulder on Saturday to take in the Sacramento State Football Game against the Colorado Buffaloes. The game itself does not have a time yet, so traveling on Southwest on Friday and Sunday assures that I have covered the field to not miss one play on Saturday the 8th of September. For Sacramento State, this will be Week Two of their schedule as in Week One, the Football Team will head to Las Cruses, New Mexico to take on New Mexico State. I will remain in Northern California that weekend and hop onboard Amtrak's Capitol Corridor to see the Oakland A's host the Boston Red Sox on Sunday of Labor Day Weekend. In the Southwest Schedule, I want to thank you for displaying the PDF list of changes as I have recommended that in the past through this blog. It took awhile to find it, but it is on the pages of SWA Media on Southwest's Website. It looks like Sacramento only took a loss of one roundtrip flight to and from Ontario. This is not such a huge loss. There are many Southern California Airports Sacramento passengers have to choose from and having one flight eliminated in wake that all of the other choices had no changes to it, I would consider a sigh of relief. As for my roundtrip to Denver is concerned, I was a bit concerned that Flight 479 was moved up from a 6:05pm departure to now be called Flight 488, departing at 4:20pm. I will have to work this out with my direct manager so that I can safely take SuperShuttle to the Sacramento Airport at a time that works for both of us as well as SuperShuttle. Had Flight 479 remained at its August 10th time slot, then the pick-up time for SuperShuttle at my workplace would not have been an issue because they would pick me up after my shift rather than during my shift as will be the case for Flight 488 in September. My return flight home, although it stops but does not switch planes in Seattle, is at a reasonable time that I do not have to get up too early at my Denver Airport Hotel, nor do I arrive in Sacramento too late to miss any available public transportation on YoloBus or Sacramento Regional Transit Light Rail that would have otherwise cause me to schedule SuperShuttle Transportation directly home. Riding Public Transportation always saves me money over SuperShuttle Transportation. Thank you again for opening the schedules up to the 28th of September, I will now look forward to what is coming up next in schedules as well as the continuing integration process of AirTran eventually becoming Southwest over the course of time. Great reading as always. I look forward to talking to you soon. Sincerely, Mike Barnbaum, Rapid Rewards Member in Sacramento, California (SMF) ... View more

Hello Ashley: LUVed your post here about the 13 episodes to soon appear on the TLC Network. You mentioned that, "The show will follow all aspects of Southwest Airlines, from Ramp Agents and Customer Service Agents to Flight Attendants and Pilots (and many more)." Will you and the Communications Team and perhaps the Marketing Team look into "bloggers" and the so-called "badges" that they earn. I read on the Blog Page in which my name appeared said, "mike_barnbaum earned the Cheerleader badge" among other things. I had to look this up and see what I made the news for. What I read about "Badges" was interesting to say the least. Nonetheless, I'm looking forward to what is coming to TLC, and yes, you bet that I will stay tuned to what's next. Best Regards and Happy Thanksgiving to you and the entire Southwest Team!! --Mike Barnbaum, Rapid Rewards Member and Blogger in Sacramento, California ... View more

What a great story and some great comments on top of the great story, especially from Jennifer Gildner who flew from Philadelphia to my hometown in Sacramento. From what I read, Holly is a great example as to why Southwest Airlines works not just hard, but smart everyday to stand out and be different than other airlines in this very competitive industry. As soon as Southwest Airlines announced its going into Newark through a Press Release back in August 2010, I immediately said that I have had it with the legacy airlines that I have previously flown with to Newark in the past. Among future airports, I can't wait for the acquisition of AirTran to be 100% complete with the Single Operating Certificate (SOC) being issued sometime in 2012 so that I can fly to family living in Kent, not far from the Akron/Canton (CAK) Airport. It will also be exciting from Sacramento that flights may soon go to Washington/Regan National Airport (DCA) allowing Sacramento Business People, ELected Officials, and the Sacramento Congressional Delegation to fly from "Capitol-to-Capitol" all as a result of the acquisition of AirTran Airways. Holly and flight attendants like Victor, who served me on Flight 3920 from Phoenix to Newark back on November 21st, are aspects of the fun and "LUV"ing atmosphere I get from Southwest Airlines that I don't get from other carriers. Rowland is a customer who thinks like I do. I too pledge to fly no one but Southwest Airlines (unless there is a place they don't serve, and I have to get there). With the addition of Newark and the soon to be completed acquisition of AirTran Airways, Southwest Airlines makes my flying a very fun experience, every time. Best Regards & Happy Holidays to all at Southwest Airlines and the Bloggers!! --Mike Barnbaum, Rapid Rewards Member & Blogger in Sacramento, California ... View more

Bill: There was a great amount of new service to go through both on the Southwest side as well as the AirTran side. Am I confused or can we now book "codeshare" travel through the Southwest Website where we would receive one confirmation code when all is said and done? For example, based on what I carefully read, I want at some point to travel to Akron/Canton to go visit Kent State University for a business conference. In the article posted to my blog comment, it was stated that, "Domestically, we’re adding new AirTran nonstop service between Mile-High Powerhouse Denver and Akron/Canton (one daily roundtrip)." It appears that based on this, I may be soon able to book a flight from Sacramento to Akron/Canton so long as I change planes in Denver. Is my logic here correct, or for now, am I missing my flight, if I think that I can do this now? Domestically, do you have the ability and the availability to post a PDF or some kind of spreadsheet that lists what nonstop markets have both added and subtracted service? This was a great tool to view, particularly when looking at Sacramento International Airport and what Sacramento was getting in terms of added or lost Southwest Airlines service. Have you been to our new terminal yet? No only did I do a practice walk through on Sunday 2 October 2011, but I flew roundtrip to Portland to see a Sacramento State Hornets Football Game. Unfortunately the trip was ruined when Sacramento State lost 29-20 to the Portland State Vikings. Speaking of college football, I will wait at least until Martin Luther King Day 2012, if not later, to book Southwest flights for 2012 Sacramento State Football. Prior to composing this blog post I sneaked a peek at the Travel Tools Page where I saw that January 16th will be the likely date for extending the schedules until September 28th of next year. Until then, I don't have any specific Southwest Flight plans between the 2nd of June and the 10th of August. Looking at my Sacramento River Cats Baseball Schedule though, my companion and I might take aboard Amtrak for travel between Sacramento and Fresno and/or Sacramento and Reno to take in some ballgames this coming Summer. Thankfully these are market pairs that are non-competitive when looking at Southwest and Amtrak and where one could travel to. Sincerely, Mike Barnbaum, Rapid Rewards Member in Sacramento, California ... View more

Laurel: I totally agree with you on having spare blankets and Sweatshirts available for your guests, and let me also add on, for yourself too!! Here in Sacramento, I have SMUD, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District where I am charged for my electricity and use of my air conditioner, but for heating, unless I purchase a space heater, I would be billed by PG&E, which is better known as Pacific Gas & Electric. Since I firmly believe in customer owned utilities like SMUD and would dare not buy into investor owned utility greed like PG&E, I, like you advocate in your blog, use blankets and sweatshirts as well as, may I add in long socks and sweats in the winter time rather than my heater. Golly Gee, I wish it was as easy to cool off in the summer not only here in Sacramento, but as I read each blog post, I understand that Dallas had its hottest summer ever. Like Sacramento, I wish it was as easy for all at Southwest in Dallas to cool off in the summer time. Sincerely, Mike Barnbaum, Rapid Rewards Member in Sacramento, California ... View more

Bill: If I could get your take on a couple of things, I would appreciate a response at your convenience to two items regarding schedules and network planning. 1. Does the October 3, 2011 schedule opening through June 1, 2012 allow for a new "codeshare" arrangement between Southwest Airlines and AirTran Airways, or is this still a "Work-In-Progress" and will have to wait at least until the 14th of November when Southwest Airlines will extend the schedules again until August 10th? 2. I'm not sure if you have had the opportunity to check out the New Terminal B at Sacramento International Airport quite yet. If you do, you will be glad you did, and here is why I say this. If you have seen my blog post from my birthday back on Monday, and yes, I did receive my Rapid Rewards Birthday Card, you will also see that the number of gates that Southwest will eventually have in the next six to eight months from now, which will at least be eight, and possibly ten. Will the new spacious gates and discussions with the Sacramento County Airport System allow for nonstop service expansion into other existing Pacific and Mountain Markets like ABQ, SLC, BOI, GEG, and TUC? The only markets that would not be flown to then within the Pacific Time Zone would be RNO and the three in the Bay Area, which are accessible for Sacramento Travelers via Amtrak at the Sacramento Valley Station. Our existing public bus service offered daily at SMF known as YoloBus, offers service from the new Terminal B to both Davis and Downtown Sacramento where passengers would take a short walk to Amtrak Stations in both cities to get to RNO and the Bay Area, where Southwest Airlines service at SMF is currently not offered and most likely will never be offered. I even encourage fellow not verified blogger, David Ross to use Amtrak as a travel option between the San Jose Diridon Station and the Reno, Nevada Station in Downtown Reno as an excellent travel option in wake of Southwest Airlines coming to a careful decision to permanently eliminate service between SJC & RNO. The Amtrak Capitol Corridor offers rail service between San Jose & Sacramento and continuing over-the-road Motor Coach service between Sacramento & Reno in which a rail segment "must" be part of the trip to comply with California State Law known as "The Perata Law." Blogger David Ross will not have a problem securing a trip from now on with this travel option as all Capitol Corridor service is "unreserved" in which a passenger may just walk-up to their nearest Amtrak Staff Station and purchase Capitol Corridor Tickets, even if it is just thirty minutes before departure. San Jose Diridon Station is in fact a Staffed Station as is Sacramento Valley Station and the Downtown Reno Amtrak Station. There should be no problem then for travelers between San Jose & Reno in wake of the Southwest Airlines decision to permanently eliminate nonstop travel between SJC & RNO. This was a tough, but in the end, a good decision made by Southwest Airlines. --Mike Barnbaum, Rapid Rewards Member in Sacramento, California ... View more

The opening of the schedules for travel through June 1, 2012 opens the opportunity that I took advantage of in booking a roundtrip flight between Sacramento and Albuquerque the weekend before Memorial Day Weekend to see the Sacramento River Cats take on the Albuquerque Isotopes. The River Cats have won more division titles than any other professional sports franchise this century. The Inaugural Season for the Sacramento River Cats was in 2000. In just twelve seasons, the Sacramento River Cats have won ten division titles. Flying Southwest Airlines to a ballpark that I have yet to attend will truly be rewarding, especially since I booked it on my birthday and got "same plane" flights rather than getting flights that change planes. In taking my future Southwest Flights, I am tremendously excited to fly out of the New Terminal B at Sacramento International Airport. Southwest will be the largest tennant in new Terminal B. I want to let everyone here in the Southwest Airlines Blog World know what a phenominal job the Sacramento County Airport System did in this $1 Billion expansion that opens to all on Thursday the 6th of October. While wearing my "Canyon Blue" Golf Shirt I bought online at the Southwest Airlines Freeedom Shop in the last five years or so, I got to meet Bob Churchill of Southwest Airlines in Sacramento. Bob oversees Ramp Services and Flight Operations at Sacramento International Airport for Southwest Airlines. He provided me with detailed gate information along with Glenn Peach of the Sacramento County Airport System. For now, Southwest will utilize gates B12, B14, B16, B18, B20, B22, & B23. In approximately six to eight months from now, Southwest will additionally gain Gates B15, B 17, B19, & B21. There is a possibility, "down the road," fopr lack of a better expression that Southwest might drop Gates B12, B22, & B23. In the larger scheme of things in Sacramento, Southwest will, in the next six to eight months from now have the same number of gates as it did in Terminal A, and quite possibly, gain from one to two additional net gates gained in New Terminal B versus what was available in Terminal A. I would say that Southwest in New Terminal B at Sacramento International Airport will come out a huge winner in my estimation. The flying public will appreciate what they will see starting on Thursday the 6th of October and beyond. As you travel to and from Sacramento, please stop by and definately say "Hello" to both Bob Churchill as well as SMF Station Manager David LaPlante. They both, along will all of the Team SMF Employees at Southwest Airlines provide a Positively Outrageous Service to everyone coming and going through Sacramento on Southwest Airlines on a daily basis. This Schedule Extended Post by Bill Owen in Dallas and the entire Blog Team is a testiment of continuing the lines of communications with customers. As always, thank you for all you do. I'll look forward to seeing you on board soon. Sincerely, Mike Barnbaum, Rapid Rewards Member in Sacramento, California ... View more

Bill, just like the Travel Tools page said at http://www.southwest.com/ this was a day I couldn't wait for. After using Southwest Airlines from Sacramento back on Friday to Portland as well as the HUT Shuttle from PDX to Corvallis to witness a stunning Sacramento State Football 29-28 Overtime victory over Oregon State, I returned home on Sunday waiting to blog about my April trip I have successfully booked on September 5th for the 7th of April going and the 9th returning to see the Sacramento River Cats take on the Las Vegas 51s in exciting Triple-A Pacific Coast League Baseball. In just their twelfth year of existance, Sacramento has won ten division titles, which is more than any professional sports team at any level this century. You probably have seen my blog post under Summer Vacations Memories that you were the original author of back on August 8th. That one, I blogged about the outstanding Sacramento State Overtime upset over Oregon State that just occurred over the Labor Day Weekend in 2011. Hopefully my April trip to Las Vegas to see the River Cats will be just as exciting as a Spring Vacation. I hope in the meantime that you are doing well, and are perhaps making some Fall Vacation plans to come to Sacramento to see New Terminal B during an open house public tour that will take place on October 2nd. Beginning on Thursday, October 6th all of Southwest Airlines will be operating out of the New Terminal B at Sacramento International Airport. All of us in Sacramento are really excited about this huge major milestone, and can't wait to start using New Terminal B when we take our Southwest Flights on and after October 6th. Take care and be well. We'll look forward to the next blog post that you have and perhaps seeing you in Sacramento for the free tour of New Terminal B on Sunday, October 2nd. Sincerely, Mike Barnbaum, Rapid Rewards Member in Sacramento, California ... View more

Many cheers go out to the SWA Folks here in Sacramento. Not only is it the 20th Anniversary, but another 20 and more are ahead in the making of Sacramento International Airport's New Terminal B. Set to open on October 6th, the new terminal will greatly allow the ability for Southwest to expand service to many more United States destinations. Prior to the October 6th operational opening, all are invited for a "public tour" that will take place on October 2nd. This is a Sunday, so the Monday through Friday crowd, for lack of a better phrase, will have the ability to tour New Terminal B prior to the operational opening. The tour is free of cost, but registration is required at the Sacramento International Airport Website. Happy 20th Anniversary Southwest Airlines at Sacramento International Airport, my hometown airport. Sincerely, Mike Barnbaum, Rapid Rewards Member in Sacramento, California ... View more