The following blog post was written by Southwest Customer Joanna Chan.
My partner Julie and I recently completed our five-year journey of attending an NHL game in all 31 arenas in North America, and we couldn’t have done it without Southwest! With the help of the Rapid Rewards Program, our accumulation of Rapid Rewards points, and qualifying for a Companion Pass thanks to my business travel, we were able to visit 25 out of the 28 arenas that were not within driving distance of our home.
How did this journey begin exactly? We realized early on in our relationship that we both loved hockey. Before we knew it, we had visited a couple arenas in our first year together and then decided to make it a goal from there to see them all. Once we checked off a few, we realized the dream was definitely doable. Southwest’s route map led us to discover that we could not only see hockey, but also see the country. We enjoyed traveling to cities we may not have ever thought to visit before while also accomplishing our dream along the way.
I’m a numbers nerd—I’ve been crunching the numbers and tracking them along the way. We’ve traveled on a total of 60 different Southwest flights which accumulates to 454,516 Rapid Rewards points spent, 174.37 hours in total flight time, and 67,570 miles flown—enough to circle the globe 2.71 times!
By my calculations, the monetary value of the Rapid Rewards points came out to 61.72 points per dollar. Based on this information, my partner and I have saved more than $14,728.42 during our complete arena tour by taking advantage of Southwest’s Rapid Rewards Program and the Companion Pass.
Thanks to Southwest, we were able to make our dream of visiting all 31 arenas a reality. My favorite part of our journey however is when I surprised Julie with a marriage proposal in front of 20,000 hockey fans at our last arena during a Flames-Oilers game. We also received a fun write-up on NHL.com about our story.
Many thanks to Southwest for making this possible by having the best rewards program out there. We look forward to many more adventures on Southwest as we begin this exciting new chapter of our lives together!
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09-16-2014
01:37 AM
I am so glad that the Wright Amendment will be over soon. I never really liked having to tell the passenger of the restrictions that had to be followed when traveling this route. I told them if they were not happy about then tell the federal government about it, since they were they ones that put it there in the first place so long ago.
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02-06-2014
02:54 PM
14 Loves
When the outside temperatures drop, our winter ops procedures kick into gear. Thanks to the hard work of Ramp Employees and Pilots across the system, Southwest and AirTran ensure that our planes are free from any snow, frost, or ice prior to takeoff as part of our deicing/anti-icing program.
Onboard the aircraft, you typically only see the billowing clouds of steam that result from the application of the heated deicing/anti-icing fluid, but spraying the aircraft is actually a very calculated process. We use two types of propylene glycol-based fluids to keep our aircraft clean and safe: Type I aircraft deicing/anti-icing fluid and Type IV anti-icing fluid.
Type I helps us remove snow, frost, and ice. It is heated to between 160 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit, which is why it causes so much steam when it’s sprayed into the frigid air. The heat that is transferred from the fluid onto the aluminum aircraft surfaces protects the surfaces for FAA-prescribed minimum amounts of time from freezing precipitation while the aircraft is on the ground. Type I can be identified by its orange/amber color.
Type IV allows us to protect our planes from anticipated ice, snow, or frost build-up. Type IV has gel-like properties that allow it to adhere well to the aircraft. When it’s applied to a plane that has already been cleaned by deicing, it will absorb and melt falling snow. During takeoff, the movement of the plane causes Type IV to liquefy and flow off, which leaves behind a completely clean surface. Type IV is green in color.
Throughout the winter season, our Frontline Employees withstand the elements to ensure that we keep our planes free of contamination and our Customers safe. To see a Deicing Crew in action, check out the above video!
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04-16-2013
10:03 AM
137 Loves
Sunday was a milestone day for Southwest when, for the first time ever, the Company expanded our route map to a destination beyond the “lower 48” with our historic inaugural flight to San Juan, Puerto Rico. Local dignitaries, Customers, media, and Employees alike enjoyed first-flight festivities where the warm and friendly personalities of Southwest Airlines and the Puerto Rican people made their first “LUV connection.” Enjoy the video and experience for yourself not only our Employees’ heartfelt pride in their Puerto Rican heritage, but also all of the fun-filled celebrations surrounding the start of our SJU service.
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03-29-2013
01:27 PM
179 Loves
The strangest putting contest you'll ever see, conducted at 35,000 ft. Aaron Baddeley and Kenny Perry duked it out. Watch the video to see whose short game prevailed.
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Pilots and Ramp Agents work closely together every day, every flight... But they rarely have the opportunity to literally work together, side-by-side. Recently in Denver, Southwest Pilots climbed out of the cockpit and down to the ramp so they could learn about another side of our operation.
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06-17-2012
01:29 PM
8 Loves
Eric,
I've forwarded this story on to so many friends and family. They have all been touched by your words. What a beautiful tribute to your dad, my brother John. When ever I take someone to the St Louis airport I go on to the cemetery and watch for the planes to fly over. I wave at the ones I think may be carrying my departing guests.
Love,
Aunt Judy
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11-18-2011
05:52 PM
513 Loves
Another job well done at Southwest Headquarters to entertain more than 40 children and their families, before boarding a flight bound for the Magic Kingdom. This video highlights most of the action.
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