Southwest Airlines Community

You’ve heard the saying “Rome wasn’t built in a day,” well whoever said that makes a good point: it takes time and patience to build something significant.  In the past two years, we’ve made several significant changes to southwest.com, such as redesigning our Air Booking functionality, a new home page, site navigation, and introducing Travel Guide, our online travel community.  Today, we are launching a new compilation of enhancements to southwest.com that you, our Customers, are sure to love….mainly because most of them were requested by you.   In efforts to maintain the best shopping experience for you, these new enhancements will be introduced slowly and you may not see all of these functions today.   A few of the highlights include: Improved car & hotel booking paths, including new features such as hotel maps and advanced filtering New shopping cart functionality, which allows you to purchase Air + Hotel + Car if you choose, all at one time New tool allowing you to easily access your flight information:  Lookup by Confirmation Number or Credit Card New, easy way to lookup your Rapid Rewards/Account Number Improved access to information (searchable FAQs, improved site search, more organized content, and more) Don’t let the name fool you.   Just because we are Southwest Airlines, doesn’t mean that our mission to build a full-service travel solution for you is based solely on our low fares and Bags Fly Free®*.   We have suite deals on over 40,000 hotels, and deals that drive savings on  car rentals, all with our one-stop-shop on southwest.com.   Plus, if you are a Rapid Rewards Member, you can earn credit towards a free flight by selecting one of our many car and hotel Partners.  To celebrate, we are extending awesome deals - like up to 50% off hotel stays in our top cities and up to 5X Rapid Reward credits with our car Partners.   You may be thinking to yourself…”But I can go anywhere online for travel deals like these…”  Not so fast!  Remember, if you want to fly on one of our beautiful birds, southwest.com is the only site where you’ll find our low fares and Legendary Customer Service.  So if our fares are nowhere else online and we’ll guarantee low rates on cars and exclusive rates on hotels, why would you go anywhere else?  Our award-winning web site accounts for more than 80 percent of all Southwest Airlines bookings so take a look around the store and see what you think.   You know that other saying, “When in Rome....” *First and second checked bags. Baggage weight and size limits apply.   ... View more

It’s hard to believe a year has already flown by since we introduced EarlyBird Check-In. If you’ve purchased a flight on southwest.com, visited our homepage, or receive our weekly Click ‘n Save e-mails, you’ve probably seen and heard a lot about this popular product. Customers appreciate the extra convenience that EarlyBird Check-In provides like automatic advanced check-in, allowing for an improved seat selection along with earlier access to overhead storage. In their own words, here’s what our Customers have been saying about their EarlyBird Check-In experiences: “I'm all about the early bird check-in. I've been using it pretty regularly and it makes life so much easier.” “I like to get onboard and be able to pick a better seat with my bag in the storage over me.” “If you do pay for it you’re going to feel confident that you don’t have to rearrange your day. Like, if I’m in a meeting I don’t have to log online to print out my boarding pass.” “Peace of mind for only $10” With EarlyBird Check-In, available for $10 each way added to your reservation, we will take care of check-in for you.  We’ll also assign your boarding position before general boardings becomes available, allowing you to conveniently print your boarding pass anytime within 24 hours of your flight’s departure.   And don’t forget, if you’re in a hurry, you can always print your boarding pass on-the-go at one of our airport kiosks.  EarlyBird Check-In Customers have the opportunity to board immediately following the limited number of passengers in the Business Select and A-list groups.  Once you’ve entered the plane, the jumpstart on your boarding position will come in handy once again, allowing you earlier access to seat selection and overhead storage space to stow your bag. You can buy EarlyBird Check-In on southwest.com, or if you have a smartphone, add it to your existing reservation using our mobile site or our iPhone® App.  In today’s fast-paced world, a little extra convenience goes a long way.    So give EarlyBird Check-In a try the next time you fly.    Visit southwest.com/earlybird.     ... View more

I take pride in that title.   Maybe that is why they asked me to write this blog about our enhanced Mobile Site, or maybe it's because I'm a part of the Team that helped implement it, or maybe it's just because I haven't blogged in a while (most likely all three). At any rate, we have been working feverishly to enhance our mobile site and it has arrived! Check out the newly augmented southwest.com mobile site.  It's sure to stimulate any traveler and mobile junkies' mind. With so many new functions, I'm not sure where to start. Previously our application allowed our Customers to check-in for their flight, cancel their reservation, contact Southwest, view our Terms/Conditions, and Privacy Policy.  In addition to those, the NEW features are : Book a Flight (Can I get a WOO HOO?) Check Flight Status Login to your Rapid Rewards® account View Schedules Link to our southwest.com homepage Some competitor mobile sites should have icon envy when they see the new visually appealing product that we have created. We recognize that there are mobile junkies out there, like myself, who rely on their mobile devices for many conveniences these days. We want you to have these conveniences when you need to book your summer vacation, next business trip, or whatever trip you have planned.  Aside from being so intuitive, our mobile site is just as safe as our web site, so you can feel secure with your purchases/transactions. Whether over dinner, at the zoo, in an airport, in a mall, or wherever you are, we now make it super easy to book your Southwest Airlines flight.   Plus, check in for your flight, check flight status, cancel your flight, view our schedules, login to your Rapid Rewards account, or go directly to our website southwest.com.   Have a question?  With one touch you can explore the “Contact Southwest” option to access Reservations and Information (24 hours), Automated Flight Information, Baggage Questions, Customer Relations, Cargo, Charitable Giving, Cruise, Investor Relations, Rapid Rewards Customer Service, Vacations and few more.   (Whew, that is a mouthful)   If you think you may have left something important at the TSA Checkpoint, there’s a number for that too.       The next thing I would like to conquer is some term related to the cramp I often feel in my hand because I use my mobile device for so many things.  Am I the only one who suffers from this Mobilecrampanitis? Go check it out and let us know what you think and what we could do next?    mobile.southwest.com To see a video of our mobile site in action click here. ... View more

Family, the smell of pinion in the outside air, homemade cheeseballs for snacking, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, football on the tv all day, family, mom's big black turkey pan that she has used since I can remember, the china and crystal place setting we see twice a year, family, the STUFFING (my fav), my sister-in-law's sweet potato stuff with the gooey marshmallow topping, my dad eating a dozen rolls himself, family, the urge to dress up my sweatpants so I look nice and can grow in the mid area, feeding the leftovers to the dogs and cats, mimosas, naps, and family.   These are just a few of things that make my memories so happy when I think of Thanksgiving.   ... View more

Many people are getting in the spirit of football season, and so am I, but for a different reason.   It reminds me that the Texas State Fair is here!   If you ask those who know me well, they will tell you I am a State Fair junkie.  I buy the season pass and go as much as I can.   The first thing I do is find the Fletcher's stand to get a cold beer and corn dog.   I love the way the smell of corny dogs in the Midway slightly overshadows the hint of stench in the air.   Each year, they invent some new heart-attack on plate to entice the fried food fanatic inside each of us.  This year I'll be on a hunt for the Deep Fried Smore's or the Chicken Fried Bacon.   If those don't get your taste buds singing, then how about Fried Banana Split, Fried Chocolate Truffles, a Fried Grilled Cheese or Fried Jelly Bellys?  Check out the Food Pavilion for even more food choices.   I think you might even be able to find a salad or something healthy like that, blech! Food isn't the only thing that keeps me coming back.   I love the extreme rides with the super loud music playing outside.   The more extreme, the better.  It shakes up all the corny dogs and beer in my belly and gives me a rush like nothing else.   Wheeeeeeeee!!! Southwest Airlines is the Proud Sponsor of Mundo Latino, Celebration of Cultures.  In its 13th year at the State Fair, Mundo Latino features an exhibit highlighting the rich Latino culture. The theme changes every year featuring dance, music, food and educational programs from artists and groups representing the Latin world including Mexico, Spain, Central & South America, and the United States. This year's exhibit features "El Mariachi".  For more information visit www.mundolatinoevents.com. Another sponsorship is our very own Southwest Airlines State Fair Classic.  The kickoff of Black College Football between Grambling State University Tigers and "the new" Prairie View A & M University Panthers will take place Saturday October 4th at the Cotton Bowl with a 6pm kickoff. There is a plethora of attractions beyond what I have mentioned above.  My daughter enjoys learning about country life at the Little Hands on the Farm exhibit, Pig Races, Dog Shows, and the Pee Wee stampede.   I must have genetically passed my thrill of extreme rides too.   She is only five, so the kiddy area is as extreme as it gets, but hey it's a start, right?  One of the biggest attractions is Big Tex of course: “Howdy folks.”   We love to go visit Big Tex.   The Arts building is also a regular stop for me each year.   Several years ago, I entered the photo contest and won Best in Show.  It was a big accomplishment, since there were over 11,000 entries.  I also love to check out the butter sculpture each year in the Arts building.   This year I think the butter sculpture is King Tut.   One tiny disappointment last year was the missing sponsorship of Charmin in the bathrooms in the Food Pavilion.   It was so clean and nice with the fluffy toilet paper to use.   Charmin, please come back and sponsor the bathrooms again. There is just so much to do, you have to go more than once; The Starlight Parade, the Midway lights (more people watching), Auto Show, Main Stage has music performers each night, the Wine Garden, Livestock Show, Bird Show, Illumination Sensation light show each night with high tech visual effects and pyrotechnics, and so much more.  The Texas-OU football game has been played during the Fair every year since 1929.   Our Online Marketing team is taking an outing this year to the Fair and I can't wait to share the one-of-a-kind experience I have grown to love.  Do you have a favorite State Fair story or attraction you would like to share?  ... View more

Going green.    Is it just me, or has the presence of being green really escalated?    I love that the awareness is everywhere I turn, even here at Southwest with "Green Tuesday."    I recently bought a house for the very first time, and I am very excited to have the big blue thingie, along side of my big green thingie for the trash.   Almost seems like the green thingie should be for recycling, but I remind myself it's the blue one.   Anywho, I thought this is a great time to get serious and be more conscious of my decisions with Mother Earth.   Along with that, I have a perfect little five-year-old daughter, Gigi,  whom I am trying to teach these green (pun intended) skills to so she can have a long healthy life.  Several months ago, I started to turn the water off as I was brushing my teeth, and now I have Gigi doing the same thing.  It saves water.   Another great way to save on water is to purchase the $5,400 toilet.  Yes, toilet.   It's evidently what a very well-known, cute, young, actor has in his green house.  It may even make him "king of the world."  (wink wink)  I'll spare you all the details and functions, but it was impressive. Another effort was to replace all the light bulbs with eco-friendly bulbs.    Note to the people who do this:  you can't use a dimmer with these bulbs unless you buy a special eco bulb for dimming, and they are a bit hard to find.  There are so many small things you can start to do that really make an impact.   I have been watching Discovery's Planet Green channel, and I think my next task will be to eliminate the paper towels in my household.   Sigh!   Anybody have any tips on this one?   I'll keep you posted on my Chronicles on GG and I'd love to hear your ideas. ... View more

I simply can't put into words the admiration, respect, and LUV I have for Colleen as a Leader and more importantly, as a person.    I honestly struggle to express this in words or stories.   You are a magnificent and one-of-a-kind!   ... View more

Recently, we held a contest where we encouraged our Customers to submit a DING! headline. We received around 30,000 entries, and many inquiring minds have been waiting for the winners to be announced.... ....drum roll please! GRAND Prize Winners: Joyce C. - Freedom is calling from the skies above! Choose one of our great deals and fall madly in LUV! Patrick C. – Mondays are manic, but don’t you panic…..DING! has specials from the Pacific to the Atlantic First Place Winners: Pat N. – With this DING!, I thee fled. Kimberly W. – Our prices are great! Our prices are low! Book with us, where you want to go! Second Place Winner Lisa E. – DING! today, Gone tomorrow! DING! fares are so cheap, you won’t have to borrow! Wondering if we store all those fun headlines somewhere? We do! There is an actual DING! database that our very own software engineers built to grab the headlines for each DING! Some of my favorites are: -Gas prices are high. It's no joke! Fly on Southwest to avoid going broke -Roses are red, violets are blue, there's a DING! offer waiting for you -Feeling desperate? Need to get away? Check out these DING! fares, no need for dismay. -Need to take a break? Need a place to go? Let Southwest take you to and fro. -It's Friday afternoon. Your work is almost done. DING! fares have been released. And the fun has just begun. Congrats to our creative winners, and if you don't have DING!, you better get that thing. ... View more