Southwest Airlines Community

One year ago we launched a bold, new look.  And we gave the world our Heart.  Now, it is time to give our Heart dimension.  It’s high time for Southwest’s fall advertising campaign. At Southwest we aren’t like other airlines. Instead of tacking on fee after fee, we offer an inclusive value. Our Heart—driven by our incredible People--guides everything we do, and causes us to have a VERY different standard for air travel. So as we launch this year’s fall ad campaign in true Southwest fashion, we invented a word for our philosophy: Transfarency SM  . A marriage of “Transparency” and “Fare” – it means we treat Customers honestly and fairly, and low fares actually stay low— no unexpected bag fees, change fees, or hidden fees. It’s a philosophy that other airlines cannot claim. Transfarency is the central idea of our fall 2015 campaign that launched today in Houston and is brought to life across TV advertisements, print and digital elements, as well as a microsite focused on the industry’s competitive landscape. The campaign officially launched today, and the first commercial will be featured on NFL programming beginning Sunday, October 11. I encourage you to dive deeper into our Transfarency story on our microsite, Transfarency.com, which shows side-by-side comparisons between Southwest and our competitors. It’s time to shake up the airline industry and Southwest is ready to show the world what makes our Heart beat. Tranfarency. Southwest continues to lead the pack as the only airline that offers low fares and an inclusive approach to travel. Transfarency is not a new chapter for us, but another tone to the bell that we’ve been ringing for more than 44 years. Find more on our microsite or check out the new ad.       ... View more

Friday evening, June 5 Southwest.com is once again looking good. We appreciate your patience throughout the last few days. A Friday, June 5 update about southwest.com issues from Bob Jordan, Southwest Airlines' Chief Commercial Officer: Thursday, June 4 We appreciate your patience and apologize for any inconvenience or disruption to your travel plans. As you may know, we recently launched a fare sale that has impacted site and mobile functionality. We have extended the fare sale from end of day Thursday to end of day Friday, allowing Customers extra time to book. Our primary mission is to give our Customers outstanding service and great low fares. Our Employees are doing everything they can to deliver on that promise. We are working nonstop to correct web site functionality, and continue to closely monitor and restore site stability. With the site functionality limited, we’ve had a higher number of Customers reaching out to us. We are doing our best to accommodate all Customers as quickly as possible. At this time, we recommend users stay close to our social channels for the latest information on web site and mobile stability. ... View more

In a first of its kind agreement Southwest has joined Lyft to offer Dallas Customers discounted rides to Dallas Love Field. If you live in Dallas and fly out of Dallas Love Field Airport often I hope you saw the news a few weeks ago that Love Field recently included ridesharing in its policies. If you fly Southwest—and you’re reading this so I hope you do—in the coming weeks you should see Lyft promotions related to your upcoming trips. Offering the best experience on your Southwest flight starts the moment you leave your home. And parking is always in demand so next time you’re headed to Love Field-whether you’re traveling for work or for pleasure--reach to Lyft for a ride. Just remember if you’re taking a Lyft ride from Love Field, make sure to head to the designated Transportation Network Company zone on the Arrivals level. Are you ready for Lyft-off? We sure are! To learn more about Lyft visit https://www.lyft.com/.   ... View more

We are pleased to announce that getting through the airport just got easier and greener for Southwest Customers.  The mobile boarding pass feature is now available at all U.S. airports Southwest serves, making travel for our Customers as easy and convenient as possible.  Customers who choose this option can bypass printing a paper boarding pass at their home, office or at the airport and instead simply scan the barcode on their smartphone at airport security checkpoints and at the gate during boarding. This news comes on the heels of an update last week to our iOS and Android apps adding contextual upcoming trip information to the homepage. Customers can now quickly view the info that matters the most while traveling like flight status, boarding position, and gate information. The information updates in the app beginning 24 hours prior to a flight allowing Customers to checkin and access their mobile boarding pass from the homepage. At the end of 2013, Southwest launched Mobile Boarding Pass for single passengers traveling on nonstop and direct Southwest operated flights originating out of Austin (AUS) as part of a pilot program. In February of 2014, we rolled out the pilot program to Dallas (DAL) and Houston Hobby (HOU), which also included connecting flights through Austin, Dallas, and Houston. And beginning in May of 2014, we moved forward with the pilot program and began expanding the mobile boarding pass option throughout the Southwest network. Customers can request a mobile boarding pass at the time of check-in at southwest.com, the southwest.com mobile site, or using our mobile app for iPhone® or Android. They will have the option to have their mobile pass sent to their smartphone by e-mail or text message. If they are checking in through the Southwest mobile site or app, they can choose to immediately view their mobile boarding pass in a new browser window on their phone. The mobile boarding pass contains a two-dimensional barcode along with Customer and flight information that TSA security officers scan to validate the authenticity of the boarding pass at the security checkpoint. Customers can also use the mobile boarding pass at the gate to board the flight. For Customers who purchased a Business Select Fare and elect to use a mobile boarding pass, their drink coupon eligibility will be noted on the mobile boarding pass. In order to receive the complimentary premium drink during the flight, Customers will simply show the drink coupon portion of their mobile boarding pass to the flight attendant for validation. Customers can still choose to print a paper boarding pass online at southwest.com during check-in or at the airport using a self-service kiosk on the day of departure, prior to their flight’s scheduled departure time. To download the app or learn how to use mobile boarding passes, visit southwest.com/mobile. ... View more

Southwest Airlines and DISH® Network are excited to announce our partnership and the ‘TV Flies Free’ promotion will continue through 2014! Customers onboard our more than 440 Southwest WiFi-equipped aircraft will experience free live and on-demand TV, showcasing nearly 20 live TV channels and up to 75 on-demand shows on the Southwest Airlines Inflight Entertainment Portal. With the largest satellite-based WiFi fleet in the world, Southwest is charting new territory in the world of wireless Inflight Entertainment and Connectivity. No longer do Customers need to turn off and stow their smartphones, tablets, e-readers, or handheld computer games for takeoff or landing—as the only carrier offering Customers gate-to-gate connectivity on the majority of our fleet, Customers can use PEDs in “airplane mode” thanks to our Row 44 satellite WiFi. This means you can enjoy Free TV courtesy of DISH to keep you entertained throughout your flight. And remember, Customers do not need to purchase WiFi in order to access movies or TV. Click here for more information, and read more HERE. As part of the extension, DISH will continue offering new customers who sign up for the Hopper and a qualified programming package, 12,500 points in the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards® program and the choice of a free iPad Mini. To access TV inflight, simply launch your internet browser using a smartphone, tablet, or laptop to access the inflight Entertainment Portal. Then, select “Watch TV” from the homepage, which will connect you to the live channels and on-demand options. Check out Spirit Magazine for a comprehensive list of compatible devices and instructions on how to connect. About the Rapid Rewards and iPad Mini Promotional Offer DISH’s promotion offers new subscribers 12,500 points in Southwest’s Rapid Rewards frequent flyer program and the choice of iPad Mini instead of first-year DISH programming discounts when signing up for the Hopper with Sling® Whole-Home HD DVR and a qualified programming package. New DISH customers will be able to take advantage of a comprehensive TV anywhere experience driven by the industry-leading Hopper entertainment platform. The offer requires activation of new qualifying DISH service with 24-month agreement and credit qualification. Monthly DVR and receiver fees apply. All prices, fees, packages, programming, features, functionality and offers subject to change without notice. To qualify, customers must select the Hopper system and minimum of America’s Top 120 package. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. This offer cannot be combined with promotional pricing. Offer not available in Puerto Rico or USVI. Activation fees may apply. Visit www.dish.com for more details. All Rapid Rewards Rules and Regulations apply. You must already be enrolled as a Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Member at time of activation with DISH. Please allow 8-10 weeks for Rapid Rewards Points to be deposited. ... View more

We are very excited to offer Customers the ability to stay connected longer while onboard a Southwest flight! You may have heard about the recent FAA ruling allowing Customers to use small portable electronic devices (PEDs) during an entire trip. That’s right, no more stowing smartphones, tablets, e-readers, or handheld computer games for takeoff or landing! Well, effective today, not only can Southwest Customers use PEDs in “airplane mode” from gate to gate but thanks to our Row 44 satellite WiFi, we are the only airline that offers a gate-to-gate connectivity on the majority of our fleet. The extended use of this Southwest service on WiFi-equipped aircraft is available at the low price of $8 per device, all day, including stops and connections. That also means you can now enjoy free live TV compliments of DISH® and $5 movies from the start of a trip to the very end, with no interruptions.  And remember Customers do not need to purchase WiFi in order to access movies or TV.  Click here for more information. So as you get ready to head out for Thanksgiving travel, you now have the ability to stay connected from the time you step onboard a Southwest plane to the time you exit—just one more way we are working to improve our Customer Service for you! ... View more

Too busy traveling to keep up with your favorite shows?  Not anymore! Southwest is currently offering free live and on demand TV onboard all of our 400+ of our WiFi-enabled aircraft, compliments of DISH. Southwest’s TV package is powered by Row 44, Southwest’s satellite-based WiFi provider, and is streamed directly to most Internet-ready personal devices on most flights. The TV product currently has 13 live channels (Bravo, CNBC, Food Network, FOX 5 New York, FOX Business Network, FOX News Channel, Golf Channel, HGTV, MLB.com, MSNBC, NBC 4 New York, NFL Network, and Travel Channel) and more than 50 TV episodes from popular series. (NFL Redzone, which is a premium channel available on Sunday afternoons during football season, will not be part of the free TV offering). To access TV inflight, simply launch your internet browser using a smartphone, tablet, or laptop to access the Inflight Entertainment Portal. Then, select “Watch TV” from the homepage, which will connect you to the 13 live channels and on demand options. Check out Spirit Magazine for a comprehensive list of compatible devices and instructions on how to connect. Enjoy, fellow TV LUVers—I know I will! ... View more

It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s … both!Today marks a historic day in our 25-year-partnership with SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment as we unveiled our newest SeaWorld-themed aircraft into our fleet—Penguin One! Penguin One, a Boeing 737-700 emblazoned with an artist’s rendition of gentoo penguins joins 12 other 737s in the Southwest fleet that boast a unique paint scheme, as well as Shamu One and Shamu Two. We kicked off Penguin One’s debut at Orlando International Airport (MCO) with more than 500 local Employees and community leaders, along with Southwest Airlines Chairman, President, and CEO Gary Kelly, and SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment CEO, Jim Atchison (shown below). Also on hand to meet the newest member of the family were famous SeaWorld mascots Pete and Penny Penguin, Penguin One’s real life counterparts (We think we got their approval!). We had a lot of fun with our “Tuxedo” theme, as attendees waved black and white pom-poms, snacked on black and white themed snacks, and cheered as Kelly, Atchison, Pete and Penny, and the SeaWorld Aviculturists officially christened the aircraft. The celebration may have started in Orlando, but it didn’t end there! A team made up of Southwest Airlines and SeaWorld Employees boarded Penguin One and took the party to two other SeaWorld cities—San Antonio and San Diego—to celebrate with local Employees. To get your full penguin fix, check out the time-lapse video to witness the full transformation of Penguin One. For even more highlights from the event, stay tuned to our Twitter handle @southwestair and our Facebook page. Keep your eyes peeled for Penguin One as our new high-flying friend takes to the skies! ... View more

Today is an exciting day for me, as I get to represent the nearly 35,000 Employees of Southwest to all the bloggers and journalists attending our annual Media Day event!  As Employees, we all know what an amazing Brand we are so privileged to work for. Today, I shared with our media partners the outstanding results of our efforts in building our legendary Brand. We opened the day by showing the evolution of our Bags Fly Free campaign, showcasing the results of our brand research showing how we are truly Winning Customers to Southwest. Our Brand research clearly shows the momentum our Brand has seen over the past year, and we all know what a challenging time it has been in the industry. Here are some of the headlines we shared: · Our Brand commitment scores—"It’s my favorite airline and I’d go out of my way to fly with them/one of the first I’d consider flying"—are at an all time high. · The Brand Commitment Gains are especially true with Business Travelers. · We continue to stay committed to not charging a Change Fee. · Despite the industry shrinking in capacity, we are growing market share and driving Brand preference. Thanks to my Fellow Employees for the work you do every day in Winning Fans to our favorite Brand—Southwest! ... View more

You are now free to book WestJet flights through a link that is available on southwest.com -- check it out here!  As was previously written about in July by my colleague, Richard Sweet, we are very excited to eventually enter a codeshare partnership with the Canadian airline WestJet.  And while it won’t be until late 2009 before we can begin offering Customers a seamless travel experience via our codeshare, we have officially embarked on our first important step toward this relationship with our friends north of the border.   It’s no secret that we constantly strive to make our web site friendly, fast, and convenient, and we’re always looking for ways to provide additional offerings, whether they be through our hotel, rental car, credit card, or cruise ship partners.  And beginning today, we are very proud to offer a link on southwest.com to book WestJet flights.   So, whether you want to see some “real” hockey, ski, hike, or just want to get away, eh, our friends from WestJet can help you explore the Northern Country.  Oh, and bring a jacket…I hear it gets cold there in the winter! ... View more

As you can tell from our announcement today, we have a lot of exciting news for our business travelers and our frequent Rapid Rewards Members, and these enhancements go into effect tomorrow, hand-in-hand with the systemwide rollout of our new streamlined boarding procedures.  Much of my time and focus (and that of the entire Marketing Team) over the past year or so has been devoted to these changes, and I see them as reconfirming the vision of our Founders, Herb Kelleher and Rollin King, who envisioned an airline that would allow business travelers to park the car and travel by air.  Herb and Rollin intuitively knew that business travelers want safe, affordable, frequent, and friendly flights that provide outstanding value for their money, and today's announcement is dedicated to that goal. Road Warriors have special travel needs; their plans usually change at the last minute; and because their time is so important, they often arrive at the airport just before boarding begins.  If ever there was an airline that recognized the benefits of productivity, it is Southwest, and while great fares are extremely important for business travelers--and their companies--making the most of their time is critical.  The exciting changes that we have announced today will help these Customers meet both their productivity and budget goals.  We have a great interactive page at southwest.com, and it will provide you specific details. However, I do want to touch on the more significant aspects of these changes.  Our new Business Select Fare category ensures that, for a few bucks over our Business Fare, our Business Select Customers will be among the first to board and will also receive extra Rapid Rewards credit for their travels and a free cocktail (or beer or wine).   Along with this new fare category, our current unrestricted walkup fare is being renamed our Business Fare, and it gives business travelers total flexibility in their travel plans.  And, we haven't forgotten our leisure travelers with our Wanna Get Away Fares that offer our world famous discounted leisure fares.  (DING! fares remain generally our lowest fares and can only be accessed through the DING! "widget," which is downloaded directly to your desktop.  To sign up for DING!, click here.) Along with the changes in our fare platform, you will see enhancements at southwest.com as we have simplified our initial fare displays to help you find the fare that best suits your travel needs.  The Wanna Get Away fare section will always show the lowest available fare (again, except for DING! fares) for your selected travel date.  Searching for lower fares on other travel dates is also easier now with the newly improved "Southwest Shortcut." Aside from new fare product and web display, we have another exciting enhancement for our most frequent travelers, the Customers we call our A-Listers.  To be a part of this A-List, you don't have to walk a red carpet, hire a publicist, or hide from the paparazzi; you just need to complete 32 one-way flights (16 roundtrips) in a 12-month period.  Once you reach this milestone, you move to the A-List, and we will check you in automatically for your flights and hold your boarding pass(es) for you.  All you (or your publicist) have to do is print out your preassigned boarding pass and be at the gate at least 20 minutes before departure.  We'll do the work for you. Another exciting change is the availability to redeem two Standard Awards in our Rapid Rewards frequent flyer program for an unrestricted Freedom Award. We listened to our frequent travelers who wanted "last seat availability" on our flights, and we're introducing this new program today. With the exception of a few select blackout dates, Southwest is making it possible again to redeem frequent flyer Awards for unrestricted travel. Today is exciting because these new enhancements give us the ability to differentiate our product to meet the differing needs of our Customers without having to change our decades-long dedication to low fares and great Customer Service. I am hoping that you will be just as excited as we are about these enhancements to our product because we really want to be your airline of choice for both your business and personal travel needs. ... View more