Southwest Airlines Community

As Thanksgiving approaches, I ask myself what I am most thankful for.  I am most thankful for working for this amazing Company.  Southwest Airlines has given me so many opportunities in my life and will continue to provide that for me.  After reflecting further, I realize that none of this would be possible without YOU!  Our Passengers are the ones that pay each and every one of us, and I am most thankful for YOU!  I wish you and your families a wonderful Thanksgiving.  THANK YOU!  THANK YOU!  THANK YOU! ... View more

Houston Hobby (HOU) is one of the next test cities for a new feature called Express Bag Drop.  Express Bag Drop allows Passengers who have already printed their boarding pass online to scan their boarding pass into a kiosk scanner.  The kiosk will then ask the Passenger how many bags they are checking.  After that, all the Passenger has to do is put their bag(s) on the scale, show the Customer Service Agent their I.D., and be on their way to the gate.  HOU still has the regular kiosk line as well as the full-service ticket counter line.  Oakland International Airport was the first to have the Express Bag Drop feature, and I hear wonderful comments about it.  I look forward to reading your comments about Express Bag Drop!!!!!  ... View more

I'm not sure how many of you have been to Will Rogers World Airport but the renovation is beautiful. I recently flew up to Oklahoma City for the Norman Music Festival. While I was at the airport, I thought it might be cool to show you a cool link to the Oklahoma City Airport information site. The terminal is an extremely beautiful upgrade from what it used to be. There are even some decent food choices such as Sonic, Schlotzsky's, and a new pizza place. Speaking of Oklahoma City, be sure and visit Rob Hahn's video post too. ... View more

This week, Southwest Airlines implemented a new baggage policy. I just wanted to make sure all the Passengers of Southwest Airlines knew about this one. The free baggage allowance for each ticketed Customer will change from three to two bags. The first and second bag you check (up to 50lbs) are FREE. The third bag (also up to 50 lbs) will be $25.00. Oversized and overweight bags may be subject to extra charges. The maximum dimensions will remain the same, where the luggage should not exceed sixty-two (62) inches when you add the length + width + height. SWA does not accept items over 100lbs. Customers will still be permitted to substitute certain sporting equipment free of charge in place of one of the two free bags. For example, ski equipment can be used for a free bag, SWA allows up to two bags (containing one set of snow skis, ski poles, and ski boots) to count as one item, even if they are packed and tagged separately. (Overweight charges may still apply.) Customers may substitute up to two baby items, such as car seats and strollers, in exchange for one checked bag. In real-life terms, a family of four (including two small children over the age of two) may check two sets of golf clubs, two strollers, two car seats, and four pieces of luggage (under 50 pounds each) all for free. ... View more

Here are a few of the acronyms we use around the airport: CSM = Customer Service Manager CSS = Customer Service Supervisor ETA = Estimated Time of Arrival ETD = Estimated Time of Departure FLIFO = Flight Information HK = Held and Confirmed (This is a reservation code to show that an itinerary is confirmed.) MRO = Manager Ramp and Ops MX = Maintenance NOOP = Not operating PAX = Passenger PNR = Passenger Name Record (also known as confirmation number) SB = Standby UM = Unaccompanied Minor ..... just to name a few......Do you have any to add to the list? ... View more

You've heard some Holiday travel tips from Carole Adams, and I want to give you a few more from the perspective of an Employee at the airport.  First, remember, your 3-1-1 (no container with more than three ounces of liquids or gels carried in one clear quart-size ziplock bag for one Customer). Second, DO NOT wrap gifts. (The Transporation Security Administration had a Holiday web site.) If you do insist on wrapping them, just KNOW they might be unwrapped for inspection. Don't forget that 3-1-1 applies to your gifts too! If you purchased any gifts with liquids or gels (snow globes and bath set, anyone?), you should consider shipping your gifts ahead of your travel. Third, get to the airport early for the busy Holiday Season. Lastly, before you go through security checkpoint be sure to take all metal items off and put them in your carryon bag, take your shoes off, and take laptops out of bags and place in a separate tub. Follow these steps, and hopefully you'll get through security just a little quicker than normal. ... View more

I just wanted to share a little airport lingo with you that you might have overheard from airport Employees on their radios. "What's your 20?"... most commonly means where are you? or what's your location? "Copy that" or "Roger that" means I understand or I got it. Or, the most misused phrase I've heard... "direct flight" (this means the flight makes at least one stop between origin and final destination). Nonstop means nonstop. Direct means the flight makes a stop without a connection. Does anyone have any jargon from their profession that they wanna share? ... View more

I'm a rookie at skiing.  Well, I take it back... I went to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, one time and skiied for three days.  Yes, I took one of those half-day ski lessons.  I thought it was well worth the money, but yep, I guess I am a rookie.  Since I've never been snowboarding, I'm writing to see if anyone has any suggestions on where I should take my next trip to attempt skiing, or perhaps, snowboarding.  I am hoping to go before spring break.  Also, any suggestions on lodging would be appreciated.  I suppose I could ask the Southwest Airlines Ski and Snowboard Club, but I really  wanted to know what everyone out there in the blog world thinks as well.  Let's just hope I don't break a leg.  Thanks! ... View more

Almost everyone I know, knows that I'm a SOONER.  I was born and raised in Oklahoma, and I graduated from the University of Oklahoma.  Just curious...who do you think will win the Big XII Championship this Saturday?  Better yet, who's flying Southwest Airlines to the game in San Antonio?  BOOMER SOONER! ... View more

Sunday was an exciting day for me to work at Dallas Love Field!!!!!  It marked the day that Love had finally been set free!  On March 11th, 2007, Southwest Airlines began additional service to cities that were previously restricted by the Wright Amendment.  We are now able to offer one-stop, same plane, or connecting service itineraries to and from Dallas Love Field to 43 cities beyond the Wright Amendment area.  The new schedule offers additional one-stop service to destinations such as Phoenix, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Diego, Chicago, Baltimore, Orlando, and Tampa Bay, to name a few.   It seems like now, more than ever, we are seeing new passengers that are experiencing the "Southwest" effect.  I would just like to personally say "WELCOME" to all the new passengers and if you're ever at the LOVE airport stop by and say "hi".  THANK YOU all for flying Southwest Airlines. ... View more

Just a quick little fun story..... We had a passenger come into the airport, and he walked right up to the ticket counter.  He said, "I'll take a ticket to Los Angeles, please!"  We rapidly checked the existing flights we had, and we said,  "Sir, we have a flight at such and such time and that will be $296.00 plus tax."  The gentleman looked back at us and said, "the sign outside says all I need is LUV."  ha ha ha..... NICE TRY!!!!!  Let's hear some of the funny things you may have overheard at the airport. ... View more

Um.... what's a blog? I'm not sure, but here is my first attempt to write a post..... I think one of the unique things about working for Southwest Airlines is the ability to help others in the community. As some of you may already know, the Ronald McDonald House is one of the major charities that Southwest Airlines supports. We had this great idea that stemmed from the retirement of some of our old uniform pieces at the end of 2004. We decided to use the material from our old uniforms to make quilts to donate to the families at the Ronald McDonald House in Dallas. We put together a team to collect the old uniforms, wash them, cut them into squares, pin, and sew them together. If anyone out there has quilted before, I'm sure you know how time consuming this is. We made a total of ten quilts!!! On the night we visited the Ronald McDonald House, we had a small group of Employees from the Dallas Love Field Airport who presented the quilts to one member of each Ronald McDonald House family in attendance at our event. During the event, we decorated Christmas stockings with the kids and even the big kids at SWA made one (who says you can't celebrate Christmas in May?)! It was fun, entertaining, and everyone had a great time sharing the Southwest Spirit! ... View more