Southwest Airlines Community

Southwest, whose humble beginnings formed out of an idea on a cocktail napkin, has always supported small businesses by expanding our route map to the places Customers, and their businesses, need to fly! We started out with three planes and a handful of Employees so we know what it’s like to struggle to get your business idea off the ground {no pun intended}. We know there can be turbulence along the way, and we know it takes a Warrior Spirit to persevere! That’s why we believe small business owners, entrepreneurs, and artisans are individuals to be celebrated! Southwest Airlines is partnering with Martha Stewart's American Made to celebrate exactly those folks at the second annual American Made Market in NYC on October 16 and 17. “American Made” is a one-of-a-kind public artisanal fair and multimedia celebration that spotlights the maker, supports the local, and celebrates the handmade. It’s a movement of communities and people who have turned their passion into a way of life. For two days, Martha Stewart Living will transform New York’s Grand Central Terminal Vanderbilt Hall into the American Made Market. Attendees can hear and learn from the best “makers” in the business whether their specialty is handmade crafts, gifts, foods, gardens, projects, or designs—it’s sure to be interesting. Find out more about attending the big event with the best artisans, crafters, and designers in the country here. ... View more

We haven’t even officially hit summer, and we’re already thinking about the fall—falling fares, that is!  Today, Southwest & AirTran are kicking off a three-day fall fare sale with fares starting as low as $49 one-way! For three days only, you can purchase nonstop, one-way tickets starting at $49, $99, $129, or $149 to select destinations, based on length of travel. But that’s not all!  Southwest has also announced a limited-time sale on hotels in hot destinations, rental cars from Dollar Rent A Car, and even Southwest Vacations Packages! Examples of these low fares and special offers include (see Fare Rules below): •    $49 one-way nonstop between Atlanta and Orlando •    $99 one-way nonstop between Phoenix and Seattle •    $129 one-way nonstop between Los Angeles and Chicago Midway •    $149 one-way nonstop between Newark and Phoenix •    Hotels: save up to 50% on select hotels in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Diego, and Orlando exclusively at southwest.com! •    Cars: Save 15% and earn Double Rapid Rewards Points with Dollar Rent A Car, exclusively at southwest.com! •    Southwest Vacations: Book a Southwest Vacations Package and get these same low fares, including exclusive nationwide savings, free nights, and more! These incredibly low fares are available for purchase on southwest.com today through 11:59 p.m. Thursday, June 13, 2013, for travel every day of the week except Fridays and Sundays beginning Aug. 26 through Dec. 18, 2013 (blackout dates apply). For travel up to 500 miles, fares are starting at $49 one-way. For travel 501 to 1,250 miles, fares are starting at $99 one-way.  For travel 1,251 to 1,750 miles, fares are starting at $129 one-way.  For travel 1,751 plus miles, fares are starting at $149 one-way. To see the list of available cities, prices, and to take advantage of these special fares, visit www.southwest.com. If that’s not enough to get you running to your computer to book a trip, Southwest has also spread the sale LUV to its subsidiary, AirTran Airways, launching the same three-day sale fares to select domestic AirTran destinations.  AirTran’s fares can be found at www.airtran.com. Don’t delay; these low fares and special offers won’t be around for long! SOUTHWEST AIRLINES FARE RULES Fares are available only on southwest.com or swabiz.com and can be purchased today, through June 13, 2013, 11:59 pm for the respective time zone of the originating city. Travel must take place between Aug. 26 and Dec. 18, 2013. Travel is valid every day except Fridays and Sundays. Blackout dates apply for Sep. 2 and Nov. 26 through Dec. 3, 2013.  Some flights are operated by AirTran Airways. Displayed fares include all government taxes and fees. The lowest advertised fare is not available for service to or from the following cities: Dayton, Washington, D.C. (Reagan National and Dulles), New York (LaGuardia and Newark), Philadelphia, West Palm Beach, San Juan, Fort Myers, and Seattle. Service to Grand Rapids begins on Aug. 11, 2013, and service to Memphis, Richmond, and Pensacola begins on Nov. 3, 2013. Advertised fares are based on nonstop service, and seats are limited.  Fares on connecting flights will be slightly higher due to government-imposed taxes and fees. Fares may vary by destinations, flight, and day of week and won't be available on some flights that operate during very busy travel times and holiday periods.  Fares are available for one-way travel. Fares may be combined with other combinable fares.  If combining with other fares, the most restrictive fare rules apply.  When combining fares, all rules and restrictions apply.  Fares are nonrefundable but may be applied toward the purchase of future travel on Southwest Airlines as long as itineraries containing DING! or Wanna Get Away fare segments are cancelled at least ten minutes prior to scheduled departure (for travel beginning September 13, 2013). Fares are not available through the Group Desk.  Any change in the itinerary may result in an increase in fare. Standby travel requires an upgrade to the Anytime fare. Fares are subject to change until ticketed. Fares are valid on published, scheduled service only.   AIRTRAN AIRWAYS FARE RULES    Fares are available at airtran.com fareand can be purchased today through June 13, 2013, at 11:59 p.m. for the respective time zone of the originating city. Travel must take place between Aug. 26 and Dec. 18, 2013. Travel is valid every day except Fridays and Sundays. Blackout dates apply for Sep. 2 and Nov. 26 through Dec. 3, 2013.  Some flights are operated by Southwest Airlines. Available on published, scheduled service only. Service to Grand Rapids will no longer be available after Aug. 10, 2013, and service to Memphis and Pensacola will no longer be available after Nov. 2, 2013.  Displayed prices include all government taxes and fees. All fares are one-way. A first bag may be checked for a fee of $25 each way and a second bag may be checked for a fee of $35 each way. Reservations may be made via AirTran Airways' Telephone Reservations Center for a fee of $15. Reservations may also be changed via AirTran Airways' Telephone Reservations Center for a $15 fee plus any applicable change fees and fare differences. Fares may be combined with other AirTran Airways combinable fares.  If combining with other fares, the most restrictive fare's rules apply. When combining fares, all rules and restrictions apply. All fares are non-refundable and a $75 fee per person applies to any change made after purchase, plus any applicable increase in airfare.  Seats are limited, subject to availability, and may not be available on all flights. Fares, routes, and schedules are subject to change without notice. Fares may vary by destinations, flight, and day of week and won't be available on some flights that operate during very busy travel times and holiday periods. Fares are nonrefundable but may be applied toward the purchase of future travel on AirTran Airways after applicable change fees and fare differences.  Fares are not available through the Group Desk.  Any change in the itinerary may result in an increase in fare. Fares are valid on published, scheduled service only. ... View more

Hopefully you all had the chance to read Brooks’ blog post on Feb. 14, 2013, and watch as our boss Beth flew on a connected itinerary.  We were pretty excited to announce that we were on our way to connecting the Southwest and AirTran route networks.  We started operating those initial connected itineraries (which went on sale Feb. 23) on March 10.  Well, time flies, and I’m thrilled to announce today that we have successfully connected all 97 of our combined destinations! This past Saturday, March 16, we put the remainder of our newly connected cities on sale which means that you can now purchase itineraries to any of our combined destinations, including international, in one transaction.  The itineraries that went on sale this weekend will begin operating on April 14. As a reminder, now that our networks are combined, our Customers may: Add one or more AirTran domestic flight segments to a Southwest itinerary, using Southwest booking channels (southwest.com, 1-800-IFLYSWA, travel agencies, Southwest’s mobile site and apps, and Southwest Airlines ticket counters). Book one or more Southwest flight segments connecting to an AirTran itinerary, using AirTran channels (airtran.com, 1-800-AIRTRAN, AirTran Airways ticket counters, and travel agencies). Use all Southwest channels to book an AirTran-only domestic itinerary. Add an international AirTran segment to a Southwest itinerary within a single reservation, through a Customer-friendly transfer of the transaction to AirTran channels for booking, purchase, and ticketing by AirTran.  Earn currency in either loyalty program no matter what carrier they fly. The currency a Customer earns is determined by the carrier from which they buy their ticket, even if flying on a shared itinerary.   ... View more

Another fabulous music season is in the books for our friends at Live from the Artists Den, and we’re excited that Season 5 kicks off tonight with Norah Jones! As the Official Airline, we had a blast this spring sharing our LUV for music and beautiful historic venues with Southwest Customers, and we can’t wait for all of you to see the magic come to life on the small screen.  Check out artistsden.com/season5 to find your local TV listings for the new season featuring Norah Jones, The Wallflowers, Rufus Wainwright, and Mayer Hawthorne.  And if the trailer whet your appetite for more Artists Den, check out our behind the scenes footage from San Francisco’s Bimbo’s 360 Club leading up to The Wallflower’s performance! Hope to see you at an upcoming show! ... View more

Texas is known for its hospitality and so is Southwest Airlines.  So what better way to show our LUV and appreciation for our hometown than by giving Dallasites a place to relax while enjoying a concert or movie at AT&T Performing Arts Center’s Annette Strauss Square?  Situated behind the Winspear Opera House along Woodall Rogers,the  Southwest Porch at Strauss Square will officially welcome guests beginning with tonight’s Citizen Cope concert and will be open for every performance at Strauss Square and during special events at the Winspear. In addition to comfortable lounge seating with a great view, the Southwest Porch at Strauss Square will offer free ping pong, free WiFi, unique outdoor cuisine from Wolfgang Puck’s onsite grill, specialty cocktails created by Wolfgang Puck, and a signature Southwest Brew, Franconia Wheat, created by Franconia Brewing Company of McKinney, TX.   We’re proud to bring Dallas a relaxing outdoor venue to showcase our legendary Southwest Customer Service and warm hospitality.  Of course, our commitment to our hometown has always extended beyond the airport and into the community.  We sponsor the Texas Rangers and the Red River Rivalry in addition to supporting local organizations such as Kidd’s Kids, the Ronald McDonald House, and Meals on Wheels. The Southwest Porch at Strauss Square gives us one more way to reach our North Texas Customers where they work and live.  To celebrate the grand opening of the Porch, Southwest Airlines reps will be onhand at the Citizen Cope concert giving away guitar-shaped bottle openers and having fun with concert goers by launching a Twitter contest awarding one lucky fan two tickets anywhere Southwest flies.    The Southwest Porch at Strauss Square is the third “Porch” in our “fleet.”  In June 2009, we opened the Southwest Porch at Bryant Park in New York to celebrate our inaugural service into New York’s LaGuardia airport. Denver’s Southwest Porch at Skyline Park opened in September 2010, however, that Porch has morphed into a seasonal operation around the Southwest Rink at Skyline Park.  The New York City and Denver efforts are so successful that Southwest decided to bring the experience to our hometown of Dallas.   So keep an eye on the Performing Arts Center’s site to see what performances and movies are coming to Strauss Square, and join us for some Southwest hospitality at the Southwest Porch!   ... View more

Southwest is proud to announce our newest Rapid Rewards partner, National Car Rental®.  As a Rapid Rewards Member, you can now earn points on qualified rentals at National, giving you another reason to finally take that trip! Rapid Rewards Members can now receive 600 points per qualified rental.  Members just need to include their Rapid Rewards number at the time of reservation, at the rental desk, or save it to their Emerald Club profile as a reward preference.  But, that’s not all!  To celebrate the new partnership, now through November 15, 2012, Members can receive triple points and save up to 25 percent on any qualifying rental of three days or more.  That’s 1,800 points instead of the standard 600 points! In order to receive the bonus points, when booking a car rental reservation on southwest.com, Members should enter Contract ID 5030346 and provide their Rapid Rewards number. For more information on our partnership with National Car Rental or how to become a Rapid Rewards member, visit http://www.southwest.com/rapidrewards. ... View more

We took our “LUV” for the Mile-High State to new heights today by unveiling Colorado One, a Boeing 737-700 emblazoned with the Colorado state flag! The aircraft is a testament to our great relationship with Front Range Customers and a tribute to our Colorado-based Employees. Colorado One was unveiled at a ceremony at Denver International Airport (DIA) with more than 500 local Employees and community leaders, along with Governor John Hickenlooper, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, and DIA’s Manager of Aviation, Kim Day.   "There is no question about it—Southwest Airlines LUVs Colorado!” said Gary Kelly.  “Denver is our fifth largest city and has been the fastest growing city in our history, thanks in large part to our Front Range Customers and our hard-working Colorado-based Employees.  What better way to thank them than by dedicating an aircraft in their honor!” “Colorado One showcases the tremendous partnership our State continues to have with Southwest Airlines,” said Governor Hickenlooper. “It is a testament to the quality of service and dedication Southwest has provided Colorado for the past six years.” This morning’s ceremony included attendees waving Colorado flags, enjoying locally-made granola snacks, and cheering as Gary Kelly, Mayor Hancock, Governor Hickenlooper, and Kim Day closed the event by christening the aircraft amid fan-fare.  “Southwest Airlines is an invaluable partner, and the City of Denver is thrilled to share in their Employee celebration,” said Mayor Hancock.  “In addition to growing its business in Denver, the airline's Employees have brought Denver an ice rink, an outdoor lounge, and a basketball court in Skyline Park for residents and visitors to enjoy.  I truly want to thank Southwest Employees for your partnership and commitment to making Denver a world-class city where everyone matters. We certainly can feel the LUV.” “This day is a source of pride for all of us at Denver International Airport,” said Kim Day. “Southwest Airlines has been a great partner to DIA and to the City, and we have marveled as they were able to grow their business in Denver even when the economy took a downturn.  We stand together with the Employees of Southwest Airlines as we celebrate their accomplishments and solidify our continued commitment to face our futures together.” ... View more

Traveling and enjoying live music are often cited as great passion points for our society.  Pair them up to create a live concert in the sky, and you’ve got quite a story…one that’s told on TLC’s season finale of On the Fly, tonight at 9/8c!   As the official airline of Live in the Vineyard, Southwest partners with various artists to provide the ultimate in-air entertainment experience.  TLC’s cameras caught Universal Republic recording artist Mat Kearney as he crooned to a full Southwest flight from Nashville to Chicago. Live in the Vineyard events occur twice a year, marrying a few other passion points--namely excellent food, amazing wines, and live acoustic music--during an exclusive winner-only experience in Napa Valley. To give Southwest Customers a taste of this amazing event, we introduced an official Live in the Vineyard decaled Boeing 737 airplane to serve as a venue for Live at 35 – surprise inflight concerts from Live in the Vineyard artists.  In addition to Mat Kearney, recording artists SafetySuit, Susan Justice, Green River Ordinance, Eric Hutchinson, Ryan Star, and Kris Allen have all performed Live at 35!  Below, you can see a video of Green River Ordinance’s performance onboard. We can’t believe the first season of On the Fly has already come to a close.  This season has brought us laughter, tears, and everything in between. Viewers have loved tuning in week after week to see what our Employees and Customers are up to next. Here are few of the viewer’s responses throughout the season: #OnTheFly with @SouthwestAir is a good show. They have great people working for them #enjoyyourflight #OnTheFly definitely has the potential to be my newest obsession. #OnTheFly working in customer service and now watching this show, whole new respect for everyone who works at airports #patienceofsaints Loving #OnTheFly on TLC! It's making me even more excited to start my career :)! ✈ Watching #OnTheFly this is hilarious...major credit to @SouthwestAir So be sure to tune in tonight for the season finale! Thanks to all of our Customers for allowing our Southwest Warriors to provide the best service possible, even in some very difficult situations! And don’t forget to follow along with our trivia while you watch tonight (download it below, after watching the video).   ... View more

We’ve been writing for a year about Southwest’s integration during the filming of Live from the Artists Den, and we’re excited to let you know that Season Four premieres today, Friday, February 3 on PBS stations nationwide!!  In Santa Monica, Adele starts the season off with a bang!   The new season, in addition to Adele, features artists Death Cab for Cutie, Amos Lee, The Fray, Iron and Wine, and Kid Rock!  Check your local listings for times. In addition, keep an eye out for the February issue of Spirit magazine (pictured above) to read more about Artists Den and see some beautiful pictures of Artists Den filming locations.  ... View more

Okay, we all have products that we are crazy about...most Mac owners scoff at using a PC.  If you’re a Colgate person, you probably wouldn’t dream of using Crest.  My mother-in-law can’t live without OxyClean.   But family issues aside, my little daily joy comes in a 12 oz. can (unless it’s been a really long night, then it’s a 20 oz. bottle) of Diet Dr Pepper. I’m apparently not the only one here at Southwest Airlines with that particular passion point.  One of my colleagues has an entire refrigerator in her office dedicated to those maroon and white cans.  And believe it or not, our very own CEO has his own Diet Dr Pepper stash as well.   So, on behalf of all of us who are fans of those no calorie, one-of-a-kind 23 flavors, I am overjoyed to announce that Diet Dr Pepper is now ONBOARD Southwest Airlines!!  Oh, and take it from experience, Diet Dr Pepper goes along great with peanuts.   ... View more

We’ve written before about Southwest’s great partnership with the Artists Den which has allowed us to send some of our Customers, Rapid Rewards Members, Corporate Clients, and Employees to exclusive and private concerts around the country where they were able to hear from Adele, Death Cab, and The Fray just to name a few.  As our partnership continued this year, we were able to treat some folks from our new AirTran family to an historic experience in Memphis, Tennessee.  More specifically: Kid Rock rocked Graceland! Snow was falling outside, but the air inside the Elvis Presley Automobile Museum was on fire when 300 guests (including some lucky AirTran Employees and Customers) were treated to an incredible show that rivaled an arena performance. Kid Rock and his band belted out hits like “Cowboy” and “Bawitdaba” and songs from his recent “Born Free” album, and they had the crowd literally rocking with them. The 15-song set even included a shout-out to The King with some “Burning Love” thrown in for good measure! Click here for the Artists Den “Night in Pictures” for a glimpse of the evening! Prior to the show in the museum, Kid Rock and his band, Twisted Brown Tucker, rocked an acoustic set in Graceland’s Jungle Room: the very place Elvis and his band would hold jam sessions.  In fact, Elvis thought it would look cool to have his green shag carpet not only on the floor, but also on the walls and ceiling of his den, which in addition to the waterfall in the corner, gives the room a true jungle feel.  Ironically, Elvis’ style choice also created a room with amazing acoustics! You will definitely want to tune in this February when the next season of Live from the Artists Den kicks off on PBS.  Trust me…do not miss the Kid Rock episode.   Don’t forget, for your chance to enjoy an incredible Artists Den experience, visit www.artistsden.com and sign up for the mailing list.  And while there, click on the Southwest Airlines banner to sign up for Click ‘n Save to ensure you never miss a great sale! ... View more

We’re closing in on the end of the year: Do you have some extra vacation you need to burn?  Know you’ll want to escape the snow for some sand & waves?  Are your skis itching for fresh powder?  Well, now is the time to book that winter vacation as Southwest today announced a sale with fares as low as $59 one-way to select destinations nationwide.  These incredibly low fares are available for purchase through Nov. 14, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. PST for travel beginning Nov. 14, 2011 through Feb. 14, 2012 (blackout dates apply.) To see the list of markets, prices, and to take advantage of these special fares, visit www.southwest.com.  Our friends at AirTran Airways, Southwest’s wholly owned subsidiary, launched a parallel fare sale today. AirTran’s fares along with terms and conditions can be found at www.airtran.com. Don’t be caught without any winter vacation plans – book now!   ... View more

At Southwest Airlines, our low fares are the right call! Today, we are excited to kick-off a 72-hour sale with fares as low as $35 one-way!  You certainly can’t throw a penalty flag on that play. For 72-hours only, you can purchase one-way tickets for $35, $65, $95, or $125 based on length of travel (additional taxes, fees, and exclusions apply). For travel up to 450 miles, fares are $35 one-way. For travel 451 to 1,000 miles, fares are $65 one-way. For travel 1,001 to 1,500 miles, fares are $95 one-way. For travel 1,501 or more miles, fares are $125 one-way. These incredibly low fares are available for purchase through 11:59 p.m. PST Oct. 20, 2011, for travel beginning Nov. 30 through Dec. 14, 2011 and Jan. 4 through Feb. 15, 2012. To see the list of markets, prices, and to take advantage of these special fares, visit www.southwest.com.  Our friends at AirTran Airways, Southwest’s wholly owned subsidiary, launched a parallel fare sale today. AirTran Customers can also score with fares as low as $35 one-way. AirTran’s fares along with terms and conditions can be found at www.airtran.com. Remember, you don’t want to get called for a delay of game – these low fares are only in play for 72 hours! ... View more

Are you like me? Captivated by secret societies like the clandestine Skull & Bones at Yale or the Illuminati as described in the Dan Brown book “Angels and Demons?”  Well, Wednesday night, I had the chance to visit a secret society of a different ilk…The Artists Den.  The fantastic Death Cab for Cutie performed for about 800 people inside the beautiful Brooklyn Museum.  From the opening song, “Title and Registration,” Death Cab had the crowd in the palms of its hands, hanging on every word. This iconic museum, opened in 1897, was perfect for the indie-rock band.  A rotunda of marble and glass featured famous artwork on the walls and, surprisingly to me, provided great acoustics. The setting was incredibly intimate and the band was definitely at ease and in the mood to joke around with its fans. The “Live from the Artists Den” episode featuring Death Cab for Cutie at the Brooklyn Museum won’t air on PBS until next season, but stay tuned for an early peek online via Hulu. Many of you know that Southwest has partnered with The Artists Den since fall of 2010, and as part of that relationship, we receive branding and integration within the secret concerts.  I’m sure many have wondered how to get a “heads up” or tickets to these shows.  Well, the coolest part about The Artists Den is that it’s secret – but anyone can join!  Only those who have signed up for the mailing list are in the pool to receive free tickets.  Once someone is selected from the pool they get the specific details (most often within a day of the event!) of time and location. And this year, Southwest Airlines is giving people an advantage to be selected from the pool.  Banner ads on www.theartistsden.com promote Rapid Rewards, and new Members who sign up through the link on that page get an extra entry into the pool for all shows this season! As a special “surprise & delight” effort, a few of us were on hand at the Southwest Porch at Bryant Park Wednesday to give away five pairs of last-minute tickets to the Death Cab For Cutie concert.  We even signed up some new Rapid Rewards Members while we were there! So, if you’re a passionate music fan interested in joining this secret society, visit www.theartistsden.com and sign up for the newsletter.  You’ll be the first to know the next artists and secret locations at which they’ll perform.  And maybe you’ll be lucky enough to be chosen to go! ... View more