Southwest Airlines Community

Schlafly Beer set a record at this year’s Stout and Oyster Festival, held in St. Louis March 9-10: 15,000 oysters shucked within the first night!  As a sponsor of the two-day festival, Southwest Airlines Cargo shares the passion for speed and efficiency.  More than 30,000 oysters were shipped in for the event, and thanks to the Cargo, Ramp, and Operations Employees who provide efficient same-day service, they arrived fresh and ready to be shucked.  In coordination with the primary suppliers for the festival, Penn Cove Shellfish Co. and American Mussel Harvesters, Schlafly works with the farmers in their supply chains to feature seven different oyster varieties at the festival.  Through our sponsorship, Southwest Airlines also flies in oyster shuckers from across the U.S. to work the event.  After indulging in oysters, festival-goers enjoyed watching the Speed Shucking contest featuring the 2008 World Champions Chopper Young and Trace Hundertmark.  Interested in who displays the best speed and accuracy?  Check it out the video to see who came out on top! Similar to Southwest Airlines, Schlafly Beer empowers their Employees to play an active role in the company’s success while making sure they have FUN doing so. During the two-day festival, Schlafly WOWed more than 5,000 Schlafly Tap Room visitors with their deliciously fresh brewed beers, including: Pale Ale, Dry Hopped APA, Hefeweizen, Kolsch, Oatmeal Stout, and Pilsner, to name a few.  Schlafly brewers can dream up their own unique recipes that are LUVed by the Tap Room visitors.  The Schlafly crew is engaged in a FUN Culture and at the festival’s VIP event on March 8, the crew had a great time with the Cargo Customers and Employees we hosted at the event who enjoyed oysters, beer tasting, and an educational tour of the Tap Room. The next time you are traveling to STL, take the time to visit the Schlafly Tap Room or Schlafly Bottleworks.  Check out a few of their upcoming events, including “The Repeal of Prohibition Beer Festival” on April 14, where Schlafly serves their own list of beers brewed in St. Louis and brings in beers brewed in another state, not available in the St. Louis market.  This year, brewers from Texas will join in the festivities.  In October, Schlafly will benefit from Southwest’s same-day Cargo service again, when we fly in freshly picked hops from Portland (PDX) to STL for their “Fresh Hop Beer Festival.”  If you are interested in tasting Schlafly beers, the beers are available in Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Kansas, Iowa, the DC Metro Area, and Illinois (excluding Chicago).  Visit www.schlafly.com to learn about their beer selection, and be sure to discuss your favorite tastes and styles or the events you attend by connecting with Schlafly on Twitter or Facebook.  ... View more

Ever wonder how floral arrangements arrive fresh to their destination the same day you place your order?  Take a look at how Southwest Airlines® Cargo puts “Petal To The Metal” and enter our “LUV Sick & Long Distance?” Contest for a chance to win a $75 Teleflora® gift certificate and a roundtrip ticket to surprise your loved one in person! The knock on the door, the call from your office receptionist, or a personal visit from a loved one, no matter how flowers are delivered the week of Valentine’s Day, an amazing feeling will rush over you and a beautiful smile will appear on your face.  It never surprises me how fresh the arrangement is and the wonderful fragrance that filters through the room.  Whether it is hydrangeas, tulips, or roses, I hope each of you are blessed with giving or receiving a floral arrangement this Valentine’s Day. Did you know, as you travel to any of the destinations Southwest Airlines serves, fresh flowers are flying beneath you inside the belly of the 737?  With Cargo’s Next Flight Guaranteed (NFG) service, the shipments we provide to florists are 100 percent guaranteed to be on the next available flight.  Companies coast to coast, reaching from California to Florida, rely on Southwest Airlines Cargo to ship to more than 80 destinations.  Once the shipment reaches its destination, the wholesaler or your local florist will pick up the shipment and begin to design the masterpiece that will make someone’s day brighter.  And, it all can happen within the same day! So, pick a loved one in your life and surprise him/her with a gorgeous arrangement this Valentine’s Day.  When you hear how fresh and beautiful the arrangement is, remember Southwest Airlines Cargo. For more information on the LUV Sick & Long Distance contest, visit: http://info.swacargo.com/LUV.html For more information on Southwest Airlines Cargo, visit: http://info.swacargo.com ... View more

The gorgeous weather made a perfect night for the Cargo Sales and Marketing Team to host Denver Customers at the Southwest Porch at Skyline Park.  With the festive decorations, trees adorned with holiday lights, and holiday music playing, our Cargo Customers and their families were able to relax, watch the skaters, and enjoy a hot cup of cocoa, coffee, or beverage of their choice while listening to holiday music. Friends and Family of Cargo Customer Ceva Logisticis, with Cargo Senior Sales Manager John Barnes and Cargo Sales Manager Chris Harman   Our Sales Team invited a handful of our Cargo Customers to check out the Southwest Porch at Skyline Park.  Guests enjoyed hand-tossed pizzas made to perfection in a wood fire grill, spiced apple cider, hot cocoa, and delicious cinnamon rolls!  Guests received a few FUN gifts including: warm scarf, neon blue pint glass, slap bracelet, chapstick, mint box, etc.  Plus, guests were able to skate for free at the Southwest Rink at Skyline Park. Daughter of Cap Logistics Customer, James Hedemark   Rachel, from Precision Air Cargo, said “prior to last night I can’t say I was in the Christmas spirit (my favorite time of the year) but as I was driving home reflecting on the evening, I realized that my Christmas light was officially lit. Southwest knows how to party. The Southwest Team is an awesome collection of wonderful individuals who shine bright and I felt blessed in the chance to meet and spend time with you all.” (L-R) Precision Air Cargo Employee Karla Kalcevic, Cargo Manager of Marketing & Communication Amy McKinney, Denver Ramp Sup Natalie Hurt, and Precision Air Cargo Employee Rachel Thomas.   I feel so blessed this holiday season to work for such an amazing Company and have the opportunity to invite Customers to enjoy our Culture and have FUN celebrating the season!  A big thanks to the Cargo Sales Team for having such an awesome relationship with our DEN Customers!  And, on behalf of Southwest Airlines Cargo, we wish all of you a wonderful holiday season!  ... View more

  When it comes to quality, our Cargo, Ramp, & Operations Employees soar above the rest.  I am thrilled to share our latest award recognition with our Customers and Employees.  Last week, I attended the Quest for Quality Awards banquet along with Employees from our Sales and Operations Teams.  Chris Harman, Cargo Area Sales Manager, accepted the 2010 Quest for Quality Award.   Pictured: (Back L-R) John J Bourke, Grant McDougall, Chris Harman;(Front L-R) John Barnes, Amy McKinney, and Debbie White This year is the 14th consecutive year that Logistics Management magazine ranked Southwest Airlines number one among all air carrier “Quest for Quality” award winners.  Quest for Quality is the most extensive market research study conducted in the logistics industry.  Each year, the study evaluates and measures transportation service providers, determines relevant criteria when selecting a provider, and examines performance measurements and expectations of each provider.  For the past 27 years, Logistics Management’s Quest for Quality has been regarded in the transportation and logistics industries as one of the most important measures of Customer Satisfaction and performance excellence. In addition to the Quest for Quality award, Southwest Airlines Cargo received awards for excellence from Air Cargo World, XLA, and Airforwarders Association earlier this year.  Southwest Airlines Cargo was also recognized as the top airline in the world in the Air Cargo World’s annual Air Cargo Excellence (ACE) Survey.  Rated against 84 airlines, Southwest led all airlines in the Performance and Value categories.  For the sixth year in a row, Express Delivery & Logistics Association (XLA) presented us with the “Airline of the Year” Award.  In addition, we received XLA’s Award for Excellence in Web Site and Technology.  And if that wasn’t enough, Southwest Airlines Cargo was named “Carrier of the Year” by the Airforwarders Association (AfA).  AfA members voted on the AfA member carrier with the best on time performance, Customer Service, problem resolution, claims handling, technology support, service options and overall value; we WON them all! It has been a true honor for our Employees to be recognized for their continued excellence in air cargo operations.  I hope each Employee will join me in celebrating the PEOPLE who WOW our Customers each and every day!  And, I can’t end without a ‘shout out’ to our amazing Customers who display loyalty, support, and always have FUN with our Employees.  We thank you for your business!   ... View more