Southwest Airlines Community

This week, we're calling all musicians again, and talking Tuskegee Airmen, holiday schedule opening, Free Hobby, and SWA ink.     ... View more

Legendary Customer Service is not routine.  It’s jarring, unanticipated, and for the lack of a better term, overly reasonable.  Something legendary is also inherently memorable.  If On The Fly only showed sunshine and rainbows, I don’t know that I’d watch.  Certainly, I prefer the positive stories to delays and other obstacles, but erasing the negative would be inauthentic, and not what we’re about.  After all, each rainbow is preceded by a storm, and the hottest fires forge the strongest steel.  As you can see from the above picture, things got… well… pretty hot (that’s a lot of bags!) in one of tonight's episodes.  Each week, we host a live chat on Twitter, and a real-time conversation on Facebook, to talk about On The Fly as it’s happening.  In that Facebook thread, a gentleman by the name of David questioned how “real” the show was.  I answered publicly on Facebook, but thought it worth reiterating. Q: Does the camera crew just hang around until something interesting happens and then afterwards ask for release forms to put people on the show? A: They actually did just hang around until something interesting happened.  Five days a week, and typically twelve hours a day.  Releases were signed after the events occurred.  Camera crews were based in Baltimore, Chicago, and Denver.  TLC also had a floating crew that would go around the Southwest system, usually with specific stories in mind that were submitted.  In one of tonight’s episodes, our Social Media Team got to play a pretty big role, because we discovered the story on Facebook.  I won’t give it away here, but because we were already aware of that particular story, we were able to position the crew accordingly. Q: Do they get stories from Employees and then have them reenacted? A: None of the stories are reenacted.  However, when the main characters are narrating their stories, they weren’t taken aside during the event.  They reflected on the situation after it was taken care of (so the show wouldn’t get in the way of solving a Customer’s issue). Q: Did you hang signs in the gate area letting people know there were cameras? A: Yes, we had signs surrounding an active scene. We followed legal guidelines to determine when someone needed to sign a release. True to its name, the majority of this show was filmed On The Fly.  So fasten those seat belts, and get ready for tonight’s ride. And how’s about a little trivia, too? ... View more

When you walk New York's streets near 10th and 5th, the Church of Ascension doesn't immediately stick out.  In a concrete jungle abound with towering buildings, an unassuming church is easily overlooked.    A few steps inside, however, I quickly realized what our friends at The Artists Den had found: a figurative "diamond in the urban rough."  They have a knack for this sort of thing.  In Stephen Keller's video, Live From The Artists Den Executive Producer Mark Lieberman says he was "immediately just taken by the grandeur of the room."  Indeed, the capstone of this magnificent church is not easily missed. The Ascension of Jesus is depicted in a beautiful, hulking mural, book-ended by mammoth organ pipes that serve as the foundation for Sunday's hymns.     Standing in the empty church before set-up, a peace overcame me.  And that's the magic of these venues; they all hold within them an irreverance that distinguishes each from the next, and yet links them all together under the Artists Den umbrella.  I'm honored to work for a Company like Southwest that supports something so unique, and something I also care deeply about.   This venue, like others, is alive with personality. The two-story Episcopal church breathes with tradition, from the old-fashioned pews to the contemporary pamphlets.       Even as lights were hung, sound was tested, and a set built, the church had a welcoming affect.  It's easy to become lost in such a beautiful place, senses overwhelmed to a point where you're able to focus through obstruction.  I imagine it is intricacies such as these that make building sets for The Artists Den more entertaining than run-of-the-mill venues.     And really, the physical building of a show from start to finish in one day is symbolic of months of hard work. The anxiety; the pitfalls; the jubilation when it all finally comes together.    And when the music starts, it socks you in the stomach like an answered prayer.     ... View more

This week, we're talking about trading places with the Milwaukee Brewers, Freeing Hobby, On The Fly, Flashback Fridays, and Calling All Musicians!     ... View more

DALLAS — May 16, 2012 — Southwest Airlines and the Transport Workers Union (TWU) 550, representing the carrier's more than 180 Dispatchers, announced today that the two parties have reached a tentative agreement. The tentative agreement is for a new, five-year contract through November 2014, and will be presented to all Southwest Dispatchers pending a final review and approval from the TWU 550 Board of Directors. The current contract became amendable in November 2009. In early 2011, the Carrier sought assistance from the National Mediation Board (NMB) through the mediation process as defined by the Railway Labor Act. Both Southwest and TWU 550 would like to thank the NMB for its role in reaching this current tentative agreement. "I am extremely proud of both negotiation teams and their dedication in accomplishing this important task,” said Matt Hafner, Southwest Airlines Vice President of the Operations Coordination Center (OCC), which includes the Dispatchers. “This tentative agreement represents hours of hard work and I’m pleased to say is mutually beneficial for not only our hard-working Dispatchers, but also the entire Company, our Customers, and our Shareholders during this challenging economic time in the airline industry.” In the upcoming weeks, the TWU 550 membership will be given the full details of the agreement and have the opportunity to vote on ratification. Southwest Airlines continues to differentiate itself from other low-fare carriers — offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service. Southwest Airlines is the nation's largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded and has acquired AirTran Airways, now a wholly owned subsidiary of Southwest Airlines Co. Southwest serves 73 cities in 38 states and remains one of the most honored airlines in the world known for its commitment to the triple bottom line of Performance, People, and Planet. To read more about how Southwest is doing its part to be a good citizen, visit southwest.com/cares to read the Southwest Airlines One Report™. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,200 flights a day and has more than 39,000 Employees. www.southwest.com ... View more

We wanted to give the opportunity for a few Nuts About Southwest Blog Team Mother's Day shout-outs. Don't forget to wish Mum a Happy Mother's Day!    I'll kick things off! Every year on the Friday afternoon before Mother's Day, my Mom knows there will be flowers.  My Mother works at the middle school that I attended in my hometown of Lake Bluff, Illinois.  Growing up with your Mom in the front office of your educational institution isn't always easy.  Especially when you come from a family like mine; tough love is often learned through humiliation.  Mine came in the form of a loudspeaker, wielded by--you guessed it--none other than my Mother.  There are some children who dread going to the dentist for fear of sharp, intricate objects.  My fear was born out of my Mother calling my name over the loudspeaker.  What probably sounded like a Mother sweetly summoning her child came across as nails on a chalkboard (pun intended).      But for the past handful of years: flowers.  Well, except this year.  Instead, I got my Mom a spa day and a hair dryer.  It's the least I could do.  Thanks for giving me tough skin, Mom.  Even if it meant getting bullied on the playground.   Love,   Brooks   Whitney Bartels, Customer Relations Social Media This picture captures my mom, my older sister, Hayley, and I on Mother’s Day 1988. At less than one year old, I was oblivious to what the next 24 years would bring. From major surgery as a toddler to graduating high school, moving to Dallas, graduating SMU, and starting my first real job, my mom has been my constant pillar of support. I don’t know what the next 24 years will bring, but I know I would not be who I am without my mom.   I love you, Mom.  Happy Mother’s Day! Ana Schwager, Community Affairs & Grassroots Mom, thanks for always being up for a great travel adventure!  We've shared some amazing memories all over the world.  Happy Mother's Day!  Love, Ana   Annie Hoelzel, Crew Scheduling Mom, Every year I have been thankful you’ve been in my life, and every passing year I am more thankful than the last.  You’ve been a great mom to me and as grow older, a great friend as well.  I love your sense of humor and your straight forward attitude.  You are a great travel buddy, and I look forward to many more adventures together!  I admire how hard you work.  You are the strongest person I know.  I love how you’re always fixing up your house and working in your garden.  I think it’s great how you can grow butterflies like others can grow flowers.  You were there for me when I needed you the most, and one day I hope to return the favor.  Thank you for loving me and making me always feel loved.  Thank you for allowing me to be me.  Thank you for your support when I decided to break away from the family tradition and found my own niche in the working world.  It’s made more an impact on me than I’ll ever be able to express. I am glad we talk on the phone as often as we do, and I love when you fly up and visit me.  It’s a good thing Houston to Dallas is such easy flight to make! I love you so much.  Have a very happy Mother’s Day!   The End. Happy Bees!   Love,   Annie Erin Terry, Marketing     As a new Mom, Mother’s Day has taken on an entirely new meaning for me this year. Not only am I being celebrated as a Mom for the first time (though having a January birthday I won’t complain about a gift-giving holiday at a different time of year – bring on the swag!), I also have a renewed admiration for my own Mom and her tireless efforts to shape my brother and I into the upstanding citizens that we are today. A teacher, a friend, a guidance counselor, a maid….like all Moms, she wears many hats! Of all the life lessons I’ve learned from her over the years, one piece of advice stands out. In sixth grade (hello, awkward pre-teen years!) I was struggling to get my bearings at a new school and integrate with a new crop of kids from various parts of town. I remember my Mom telling me time and time again….”just be nice to everyone.” The kill ‘em with kindness approach never gets old and has served me well in my adult life as well. Those who know my Mom from any aspect of her life would agree that “nice” is her middle name.     A glass half full person through and through, I admire her ability to get along with anyone and everyone while seeing the good in all situations. Thank you, Mom for instilling the value of a positive outlook on life. I’m in the camp that nice guys (or girls) don’t finish last. We’re winners before the game even starts. ... View more

In this week's Stew, we're talking about Southwest's newest addition, the Boeing 737-800.  Calling all musicians!  We are soon going to be selecting the winners for #SWATurns41.  Loyalty Month continued this week with appreciation for our teachers.  We need all the support we can get to Free Hobby!  Go to http://freehobbyairport.com to help us out.  Finally, our new Boeing 737 MAX Winglets were the big winner this week.     ... View more

We all have our days.  If you tried to buy tickets, or check in for a Southwest flight today, you likely encountered slow service and some frustration.    Throughout the day, we experienced technical hurdles involving a variety of systems, including southwest.com and our in-airport check-in.  Our Teams have been fully aware of the situation and worked diligently to fix any problems as quickly as possible.  We can assure you that at no time was Customer information compromised, and flight operations were not impacted.    Like I said, we all have our days.  Unfortunately, today decided to be one of those days for us.  We want to offer a great, big apology for any inconvenience this has caused, and thank you for your patience and understanding.  ... View more

DALLAS—May 9, 2012—Southwest Airlines said today that on Tuesday night around 9:00 p.m. CT, it received a non-specific security threat that led to the investigation of two flights; both were cleared with no findings. Initially, we worked with authorities in Phoenix to investigate Flight 1184 (SNA – PHX).  The aircraft was inspected, all passengers rescreened, and nothing was found.  The flight was cleared around midnight.  Passengers on that flight who were heading onto Tulsa were accommodated on flights Wednesday morning. The non-specific security threat also affected Flight 811 (SNA – PHX).  Flight 811 was canceled because screening the flight would have pushed the departure time past the John Wayne Airport noise curfew.  After canceling the flight, the aircraft was inspected with no findings. The Customers on that flight were accommodated on flights Wednesday morning. We take the safety of our passengers and operations very seriously, and we will continue to work with authorities investigating these incidents. ... View more

DALLAS—MAY 7, 2012—CivilianJobs.com, today recognized Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) as the only airline in its list of 2012 Most Valuable Employers (MVE) for Military.  Employers on the list were selected based on the best recruiting, training, and retention plans for military service members and veterans. “Southwest Airlines has a long history of supporting the men and women who fight for our Freedoms,” said Jeff Lamb, Southwest’s Executive Vice President, Chief People and Administrative Officer.  “Military service members and veterans possess the specialized skills and discipline needed for many of our positions, and we feel fortunate to be an Employer of choice for those that have served our country.”  Southwest has a long history of supporting men and women in uniform and works closely with many organizations that support active duty military and their families and veterans, including The Mission Continues, the Armed Forces Foundation, Iraq Afghanistan Veterans Association, and Honor Flight.  Southwest also has named November “Military Heroes Month” to additionally recognize and celebrate those who fight for the Freedoms of our country.   “I have come to look forward to the month of May and the subsequent release of the employer names, representing both large and small businesses, which receive the Most Valuable Employers for Military honor,” said Sandra Morris, CEO, Bradley-Morris, Inc., parent company of CivilianJobs.com. “The number of companies that CivilianJobs.com recognizes today as MVEs has increased each year of the award. This trend, where more employers are focusing their resources on the hiring and retaining of military, is one to celebrate. I congratulate Southwest Airlines for this recognition.” The 2012 Most Valuable Employers (MVE) for Military was open to all U.S.-based companies. In addition to being recognized in the May issue of Civilian Job News, CivilianJobs.com's worldwide military base newspaper, winning employers will also be displayed on the CivilianJobs.com website. About Southwest Airlines Southwest Airlines has a long history of supporting the men and women who fight for our Freedoms and has been named one of G.I. Jobs Top 100 Military Friendly Employers.  Southwest Airlines also was recognized by the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) for our commitment and support of our National Guard and Reserve Employees. Southwest Airlines continues to differentiate itself from other low-fare carriers – offering a reliable product and exemplary Customer Service. Southwest Airlines is the nation’s largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded, now serving 73 cities in 38 states. Southwest also is one of the most honored airlines in the world known for its commitment to the triple bottom line of Performance, People, and Planet. To read more about how Southwest Airlines is doing its part to be a good citizen, visit southwest.com/citizenship to read the Southwest Airlines One Report ™. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,300 flights a day and has nearly 39,000 Employees system-wide. About CivilianJobs.com and MVE – CivilianJobs.com, where America’s military connects with civilian careers delivers job fairs, staffing services, a job board plus employer advertising in our military base newspaper, Civilian Job News. The CivilianJobs.com Most Valuable Employers (MVE) for Military serves to help military-experienced job seekers identify the top employers to target for civilian careers. MVEs are selected annually based on those employers whose recruiting, training and retention plans best serve military service members and veterans. ... View more

In this episode of the Stew, we're winglets, performing on planes, the Hunt for Magic, Loyalty Month, and the Space Shuttle Discovery landing at one of our airports (with the help of a Boeing bird, of course).     ... View more

On May 1, 1959, America saw its first observance of Loyalty Day, thanks to U.S. Congress and Ike (then-President Dwight D. Eisenhower).    The tradition was rekindled (or reaffirmed, as it were) last year, when President Barack Obama issued an official proclamation of Loyalty Day.  Officially, today is a day set aside to reaffirm loyalty to the United States, and to recognize the heritage of American freedom.    At Southwest, we pride ourselves on being a Symbol of Freedom, and loyalty is a big deal to us, as well.  But to confine our appreciation to one day would be too limiting, so we decided to extend it into the entire month.  Throughout May, we'll be appreciating the loyalty shown by our Customers, our Employees, and People who are loyal to making the world a better place.  We will focus on People who are loyal to our children, our future, and our Freedom.   Of course, we also want to hear from you about who/what you appreciate! Here's how you can do that:   Tweet Us using the hashtag #LUVLoyalty Write Us Facebook Us Comment Below   We kicked off Loyalty Month very early today by surprising A-List Preferred Rapid Rewards Member James Easterling.  Easterling travels almost daily between Houston and Dallas. He's been doing so since 2001.   Needless to say, he's logged a lot of time on our canyon blues  Finding Easterling, I would have figured to be easy.  A-List Preferred, he's gotta be one of the first Passengers off, right?  Wrong.  As we came to find out, Easterling's favorite seat on the plane is the window seat of the last row, on the left.   Bewildered, and a little bleary-eyed from a crack-of-dawn flight, James Easterling deplaned to a little more excitement than his usual commute.  But appreciating him with some Southwest swag was really the least we could do for such a loyal Customer.   We've, of course, made big strides this year to stay loyal to our Customers.  We entered a new era when Warrior One joined the Southwest fleet as our first Boeing 737-800. The Evolve Interior is pivotal in its innovation, comfort, and environmentally-conscious design.  And our latest feat is the ability to convert between Rapid Rewards and AirTran A+ Rewards.   So here's to loyalty.  Share yours!   ... View more

This week we're talking chili, Friday the 13th, freeing Hobby Airport, Green Getaways, and the tale of two planes: the maiden commercial voyages of our first Boeing 737-800s!   ... View more

Thu, Apr 19, 2012 - DALLAS - Net income of $98 million; operating income of $22 million Excluding special items, net loss of $18 million; operating income of $10 million Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) (the "Company") today reported its first quarter 2012 results.  First quarter 2012 net income was $98 million, or $.13 per diluted share, which included $116 million (net) of favorable special items.  This compared to net income of $5 million, or $.01 per diluted share, in first quarter 2011, which included unfavorable special items totaling $15 million (net).  Excluding special items, first quarter 2012 net loss was $18 million, or $.02 loss per diluted share, compared to net income of $20 million, or $.03 per diluted share, in first quarter 2011. This compared favorably to Thomson's First Call mean estimate of $.05 loss per diluted share.  Operating income for first quarter 2012 was $22 million, compared to $114 million in first quarter 2011.  Excluding special items, operating income was $10 million for first quarter 2012, compared to $110 million for the same period last year.  Additional information regarding special items is included in this release and in the accompanying reconciliation tables.   Gary C. Kelly, Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Despite a modest loss, excluding special items, our first quarter results were notable, with outstanding revenue production and, except for jet fuel, better-than-expected operating costs.  Record first quarter revenue results were produced with strong revenue management and network optimization, along with benefits from the AirTran acquisition and All-New Rapid Rewards. First quarter 2012 passenger revenues, on a unit basis, increased five percent compared to first quarter last year, representing a 15 percent improvement over two years, and over 30 percent improvement since first quarter 2009 (as compared to combined results, as defined below).  Traffic and booking trends, thus far in April, are solid. "The decline in operating income was driven by a $478 million increase in our first quarter economic fuel costs, compared to first quarter last year.  Energy price increases continue to pressure costs, which only serve to reinforce our commitment to eliminate waste and maximize efficiency throughout our Company."  Financial Results and Outlook AirTran Airways, Inc. became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company on May 2, 2011. Results discussed in this release and provided in the accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and Comparative Consolidated Operating Statistics include the results of operations and cash flows for AirTran beginning May 2, 2011, including the impact of purchase accounting.  Periods presented prior to the acquisition date do not include AirTran's results.  However, the Company believes the analysis of specified financial results on a "combined basis" provides more meaningful year-over-year comparability.  Financial information presented on a "combined basis" is the sum of the historical financial results of the Company and AirTran for periods prior to the acquisition date, but includes the impact of purchase accounting beginning May 2, 2011.  Supplemental financial information presented on a "combined basis" and the accompanying reconciliations are included in this release. The Company's total operating revenues in first quarter 2012 increased 28.6 percent to $4.0 billion, compared to $3.1 billion in first quarter 2011, and increased 5.9 percent year-over-year compared to $3.8 billion, on a combined basis.  Operating unit revenues increased 4.6 percent from first quarter 2011, on a combined basis. Total first quarter 2012 operating expenses were $4.0 billion, compared to $3.0 billion in first quarter 2011, and compared to $3.7 billion in first quarter last year on a combined basis.  Excluding special items in both periods, first quarter 2012 unit costs increased 6.7 percent from first quarter 2011 combined unit costs, largely due to a 16.6 percent year-over-year increase in economic fuel costs per gallon.  First quarter 2012 economic fuel costs of $3.44 per gallon included $0.12 per gallon in unfavorable cash settlements for fuel derivative contracts; however, fuel derivative contract premium costs decreased $25 million year-over-year, as described below in the discussion of other income.   Based on market prices as of April 16 th , the Company expects second quarter 2012 economic fuel costs, including fuel taxes, to be in the $3.40 to $3.45 per gallon range, with minimal impact from cash settlements for fuel derivative contracts.  Second quarter 2012 premium costs, recorded in other gains/losses, are currently estimated to be approximately $12 million, compared to premium costs of $26 million in second quarter 2011.  As of March 31, 2012, the fair market value of the Company's hedge portfolio was a net asset of $184 million, compared to a $44 million net liability at December 31, 2011.  Additional information regarding the Company's fuel derivative contracts is included in the accompanying tables.  Excluding fuel and special items in both periods, first quarter 2012 unit costs increased two percent from first quarter 2011's combined 7.83 cents.  Based on current cost trends, the Company expects another year-over-year increase in its second quarter 2012 unit costs, compared to second quarter 2011's combined unit costs, excluding fuel and special items in both periods. Operating income for first quarter 2012 was $22 million, compared to $114 million in first quarter 2011.  Excluding special items in all periods, operating income was $10 million for first quarter 2012, compared to $110 million in first quarter 2011, and compared to $86 million in first quarter last year, on a combined basis. Other income for first quarter 2012 was $137 million compared to $96 million of other expenses in first quarter 2011.  This $233 million swing primarily resulted from $170 million in other gains recognized in first quarter 2012, compared to $59 million in other losses recognized in first quarter 2011.  In both periods, these gains and losses primarily resulted from unrealized gains/losses associated with a portion of the Company's fuel hedging portfolio.  Excluding these special items, other losses were primarily attributable to the premium costs associated with the Company's fuel derivative contracts.  First quarter 2012 premium costs were $6 million, compared to $31 million in first quarter 2011. The Company's return on invested capital (before taxes and excluding special items) was approximately six percent for the twelve months ended March 31, 2012.  Additional information regarding pre-tax return on invested capital is included in the accompanying reconciliation tables.    AirTran Acquisition Kelly continued, "First quarter marked another key milestone in the integration of AirTran with the approval by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of our Single Operating Certificate (SOC).  While we continue the process of welcoming AirTran Employees to the Southwest Family, we have now begun converting AirTran 737 aircraft to the Southwest paint and interior configuration.  We will begin transitioning AirTran airport facilities to Southwest later this year, beginning with Seattle and Des Moines.  "In February, we were thrilled to introduce Southwest's legendary low fares and outstanding Customer Service to Atlanta, Georgia.  We initiated service to Southwest's 73 rd  city with 15 daily flights to five nonstop destinations.  By August 2012, we will grow Southwest's Atlanta service to 26 flights and eleven nonstop destinations, with AirTran offering over 165 daily flights and 47 nonstop destinations.  Customer response to Southwest's entrance in the market, in less than three months' time, has been exceptional.  We also introduced Atlanta Customers to Southwest's award winning Cargo service, with the opening of a brand new Cargo facility in Atlanta.  "As we continue to optimize and align the two airlines, both airlines benefit.  AirTran's strong revenue performance continues to improve.  While there are no plans to connect the two separate brands and networks until next year, we are actively optimizing AirTran's stand alone network.  By repurposing less profitable flying, we have created the opportunity to improve network returns.  AirTran launched new service from Denver to Cancun this week, and will begin service from San Antonio to Mexico City and Cancun next month; Austin to Cancun next month; and Orange County to Mexico City and Cabo San Lucas in June 2012. AirTran also recently received route authority to commence service between Chicago Midway and Cancun, beginning June 2012, pending Mexican government approval. "The Flight Attendants and Flight Instructors from both airlines reached agreements regarding seniority integration during first quarter 2012, joining the Pilots from both airlines that reached their seniority integration agreement in December 2011.  I commend these Employees for successfully reaching a key step in the integration process. We continue to work and make progress on seniority integration agreements with our remaining unions. "We have a tremendous amount of work ahead of us to complete the integration in 2014, but we are very pleased with our progress.  In 2011, we produced $80 million in net pre-tax synergies, and we produced approximately $40 million in net pre-tax synergies in first quarter 2012, alone.  We expect to realize total net pre-tax annual synergies of $400 million in 2013 (excluding acquisition and integration expenses)."  The Company incurred $13 million in expenses (before taxes) associated with the acquisition and integration of AirTran during first quarter 2012, representing a cumulative total of $155 million in acquisition and integration costs.  The Company expects total acquisition and integration costs will be approximately $500 million.  Fleet  "We celebrated the momentous arrival of our first Boeing 737-800 in March, which entered revenue service last week," stated Kelly.  "The -800 is an integral component of our fleet modernization plan, bringing 38 more seats than a Boeing 737-700, lower unit costs, and enhanced scheduling flexibility to consider exciting new opportunities. We expect to take delivery of 33 -800s this year.  "We also began to retrofit our 737-700 fleet with an updated cabin interior.  Evolve: The New Southwest Experience enhances Customer comfort, personal space, and the overall travel experience. It also allows for six additional seats.  We currently anticipate that all 372 -700s in the Southwest Airlines fleet will receive the Evolve makeover by first half 2013." Liquidity Net cash provided by operations for first quarter 2012 was $1.2 billion, and capital expenditures were $127 million.  As a result, the Company generated $1.1 billion in free cash flow* in first quarter 2012. On August 5, 2011, the Company's Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program to acquire up to $500 million of the Company's common stock following such authorization.  As of March 31, 2012, the Company had purchased approximately 33 million shares of common stock under such authorization for approximately $275 million.  The Company repaid $431 million in debt during first quarter 2012, and is scheduled to repay approximately $130 million in debt for the remainder of 2012.  As of April 18 th , the Company had approximately $3.9 billion in cash and short-term investments.   In addition, the Company had a fully available unsecured revolving credit line of $800 million. Awards and Recognitions Named tenth most admired Company in the world in FORTUNE magazine's 2012 survey of corporate reputations Recognized by the Temkin Group for the Best Airline Customer Experience, and AirTran followed in second place Ranked first in Brandindex's 2011 US Buzz Rankings for Airlines for positive brand presence Awarded Value Airline Brand of the Year by the Harris Poll based on familiarity, quality, and purchase consideration Received the top ranking by Forbes for The Brands American Women and Men Desire Most Ranked 16 th  of over 200 companies in the 2012 Temkin Loyalty Rankings measuring customers' willingness to recommend, reluctance to switching, and likeliness to repurchase Southwest and AirTran were jointly honored by Project Open Hand Atlanta with the New Company on the Block – Corporate Citizenship Award Recognized by Chief Executive Magazine as one of the 40 Best Companies for Leaders based on outstanding Company culture and internal professional development Southwest will discuss its first quarter 2012 results on a conference call at 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time today.  A live broadcast of the conference call will also be available athttp://southwest.investorroom.com. *See Note Regarding use of Non-GAAP financial measures. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  Specific forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements related to (i) the Company's financial outlook and projected results of operations; (ii) the Company's plans and expectations with respect to its acquisition of AirTran, including without limitation anticipated integration timeframes and anticipated costs and benefits results associated with the acquisition; (iii) the Company's fleet modernization plans and the Company's related financial and operational expectations; and (iv) the Company's growth plans and expectations, including network and capacity plans and expectations. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current intent, expectations, and projections and are not guarantees of future performance.  These statements involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that are difficult to predict and that could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed in or indicated by them.  Factors include, among others, (i) changes in the price of aircraft fuel, the impact of hedge accounting, and any changes to the Company's fuel hedging strategies and positions; (ii) the Company's ability to successfully integrate AirTran and realize the expected synergies and other benefits from the acquisition; (iii) the impact of the economy on demand for the Company's services and the impact of fuel prices, economic conditions, and actions of competitors on the Company's business decisions, plans, and strategies; (iv) the Company's ability to timely and effectively implement, transition, and maintain the necessary information technology systems and infrastructure to support its operations and initiatives; (v) the Company's ability to timely and effectively prioritize its strategic initiatives and related expenditures; (vi) the Company's dependence on third parties with respect to certain of its initiatives; (vii) the impact of governmental and other regulation related to the Company's operations; (viii) the Company's ability to maintain positive relations with employees and employee representatives and to timely and effectively address collective bargaining agreements; and (ix) other factors, as described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the detailed factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011. SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.  CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS  (in millions, except per share amounts)  (unaudited) Three months ended March 31, Percent 2012 2011 (1) Change OPERATING REVENUES: Passenger $ 3,744 $ 2,949 (2) 27.0 Freight 37 31 19.4 Other 210 123 (2) 70.7 Total operating revenues 3,991 3,103 28.6 OPERATING EXPENSES: Salaries, wages, and benefits 1,141 954 19.6 Fuel and oil 1,510 1,038 45.5 Maintenance materials and repairs 272 199 36.7 Aircraft rentals 88 46 91.3 Landing fees and other rentals 254 201 26.4 Depreciation and amortization 201 155 29.7 Acquisition and integration 13 17 (23.5) Other operating expenses 490 379 29.3 Total operating expenses 3,969 2,989 27.0 OPERATING INCOME 22 114 (80.7) OTHER EXPENSES (INCOME): Interest expense 40 43 (7.0) Capitalized interest (5) (3) 66.7 Interest income (2) (3) (33.3) Other (gains) losses, net (170) 59 n.a. Total other (income) expenses (137) 96 n.a. INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES 159 18 n.a. PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES 61 13 n.a. NET INCOME $ 98 $ 5 n.a. NET INCOME PER SHARE: Basic $ 0.13 $ 0.01 Diluted $ 0.13 $ 0.01 WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING: Basic 771 748 Diluted 772 749 (1) Excludes financial results for AirTran. See Supplemental Combined Statement I for selected financial information on a combined basis, including AirTran, for periods prior to the May 2, 2011 acquisition date.   (2) The Company made a fourth quarter 2011 reclassification to change the allocation of Operating revenues between Passenger revenues and Other revenues from its sale of frequent flyer points associated with its co-branded Chase® Visa credit card. The Company has thus reclassified $10 million in Operating revenues for the period from January 2011 through March 2011 from Other revenues to Passenger revenues to conform to the current presentation. SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO. RECONCILIATION OF REPORTED AMOUNTS TO NON-GAAP ITEMS (SEE NOTE REGARDING USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES) (in millions, except per share amounts) (unaudited) Three months ended March 31, Percent 2012 2011 (1)  Change Fuel and oil expense, unhedged $ 1,479 $ 1,044 Add (Deduct): Fuel hedge (gains) losses included in Fuel and oil expense 31 (6) Fuel and oil expense, as reported $ 1,510 $ 1,038 Add: Net impact from fuel contracts (2) 25 19 Fuel and oil expense, economic $ 1,535 $ 1,057 45.2 Total operating expenses, as reported $ 3,969 $ 2,989 Add: Net impact from fuel contracts (2) 25 19 Total operating expenses, economic $ 3,994 $ 3,008 Deduct: Acquisition and integration costs, net (3) (13) (15) Total operating expenses, non-GAAP $ 3,981 $ 2,993 33.0 Operating income, as reported $ 22 $ 114 Deduct: Net impact from fuel contracts (2) (25) (19) Operating income, economic $ (3) $ 95 Add: Acquisition and integration costs, net (3) 13 15 Operating income, non-GAAP $ 10 $ 110 (90.9) Other (gains) losses, net, as reported $ (170) $ 59 Add (Deduct): Net impact from fuel contracts (2) 176 (29) Other losses, net, non-GAAP $ 6 $ 30 (80.0) Income before income taxes, as reported $ 159 $ 18 Add (Deduct): Net impact from fuel contracts (2) (201) 10 $ (42) $ 28 Add: Acquisition and integration costs, net (3) 13 15 Income (loss) before income taxes, non-GAAP $ (29) $ 43 n.a. Net income, as reported $ 98 $ 5 Add (Deduct): Net impact from fuel contracts (2) (201) 10 Add (Deduct): Income tax impact of fuel contracts 77 (4) $ (26) $ 11 Add: Acquisition and integration costs, net (4) 8 9 Net income (loss), non-GAAP $ (18) $ 20 n.a. Net income per share, diluted, as reported $ 0.13 $ 0.01 Deduct: Net impact from fuel contracts (0.16) - $ (0.03) $ 0.01 Add: Impact of special items, net (4) 0.01 0.02 Net income (loss) per share, diluted, non-GAAP $ (0.02) $ 0.03 n.a. (1) Excludes financial results for AirTran. See Supplemental Combined Statement II for a reconciliation of selected combined amounts to non-GAAP items, including AirTran, for periods prior to the May 2, 2011 acquisition date. (2) See Reconciliation of Impact from Fuel Contracts. (3) Amounts net of profitsharing impact on charges incurred through March 31, 2011. The Company amended its profitsharing plan during second quarter 2011 to defer the profitsharing impact of integration costs incurred from April 1, 2011 through December 31, 2013. The profitsharing impact will be realized in 2014 and beyond. (4) Amounts net of tax and profitsharing impact (see footnote (3) above). SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO. RECONCILIATION OF IMPACT FROM FUEL CONTRACTS (SEE NOTE REGARDING USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES) (in millions) (unaudited) Three months ended March 31, 2012 2011 (1) Fuel and Oil Expense Reclassification between Fuel and Oil and Other (gains) losses, net, associated with current period settled contracts $ (2) $ 2 Contracts settling in the current period, but for which losses have been recognized in a prior period (2) 27 17 Impact from fuel contracts to Fuel and oil expense 25 19 Operating Income Reclassification between Fuel and Oil and Other (gains) losses, net, associated with current period settled contracts $ 2 $ (2) Contracts settling in the current period, but for which losses have been recognized in a prior period (2) (27) (17) Impact from fuel contracts to Operating Income (25) (19) Other (gains) losses, net Mark-to-market impact from fuel contracts settling in future periods $ 205 $ 3 Ineffectiveness from fuel hedges settling in future periods (31) (30) Reclassification between Fuel and oil and Other (gains) losses, net, associated with current period settled contracts 2 (2) Impact from fuel contracts to Other (gains) losses, net 176 (29) Net Income Mark-to-market impact from fuel contracts settling in future periods $ (205) $ (3) Ineffectiveness from fuel hedges settling in future periods 31 30 Other net impact of fuel contracts settling in the current or a prior period (excluding reclassifications) (27) (17) Impact from fuel contracts to Net Income (3) (201) 10 (1) Excludes financial results for AirTran. (2) As a result of prior hedge ineffectiveness and/or contracts marked-to-market through the income statement. (3) Excludes income tax impact of unrealized items. SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO. COMPARATIVE CONSOLIDATED OPERATING STATISTICS (unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 2012 2011 (1) Change Revenue passengers carried 25,560,822 21,115,115 21.1% Enplaned passengers 31,154,453 25,599,118 21.7% Revenue passenger miles (RPMs) (000s) 23,684,869 19,195,885 23.4% Available seat miles (ASMs) (000s) 30,632,893 24,505,674 25.0% Load factor 77.3% 78.3% (1.0)pts Average length of passenger haul (miles) 927 909 2.0% Average aircraft stage length (miles) 685 656 4.4% Trips flown 333,896 273,823 21.9% Average passenger fare $ 146.44 $ 139.65 (2) 4.9% Passenger revenue yield per RPM (cents) 15.80 15.36 (2) 2.9% RASM (cents) 13.03 12.66 2.9% PRASM (cents) 12.22 12.03 (2) 1.6% CASM (cents) 12.96 12.20 6.2% CASM, excluding fuel (cents) 8.03 7.97 0.8% CASM, excluding special items (cents) 12.99 12.21 6.4% CASM, excluding fuel and special items (cents) 7.99 7.91 1.0% Fuel costs per gallon, including fuel tax (unhedged) $ 3.32 $ 2.93 13.3% Fuel costs per gallon, including fuel tax $ 3.39 $ 2.91 16.5% Fuel costs per gallon, including fuel tax (economic) $ 3.44 $ 2.96 16.2% Fuel consumed, in gallons (millions) 443 356 24.4% Active fulltime equivalent Employees 46,227 35,452 30.4% Aircraft in service at period-end 694 550 26.2% RASM (unit revenue) - Operating revenue yield per ASM PRASM (Passenger unit revenue) - Passenger revenue yield per ASM CASM (unit costs) - Operating expenses per ASM (1) Excludes operating statistics for AirTran. See Supplemental Combined Statement IV for consolidated operating statistics on a combined basis, including AirTran, for periods prior to the May 2, 2011 acquisition date. (2) The Company made a fourth quarter 2011 reclassification to change the allocation of Operating revenues between Passenger revenues and Other revenues from its sale of frequent flyer points associated with its co-branded Chase® Visa credit card. The Company has thus reclassified $10 million in Operating revenues for the period from January 2011 through March 2011 from Other revenues to Passenger revenues to conform to the current presentation. This reclassification affects certain prior year operating statistics. SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO. RETURN ON INVESTED CAPITAL (1) (in millions)   (unaudited) 12 Months Ended 12 Months Ended March 31, 2012 March 31, 2011 Operating Income, as reported $ 600 $ 1,047 Add (Deduct): Net impact from fuel contracts (5) 105 Add: Acquisition and integration costs, net (2) 130 21 Add: Asset Impairment, net (3) 14 - Operating Income, non-GAAP $ 739 $ 1,173 Net adjustment for aircraft leases (4) 139 81 Adjustment for fuel hedge accounting (82) (134) Adjusted Operating Income, non-GAAP $ 796 $ 1,120 Average Invested Capital (5) $ 12,779 $ 10,599 Equity adjustment for fuel hedge accounting 166 305 Adjusted Average Invested Capital $ 12,945 $ 10,904 ROIC, pre-tax 6% 10% (1) Calculation includes the impact of the AirTran acquisition as of May 2, 2011. (2) Net of profitsharing impact on charges incurred through March 31, 2011.  The Company amended its profitsharing plan during second quarter 2011 to defer the profitsharing impact of integration costs incurred from April 1, 2011 through December 31, 2013.  The profitsharing impact will be realized in 2014 and beyond. (3) Net of profitsharing impact. (4) Net adjustment related to presumption that all aircraft in fleet are owned. (5) Average invested capital represents a five quarter average of debt, net present value of aircraft leases, and equity.   SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (in millions) (unaudited) March 31, December 31, 2012 2011 ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,558 $ 829 Short-term investments 2,226 2,315 Accounts and other receivables 367 299 Inventories of parts and supplies, at cost 432 401 Deferred income taxes 219 263 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 318 238 Total current assets 5,120 4,345 Property and equipment, at cost: Flight equipment 15,600 15,542 Ground property and equipment 2,507 2,423 Deposits on flight equipment purchase contracts 444 456 18,551 18,421 Less allowance for depreciation and amortization 6,456 6,294 12,095 12,127 Goodwill 970 970 Other assets 641 626 $ 18,826 $ 18,068 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 1,208 $ 1,057 Accrued liabilities 1,024 996 Air traffic liability 2,556 1,836 Current maturities of long-term debt 259 644 Total current liabilities 5,047 4,533 Long-term debt less current maturities 3,048 3,107 Deferred income taxes 2,638 2,566 Deferred gains from sale and leaseback of aircraft 72 75 Other noncurrent liabilities 924 910 Stockholders' equity: Common stock 808 808 Capital in excess of par value 1,225 1,222 Retained earnings 5,486 5,395 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (57) (224) Treasury stock, at cost (365) (324) Total stockholders' equity 7,097 6,877 $ 18,826 $ 18,068 SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (in millions) (unaudited) Three months ended March 31, 2012 2011 (1) CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net income $ 98 $ 5 Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 201 155 Unrealized (gain) loss on fuel derivative instruments (201) 10 Deferred income taxes 14 28 Amortization of deferred gains on sale and leaseback of aircraft (3) (3) Changes in certain assets and liabilities: Accounts and other receivables (68) (87) Other current assets (51) (92) Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 225 238 Air traffic liability 720 512 Cash collateral received from derivative counterparties 147 29 Other, net 143 170 Net cash provided by operating activities 1,225 965 CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Purchases of property and equipment, net (127) (57) Purchases of short-term investments (621) (1,484) Proceeds from sales of short-term investments 736 1,310 Net cash used in investing activities (12) (231) CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Proceeds from Employee stock plans 5 4 Proceeds from termination of interest rate derivatives - 76 Payments of long-term debt and capital lease obligations (431) (30) Payments of cash dividends (7) (7) Repurchase of common stock (50) - Other, net (1) 1 Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (484) 44 NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 729 778 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD 829 1,261 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD $ 1,558 $ 2,039 (1) Excludes financial results for AirTran. SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO. FUEL DERIVATIVE CONTRACTS AS OF APRIL 16, 2012 Percent of estimated fuel consumption covered by fuel derivative contracts Average WTI Crude Oil price per barrel 2Q 2012 Second Half 2012 $80 to $90 approx. 10% $90 to $100 approx. 25% $100 to $115 (1) approx. 50% $115 to $130 approx. 25% Above $130 less than 10% Estimated difference in economic jet fuel price per gallon, above/(below) unhedged market prices, including taxes Average WTI Crude Oil price per barrel 2Q 2012 Second Half 2012 $75 $0.05 $0.06 $90 $0.05 $0.06 $104 (2) $0.03 ($0.02) $115 $0.03 ($0.12) $130 $0.00 ($0.23) Percent of estimated fuel consumption covered by fuel derivative contracts at Period  varying WTI crude-equivalent price levels 2013 over 40% 2014 over 15% 2015 over 10% (1) For second quarter 2012, the Company's current estimated fuel consumption covered by fuel derivative contracts is minimal. (2)     Based on the second quarter 2012 average WTI forward curve and market prices as of April 16, 2012, and current estimated fuel consumption covered by fuel derivative contracts, second quarter 2012 economic fuel price per gallon, including taxes, is estimated to be in the $3.40 to $3.45 per gallon range, or approximately $.03 above market prices. SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO. 737 FUTURE DELIVERY SCHEDULE AS OF APRIL 18, 2012 The Boeing Company The Boeing Company 737 NG 737 MAX -700 Firm Orders -800 Firm Orders Options   Additional -800s Firm Orders Options Total 2012 - 25 (2) - 5 - - 30 2013 - 41 - - - - 41 2014 35 4 15 - - - 54 2015 36 - 12 - - - 48 2016 31 - 12 - - - 43 2017 15 - 25 - 4 - 44 2018 10 - 28 - 15 - 53 2019 - - - - 33 - 33 2020 - - - - 34 - 34 2021 - - - - 34 18 52 2022 - - - - 30 19 49 2023 - - - - - 23 23 2024 - - - - - 23 23 Through 2027 - - - - - 67 67 127 (1) 70 92 5 (3) 150 (4) 150 594 (1) The Company has flexibility to substitute 737-800s in lieu of 737-700 firm orders. (2) The Company has taken delivery of three 737-800 aircraft through April 18, 2012. (3) New delivery leased aircraft. (4) The Company has flexibility to accept MAX 7 or MAX 8 deliveries. SUPPLEMENTAL COMBINED STATEMENT I SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO. SELECTED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION (1) (in millions) (unaudited) Three months ended March 31, Percent 2012 2011 Change OPERATING REVENUES: Passenger $ 3,744 $ 3,524 6.2 Freight 37 31 19.4 Other 210 215 (2.3) Total operating revenues 3,991 3,770 5.9 OPERATING EXPENSES: Salaries, wages, and benefits 1,141 1,098 3.9 Fuel and oil 1,510 1,294 16.7 Maintenance materials and repairs 272 263 3.4 Aircraft rentals 88 107 (17.8) Landing fees and other rentals 254 242 5.0 Depreciation and amortization 201 170 18.2 Acquisition and integration 13 22 (40.9) Other operating expenses 490 489 0.2 Total operating expenses 3,969 3,685 7.7 OPERATING INCOME $ 22 $ 85 (74.1) (1) Selected financial information for the three months ended March 31, 2012 is presented on a consolidated basis.  Selected financial information for the three months ended March 31, 2011 is presented on a combined basis, including financial results for AirTran, prior to the May 2, 2011 acquisition date. These combined results exclude the impact of purchase accounting. AirTran's historical financial information included in the combined presentation has been conformed to Southwest's financial statement classification where appropriate.  See Note Regarding Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures. SUPPLEMENTAL COMBINED STATEMENT II SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO. RECONCILIATION OF SELECTED COMBINED AMOUNTS FROM SUPPLEMENTAL COMBINED STATEMENT I TO NON-GAAP ITEMS (1) (SEE NOTE REGARDING USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES) (in millions) (unaudited) Three months ended March 31, Percent 2012 2011 Change Fuel and oil expense, combined unhedged $ 1,479 $ 1,309 Add (Deduct): Fuel hedge (gains) losses included in Fuel and oil expense 31 (15) Fuel and oil expense, as presented on Supplemental Combined Statement I $ 1,510 $ 1,294 Add: Net impact from fuel contracts 25 19 Fuel and oil expense, combined economic $ 1,535 $ 1,313 16.9 Total operating expenses, as presented on Supplemental Combined Statement I $ 3,969 $ 3,685 Add: Net impact from fuel contracts 25 19 Total operating expenses, combined economic $ 3,994 $ 3,704 Deduct: Acquisition and integration costs, net (2) (13) (20) Total operating expenses, combined non-GAAP $ 3,981 $ 3,684 8.1 Operating income, as presented on Supplemental Combined Statement I $ 22 $ 85 Deduct: Net impact from fuel contracts (25) (19) Operating income (loss), combined economic $ (3) $ 66 Add: Acquisition and integration costs, net (2) 13 20 Operating income, combined non-GAAP $ 10 $ 86 (88.4) (1) Selected financial information for the three months ended March 31, 2012, is presented on a consolidated basis. Selected financial information for the three months ended March 31, 2011 is presented on a combined basis, including financial results for AirTran, prior to the May 2, 2011 acquisition date. These combined results exclude the impact of purchase accounting. AirTran's historical financial information included in the combined presentation has been conformed to Southwest's financial statement classification where appropriate.   (2) Amounts net of profitsharing impact on charges incurred through March 31, 2011.  The Company amended its profitsharing plan during second quarter 2011 to defer the profitsharing impact of integration costs incurred from April 1, 2011 through December 31, 2013. The profitsharing impact will be realized in 2014 and beyond. SUPPLEMENTAL COMBINED STATEMENT III SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO. SELECTED CONSOLIDATING COMBINED 2011 FINANCIAL INFORMATION (1) (in millions) (unaudited) Three months ended March 31, 2011 (as reported) Southwest AirTran Airlines Co. (as conformed) Combined OPERATING REVENUES: Passenger $ 2,949 (2) $ 575 $ 3,524 Freight 31 - 31 Other 123 (2) 92 215 Total operating revenues 3,103 667 3,770 OPERATING EXPENSES: Salaries, wages, and benefits 954 144 1,098 Fuel and oil 1,038 256 1,294 Maintenance materials and repairs 199 64 263 Aircraft rentals 46 61 107 Landing fees and other rentals 201 41 242 Depreciation and amortization 155 15 170 Acquisition and integration 17 5 22 Other operating expenses 379 110 489 Total operating expenses 2,989 696 3,685 OPERATING INCOME/(LOSS) $ 114 $ (29) $ 85 (1) Selected financial information in this schedule is presented on a combined basis, including AirTran, for periods prior to the May 2, 2011 acquisition date.  Results presented for Southwest and AirTran, on a standalone basis, represent previously reported results.  AirTran's historical financial information has been conformed to Southwest's financial statement classification where appropriate. See Note Regarding Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures.   (2) The Company made a fourth quarter 2011 reclassification to change the allocation of Operating revenues between Passenger revenues and Other revenues from its sale of frequent flyer points associated with its co-branded Chase® Visa credit card. The Company has thus reclassified $10 million in Operating revenues for the period from January 2011 through March 2011 from Other revenues to Passenger revenues to conform to the current presentation. SUPPLEMENTAL COMBINED STATEMENT IV SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO. COMBINED OPERATING STATISTICS (1) (unaudited) Three months ended March 31, 2012 2011 Change Revenue passengers carried 25,560,822 25,581,395 (0.1)% Enplaned passengers 31,154,453 31,194,252 (0.1)% Revenue passenger miles (RPMs) (000s) 23,684,869 23,715,429 (0.1)% Available seat miles (ASMs) (000s) 30,632,893 30,263,545 1.2% Load factor 77.3% 78.4% (1.1)pts Average length of passenger haul (miles) 927 927 - Average aircraft stage length (miles) 685 676 1.3% Trips flown 333,896 333,567 0.1% Average passenger fare $ 146.44 $ 137.73 (2) 6.3% Passenger revenue yield per RPM (cents) 15.80 14.86 (2) 6.3% RASM (cents) 13.03 12.46 4.6% PRASM (cents) 12.22 11.64 (2) 5.0% CASM (cents) 12.96 12.17 6.5% CASM, excluding fuel (cents) 8.03 7.89 1.8% CASM, excluding special items (cents) 12.99 12.17 6.7% CASM, excluding fuel and special items (cents) 7.99 7.83 2.0% Fuel costs per gallon, including fuel tax (unhedged) $ 3.32 $ 2.94 12.9% Fuel costs per gallon, including fuel tax $ 3.39 $ 2.90 16.9% Fuel costs per gallon, including fuel tax (economic) $ 3.44 $ 2.95 16.6% Fuel consumed, in gallons (millions) 443 445 (0.5)% Aircraft in service at period-end 694 690 0.6% PRASM (Passenger unit revenue) - Passenger revenue yield per ASM RASM (unit revenue) - Operating revenue yield per ASM CASM (unit costs) - Operating expenses per ASM (1) Selected operating statistics for the three months ended March 31, 2012 are presented on a consolidated basis.  Selected operating statistics for the three months ended March 31, 2011 are presented on a combined basis, including operations for AirTran, prior to the May 2, 2011 acquisition date.  These combined results exclude the impact of purchase accounting.  AirTran's historical operating statistics included in the combined presentation have been conformed to Southwest's presentation where appropriate.   (2) The Company made a fourth quarter 2011 reclassification to change the allocation of Operating revenues between Passenger revenues and Other revenues from its sale of frequent flyer points associated with its co-branded Chase® Visa credit card. The Company has thus reclassified $10 million in Operating revenues for the period from January 2011 through March 2011 from Other revenues to Passenger revenues to conform to the current presentation. SUPPLEMENTAL COMBINED STATEMENT V SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO. SELECTED CONSOLIDATING COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION (1) (unaudited) Three months ended March 31, 2010 (as reported) Southwest AirTran Airlines Co. (as conformed) Combined Passenger Revenues (in millions) $ 2,495 $ 515 $ 3,010 Available Seat Miles (ASMs) (000s) 28,292,159 PRASM (cents) 10.64 Three months ended March 31, 2009 (as reported) Southwest AirTran Airlines Co. (as conformed) Combined Passenger Revenues (in millions) $ 2,252 $ 463 $ 2,715 Available Seat Miles (ASMs) (000s) 29,510,520 PRASM (cents) 9.20 (1) Selected financial information in this schedule is presented on a combined basis, including AirTran, for periods prior to the May 2, 2011 acquisition date.  Results presented for Southwest and AirTran, on a standalone basis, represent previously reported results.  AirTran's historical financial information has been conformed to Southwest's financial statement classification where appropriate.  See Note Regarding Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures. NOTE REGARDING USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES The Company's consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP). These GAAP financial statements include (i) unrealized non-cash adjustments and reclassifications, which can be significant, as a result of accounting requirements and elections made under accounting pronouncements relating to derivative instruments and hedging and (ii) other charges the Company believes are not indicative of its ongoing operational performance. As a result, the Company also provides financial information in this release that was not prepared in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to the information prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Company provides supplemental non-GAAP financial information, including results that it refers to as "economic," which the Company's management utilizes to evaluate its ongoing financial performance and the Company believes provides greater transparency to investors as supplemental information to its GAAP results. The Company's economic financial results differ from GAAP results in that they only include the actual cash settlements from fuel hedge contracts--all reflected within Fuel and oil expense in the period of settlement. Thus, Fuel and oil expense on an economic basis reflects the Company's actual net cash outlays for fuel during the applicable period, inclusive of settled fuel derivative contracts. Any net premium costs paid related to option contracts are reflected as a component of Other (gains) losses, net, for both GAAP and non-GAAP (including economic) purposes in the period of contract settlement. These economic results provide a better measure of the impact of the Company's fuel hedges on its operating performance and liquidity since they exclude the unrealized, non-cash adjustments and reclassifications that are recorded in GAAP results in accordance with accounting guidance relating to derivative instruments, and they reflect all cash settlements related to fuel derivative contracts within Fuel and oil expense. This enables the Company's management, as well as investors, to consistently assess the Company's operating performance on a year-over-year or quarter-over-quarter basis after considering all efforts in place to manage fuel expense. However, because these measures are not determined in accordance with GAAP, such measures are susceptible to varying calculations and not all companies calculate the measures in the same manner. As a result, the aforementioned measures, as presented, may not be directly comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. Further information on (i) the Company's fuel hedging program, (ii) the requirements and accounting associated with accounting for derivative instruments, and (iii) the causes of hedge ineffectiveness and/or mark-to-market gains or losses from derivative instruments is included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, as well as subsequent quarterly filings. In addition to its "economic" financial measures, as defined above, the Company has also provided other non-GAAP financial measures as a result of items that the Company believes are not indicative of its ongoing operations.  These include expenses associated with the Company's acquisition and integration of AirTran.  The Company believes that evaluation of its financial performance can be enhanced by a presentation of results that exclude the impact of these items in order to evaluate the results on a comparative basis with results in prior periods that do not include such items and as a basis for evaluating operating results in future periods.  As a result of the Company's acquisition of AirTran, which closed on May 2, 2011, the Company has incurred and expects to continue to incur substantial charges associated with integration of the two companies.  While the Company cannot predict the exact timing or amounts of such charges, it does expect to treat the charges as special items in its future presentation of non-GAAP results. The Company has also provided other supplemental non-GAAP financial information on a "combined basis."  This supplemental non-GAAP financial information on a "combined basis" includes specified combined financial results of the Company and AirTran for periods prior to May 2, 2011, as if the acquisition had occurred prior to the beginning of the applicable reporting period, but excludes any impact of purchase accounting prior to May 2, 2011.  AirTran's historical financial information included in the combined presentation has been conformed to the Company's financial statement classification where appropriate.  The Company believes that evaluation of its financial performance can be enhanced by a presentation of combined results in order to evaluate its prior, current or future period results on a more meaningful, consistent year-over-year basis. The Company has also provided free cash flow, which is a non-GAAP financial measure.  The Company believes free cash flow is a meaningful measure because it demonstrates the Company's ability to service its debt, pay dividends and make investments to enhance shareholder value.  Although free cash flow is commonly used as a measure of liquidity, definitions of free cash flow may differ; therefore, the Company is providing an explanation of its calculation for free cash flow.   For the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Company generated over $1.1 billion in free cash flow, calculated as operating cash flows of approximately $1.2 billion less capital expenditures of $127 million.  SOURCE Southwest Airlines ... View more

DALLAS – April 19, 2012 - Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) and Amadeus IT Group announced today that they have entered into a joint contract for Amadeus’ Altéa reservations solution that would support the carrier’s international service.  Now that the contract is finalized, the two companies will work closely together to implement Amadeus’ technology to allow Southwest to operate international flights in 2014.  AirTran Airways, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Southwest Airlines, currently serves international destinations.  As the AirTran international flights transition to Southwest, Amadeus will support Southwest’s international flying.  While the Amadeus IT Group agreement focuses on the international element of Southwest's reservation system, the contract also provides the option for Southwest to convert its domestic business to Amadeus in the future.  “We could not be more impressed with the experience and knowledge Amadeus IT Group brings to the table,” said Southwest Airlines Chairman, President, and CEO Gary Kelly. “They are a premier technology provider, and we are confident in their ability to meet and exceed our needs as we prepare for the exciting opportunity to extend the Southwest brand into the international marketplace.” Luis Maroto, President & CEO, Amadeus commented: “This agreement is a  milestone for Amadeus, both in North America and beyond.  Indeed, not only is Southwest an industry leader in terms of its size, the airline is also the global ‘standard’ for low-cost carriers, celebrating 39 consecutive years of profits.” Julia Sattel, Senior Vice President, Airline IT, Amadeus commented: “We are delighted to welcome Southwest to the Altéa community.  Southwest has clearly selected Amadeus because of the strength of our diverse product portfolio, the capabilities of our people, and also our unmatched ability to help the airline maintain its low cost structure while providing innovative technologies that can support an ever-evolving business model.” Amadeus IT Group is the leading IT provider for the travel and tourism industry with a unique portfolio of new generation solutions and the largest customer base for passenger service systems.  Southwest Airlines is the largest U.S. carrier in terms of domestic passengers boarded and is consistently ranked number one in Customer Service by the Department of Transportation. About Southwest Airlines Co. Southwest Airlines continues to differentiate itself from other low-fare carriers—offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service. Southwest Airlines is the nation's largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded and has acquired AirTran Airways, now a wholly owned subsidiary of Southwest Airlines Co. Southwest serves 73 cities in 38 states and remains one of the most honored airlines in the world known for its commitment to the triple bottom line of Performance, People, and Planet. To read more about how Southwest is doing its part to be a good citizen, visit southwest.com/cares to read the Southwest Airlines One Report(TM).  Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,200 flights a day and has more than 37,000 Employees. About Amadeus Amadeus is a leading transaction processor and provider of advanced technology solutions for the global travel and tourism industry. Customer groups include travel providers (e.g. airlines, hotels, rail, ferries, etc.), travel sellers (travel agencies and websites), and travel buyers (corporations and individual travellers).  The group operates a transaction-based business model and processed more than 948 million billable travel transactions in 2011.  Amadeus has central sites in Madrid (corporate headquarters), Nice (development) and Erding (operations – data processing centre) and regional offices in Miami, Buenos Aires, Bangkok and Dubai.  At a market level, Amadeus maintains customer operations through 73 local Amadeus Commercial Organisations covering 195 countries. Amadeus is listed on the Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao and Valencia stock exchanges and trades under the symbol “AMS.MC”. For the year ended December 31 2011, the company reported revenues of €2,707 million and EBITDA of €1,039 million. The Amadeus group employs around 10,000 people worldwide, with 123 nationalities represented at the central offices. To find out more about Amadeus please visit www.amadeus.com.  About Amadeus Altéa The Amadeus Altéa Suite is fully integrated customer management solution for airlines which includes three modules: Altéa Inventory, Altéa Reservation and Altéa Departure Control System. The Amadeus Altéa Reservation system ensures seamless reservation service across all sales channels through the unique sharing of reservation services between all airlines and Amadeus subscribers; the Amadeus Altéa Inventory System provides inventory control, schedule management, re-accommodation and seating management services; and the Amadeus Altéa Departure Control System provides check-in, boarding pass issuance, baggage management, and aircraft weight and balance services. Currently over 100 of the world's leading airlines use the Altéa platform, including Air-France KLM, All Nippon Airways, Korean Air, and Qantas. In 2011 Altéa processed around 439 million Passengers Boarded (referred to as a 'PB' and meaning the actual number of passengers boarded onto flights operated by airlines using at least the Amadeus Altéa Reservation and Inventory modules). Based upon signed Altéa contracts signed at the end of 2011, Amadeus estimates that the number of Passengers Boarded  will be more than 735 million by 2014 (estimation calculated by applying IATA’s regional air traffic growth projections to the latest available annual PB figures for the airline). Amadeus Contact Information: Debbie Iannaci                                         Director, Public Relations                        Amadeus North America                         Tel: 305-499-6448                         Email: diannaci@amadeus.com               Emily Peck Account Supervisor kwittken + company for Amadeus North America Tel: 646-747-7149 Email: amadeusnoram@kwitco.com www.southwest.com ... View more

This week, we're freeing Hobby Airport, getting crooned by Jon McLaughlin, a historical anecdote involving Boeing, new service to Canton-Akron, Dayton, and Des Moines, and finally-- the commercial introduction of Warrior One, our first 737-800. ... View more

Look, we like braggin' about the brass, okay?  And Southwest Airlines, Kayak, Royal Caribbean, and Enterprise continue to rule the travel industry as Brands of the Year according to the 23rd Annual Harris Poll EquiTrend® Study.   Americans give highest accolades for Companies who "connect" with Customers and "over-deliver" in their respective categories.  In the category of "Value Airlines," Southwest flew a pretty great distance above the rest to receive Brand of the Year.  This is the first year in the study's 23-year history the airline category was broken into two division: full-service carriers and value carriers.   Alaska Airlines ranked tops as a full-service carrier, and we certainly tip our hat to them!   According to the study, Southwest has evolved into a major national carrier, and we have mainted our original "sassy" brand character, and we continuously create a unique atmosphere for our loyal Customers.  Look no further than our Boeing 737-800 unveilings to see why!  The poll gave a nod to Southwest's "spirited" brand character and our no fees policies.  The Brand of the Year has certainly also fostered the best Brand Advocates of the Year, too!  Thanks, y'all!   ... View more

Looking to buy your dream house?  Or are you one of the lucky ones who already own their piece of the American dream and are looking to refinance your existing loan?  Well, now Rapid Rewards Members can earn up to 50,000 points with a new mortgage from Chase!  Southwest Airlines is proud to announce the addition of Chase as a new Partner of Rapid Rewards.  Rapid Rewards Members now have the option to earn 12,500 points for any Chase mortgage under $250,000; 25,000 points for any Chase mortgage between $250,000 and $500,000; or 50,000 points for any Chase mortgage over $500,000.    To apply for a new mortgage or refinance with Chase, interested Rapid Rewards Members can call the Rapid Rewards dedicated number at Chase at 1-866-550-9870 or visit southwest.com/rapidrewards for more information. Chase offers competitive interest rates, flexible loan terms, and same day pre-qualification.  Points will be deposited into Members’ accounts six to eight weeks after the loan has been closed. “This new partnership with Chase Home Mortgage is a great enhancement to our Rapid Rewards program,” said Jonathan Clarkson, Southwest’s Director of Rapid Rewards.  “It’s another example of how we provide our Members multiple options to earn Rapid Rewards Points with their everyday spending habits.” Chase is the U.S. consumer and commercial banking business of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM), a leading global financial services firm with assets of $2.3 trillion and operations in more than 60 countries.  Chase serves consumers and small businesses through 5,500 bank branches, 17,200 ATMs, mortgage offices, and online and mobile banking, as well as through relationships with auto dealerships across the country.  To learn more about this new partnership, visit southwest.com/rapidrewards.  Not a Rapid Rewards Member?  Join today. ... View more

During our time at SXSW in Austin, we did a handful of surprise and delight giveaways, making people do interesting things in order to win roundtrip tickets on Southwest; from scavenger hunts, to speaking through a Town Crier, to watching people tastefully take a picture of their food and then devour it. The latter is shown in this video shot by Stephen M. Keller, taken at the Foodspotting Street Food Fest.  Thanks to the good people at Foodspotting for being sports about the whole thing, and to Kobayashi for imparting his competitive eating wisdom unto the contestants before the contest began. ... View more

DALLAS – April 3, 2012 –Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) announced today a new national partnership with the most respected editorial voice in golf – The Sports Illustrated Golf Group (SIGG).  The relationship will center around creating fun and unique experiences for golf fans tailored to the four largest U.S.-based championships of 2012 (the Masters, U.S. Open, PGA Championship and Ryder Cup) entitled Sports Illustrated at the Majors. At each of these four major tournaments, instructors from the highly respected network of Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Teachers will offer swing tips, while journalists and celebrity guests will provide instant tournament analysis from the stage right in front of fans.  Golf fans also will be able to attend the “SI at the Majors” presented by Southwest Airlines, where Sports Illustrated will enhance its usual full coverage of golf’s majors by employing additional expert voices and on-site coverage on Golf.com and SI.com. “The partnership makes perfect sense for an airline that golfers love because Golf Bags Fly Free* on Southwest.  Our Customers have told us repeatedly they would rather spend their hard-earned dollars on activities at their destination rather than on bag fees,” Southwest Chief Marketing Officer Dave Ridley said.  “Golf fans (and sports fans in general) are already familiar with seeing the Southwest Airlines brand in conjunction with televised sports events.  Just as fans are passionate about their favorite teams, Southwest is passionate about providing unbeatable value and an enjoyable flying experience for Customers.” In addition to the stage locations at each of the four tournaments, Southwest Airlines will host an additional event in conjunction with Sports Illustrated at Piedmont Park in Atlanta to celebrate the airline's new service to the Atlanta market.  April 5 through 8, golfers of all abilities will be able to experience a quickened heartbeat and shaking hands while standing over a pressure-packed putt in front of a hushed gallery. A championship-style putting green, complete with scoreboard, caddies and marshals, is being constructed so that professionals are not the only ones allowed “inside the ropes” at a major.  Every visitor will have a chance to register for a drawing to win a trip to the next Sports Illustrated at the Majors experience in San Francisco.  Also, those who make the designated championship putt of the day will be entered into a daily drawing for two roundtrip tickets to any Southwest Airlines destination.  A large video screen will show the broadcast coverage of 2012’s first major from Augusta so that Atlantans can enjoy watching their favorite tournament of the year with their friends in a beautiful outdoor setting. Here is the schedule and locations for the Sports Illustrated at the Majors presented by Southwest Airlines.  For details you can also visit www.GOLF.com/majors. •           The Masters, April 3-8 Augusta: National Hills Shopping Center •           US Open, June 14-17 San Francisco: Union Square Park •           PGA Championship, Aug. 9-12 Kiawah Island, S.C.: Freshfields Village •           Ryder Cup, Sept. 27-30 Chicago: Navy Pier * First and second checked bags. Weight and size limits apply. A golf bag may be substituted for one checked bag. About Southwest Airlines Co. Now in its 39 th consecutive year of profitability, Southwest Airlines continues to differentiate itself from other low-fare carriers—offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service. Southwest Airlines is the nation's largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded and has acquired AirTran Airways, now a wholly owned subsidiary of Southwest Airlines Co. Southwest serves 73 cities in 38 states and remains one of the most honored airlines in the world known for its commitment to the triple bottom line of Performance, People, and Planet. To read more about how Southwest is doing its part to be a good citizen, visit southwest.com/cares to read the Southwest Airlines One Report(TM). Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,200 flights a day and has more than 37,000 Employees. About the SI Golf Group Golf Magazine is at the core of the most powerful media company in the game, the SI Golf Group. The magazine, which delivers a circulation of 1.4 million golf enthusiasts with a readership of 6.1 million, is golf’s most widely read publication and provides the best instruction, equipment reviews and travel coverage in the category. With the combined resources of Golf, SI Golf+ (the No. 1 golf weekly publication) and Golf.com (the highest trafficked golf website). The SI Golf Group delivers a monthly audience of 12.6 million avid golfers and fans. About Sports Illustrated Sports Illustrated is a multimedia sports brand that takes the consumer into the heart and soul of sports.  The Sports Illustrated franchise is anchored by the weekly magazine—the most respected voice in sports journalism, reaching a weekly audience of nearly 22 million adults—and www.SI.com, the magazine’s 24/7 sports news website that delivers more than 300 original stories to its users each week.  The franchise also includes Sports Illustrated Kids (www.sikids.com), a monthly magazine targeted to kids age 8 and up; GOLF Magazine and www.Golf.com; www.FanNation.com, a social networking and sports-news aggregation platform; SI Presents, the magazine’s specialty publishing division; as well as SI Books, SI Pictures, SI Productions, SI Digital and SI Events.  Founded in 1954, Sports Illustrated is a division of Time Inc., the world’s leading magazine publishing company and a subsidiary of Time Warner. Contacts: Southwest Airlines Communication (214) 792-4847 swamedia.com Emily Christopher, Sports Illustrated, (212) 522-8473, Emily_Christopher@timeinc.com ... View more

DALLAS—April 1, 2012—Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) today begins serving a delicious onboard snack in addition to the carrier’s legendary peanut offering, TOFUnuts. With the same salty taste, TOFUnuts contain more protein than Southwest’s lightly salted peanuts. Customers who stop in the airport terminal for that savory cheeseburger can wash away the guilt knowing that a packet of TOFUnuts will help lower bad cholesterol. Other benefits include appearing younger as Customers step off one of the carrier’s LUV jets since the isoflavones in the TOFUnuts scavenge free radicals to prevent premature aging. “We didn’t think we could top our world famous peanuts, but this little baby has real potential,” said Kevin Krone, Southwest Airlines Vice President of Marketing, Sales, and Distribution. “If you aren’t in the mood for our traditional peanuts, then get on the tofu train. I mean, a snack food and healthy skin—sign me up!” Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards A-List Customer Ross Brewer hosted an Inflight tweetup, giving a play-by-play of his eating experience between Denver and Chicago. “It’s heart-healthy, tastes great, and keeps you full #SouthwestTOFUnut,” Brewer tweeted.  Brewer followed up that tweet with “Whoa. The @SouthwestAir seatbelt sign is off and everyone’s dancing. It’s gotta be the TOFUnuts.  I’m going for it, guys.” TOFUnuts are just another way Southwest is improving the Customer Experience onboard. Check out a photo of TOFUnuts on www.swamedia.com “Working in our Provisioning Department, you get lots of creative ideas about what we should serve on our flights,” said Southwest Airlines Provisioning Agent Brooks McAllister. “I’ve had this idea for a while and finally suggested it—the rest is history!” Southwest Airlines is known as a maverick Company and one to roll out enhancements based on Customer and Employee feedback. The launch of TOFUnuts will just be another milestone in the Southwest history book. “I just love the light and salty TOFUnuts—it’s a game-changer,” said Southwest Airlines Communications Specialist Caleb Fox. “I can hardly wait for the honey roasted TOFUnuts!” TOFUnuts will be served on all Southwest flights beginning April 1.  Based on Customer demand, the airline will determine whether to keep the offering onboard. Happy April Fool’s!* ABOUT SOUTHWEST After achieving its 39 th consecutive year of profitability, Southwest Airlines continues to differentiate itself from other low-fare carriers--offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service. Southwest Airlines is the nation's largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded and has acquired AirTran Airways, now a wholly owned subsidiary of Southwest Airlines Co. Southwest serves 73 cities in 38 states and remains one of the most honored airlines in the world known for its commitment to the triple bottom line of Performance, People, and Planet. To read more about how Southwest is doing its part to be a good citizen, visit southwest.com/cares to read the Southwest Airlines One Report(TM). Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,200 flights a day and has more than 37,000 Employees. southwest.com *Editor’s Note: If you have read all the way to this section and still not realized this is a ruse, then you are as silly as we are. Happy April Fool’s! No Southwest Airlines peanuts were harmed as a result of this joke. ... View more

Yodel-e-hee-hoo! It's SWA Stew 42! This week, we're discussing food flights, Warrior One (our new Boeing 737-800), Chili, SOC, and Live at 35! ... View more

Six Georgia Non-profits Each Receive $25,000 Grant  DALLAS—March 22, 2012—Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) today announced the six recipients of the LUV Grants for Good contest at a luncheon and award ceremony held at Zoo Atlanta.  The recipients were determined by the public voting online for the favorite videos that the 15 finalists produced on how they would use money to show LUV to the communities they serve.  On Feb. 13, to celebrate the start of its service from Atlanta, Southwest announced the launch of LUV Grants for Good, making available $150,000 in grants to six nonprofit organizations from across the State of Georgia.  The online essay and video contest was open to 501(c)(3) nonprofits that met the guidelines and rules of the contest. “All these organizations do so much to improve life in their communities, and we are so fortunate to have learned so much about them through this contest,” said Debra Benton, Director of Community Relations and Giving at Southwest Airlines.  “Southwest is proud to support the work of these organizations and the passions of the public who chose them.” From a pool of 352 submissions, a panel of judges from the Georgia Center for Nonprofits and Southwest Airlines selected 15 finalists.  With more than 15,000 votes cast, the public voting determined these six finalists in three categories, from large to small organizations, based on yearly budget:  Large Fernbank Museum of Natural History:  Fernbank is committed to developing the full potential of the community, particularly its youth, by presenting hands-on, minds-on programs that inspire a lifelong interest in science and human culture, and ensure a better environment by connecting people to the natural world. As an educational institution, the Fernbank Museum of Natural History is dedicated to opening people’s eyes and broadening their horizons. Senior Connections:  The mission of Senior Connections is to provide essential home and community-based care that maximizes independence. For almost 40 years, Senior Connections has provided 600,000 nutritious meals, 50,000 hours of in-home care, millions of home repair dollars, and health and wellness programs that helps seniors remain in the communities they’ve called home for decades. Medium The Atlanta BeltLine Partnership (ABLP): ABLP plays a vital role in realizing the Atlanta BeltLine vision for a network of parks, trails, and transit supporting vibrant, healthy communities.  The ABLP catalyzes the social objectives of the Atlanta BeltLine, including affordable housing, job creation, and healthier living. Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper (UCR): For 18 years, UCR has worked to ensure this region has enough clean water now and in the future. UCR is the only nonprofit environmental organization focused solely on protecting the most important and heavily-used river in Georgia. UCR has raised the profile of the Chattahoochee and helped guide this region toward meeting the challenges that face our endangered waterway through advocacy, science, policy, education, and public outreach programs. Small Good Mews: Good Mews rescues approximately 350 cats per year, providing spay/neuter and medical care until they are adopted. The goal is to significantly reduce Metro Atlanta's number of stray and homeless cats while promoting a no-kill philosophy that characterizes the organization’s respect for the value of companion animals. Nuҫi’s Space:  The mission of  Nuҫi’s Space is to prevent suicide by providing obstacle-free mental health treatment to people suffering from depression and other such disorders, and to assist in the emotional, physical, and professional well-being of musicians. Also during the luncheon, Southwest announced that the remaining nine finalists in the LUV Grants for Good contest would each receive four Southwest Airlines roundtrip tickets to support the work of their organization. “We truly admire the passion, work, and commitment that all these non-profits have to make their world a better place – we couldn’t let them walk away without showing our appreciation,” said Benton. About Southwest Airlines Southwest Airlines continues to differentiate itself from other low-fare carriers—offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service. Southwest Airlines is the nation's largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded and has recently acquired AirTran Airways, now a wholly owned subsidiary of Southwest Airlines Co. Southwest serves 73 cities in 38 states and is one of the most honored airlines in the world known for its commitment to the triple bottom line of Performance, People, and Planet. To read more about how Southwest is doing its part to be a good citizen, visit www.southwest.com/citizenship to read the Southwest Airlines One Report™. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,200 flights a day and has more than 37,000 Employees systemwide. ... View more

This week we're talking chili (yes, chili), our newly-owned 737-800, the Medical Transportation Grant Program, SOC, and a more efficient way to report your Lost & Found items!   ... View more

DALLAS – March 15, 2012 – Southwest Airlines announced today the addition of freecreditscore.com as a new Partner of the carrier’s frequent flyer program, Rapid Rewards.  Rapid Rewards Members now have the option to earn 3,000 Rapid Rewards Points per qualifying purchase. Points will be deposited into Members’ accounts after the Member completes month two of their membership for the product. In order to earn points, Rapid Rewards Members must be enrolled in the freecreditscore.com program and select Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards as their earning preference. To learn more about this new partnership, visit southwest.com/rapidrewards. “This new partnership with freecreditscore.com is a great enhancement to our Rapid Rewards program,” said Jonathan Clarkson, Southwest’s Director of Rapid Rewards.  “It’s another example of how we look for ways to bring more Partners onboard and give our loyal Members additional options to earn Rapid Rewards Points.”     It’s fast and easy to earn free travel through Rapid Rewards.  Members can redeem their points on any seat, any time, on any flight with no blackout dates.  The Rapid Rewards program is tailored to meet the needs of today’s traveler, making it faster and easier than ever before to go, see, and do.  The Award is free but subject to the U.S. government-imposed September 11th Security Fee of up to $10 roundtrip. About Southwest Airlines             Southwest Airlines continues to differentiate itself from other low-fare carriers—offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service. Southwest Airlines is the nation's largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded. Southwest serves 73 cities in 38 states and is one of the most honored airlines in the world known for its commitment to the triple bottom line of Performance, People, and Planet. To read more about how Southwest is doing its part to be a good citizen, visit southwest.com/cares to read the Southwest Airlines One Report(TM). Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,200 flights a day and has more than 37,000 Employees systemwide. About Freecreditscore.com Freecreditscore.com is part of a family of online consumer credit reporting sites belonging to ConsumerInfo.com, Inc., an Experian company. ConsumerInfo was founded in 1995 to give consumers quick, easy and inexpensive access to their credit profile. It is now the leading provider of online consumer credit reports, credit scores, credit monitoring and other credit-related information. ConsumerInfo provides credit monitoring to its more than 3.1 million members and has delivered more than 20 million credit reports on the Web. As part of the Experian family, it continues to grow its membership base and develop innovative products to help consumers better understand and manage their credit. southwest.com   ... View more

Did you know that our onboard snacks are really just ingredients for more ambitious cuisine?  Neither did I!  Laughing Squid blogger Rusty Blazenhoff found this out when she was on a flight recently with Flight Attendants Mandy and LaDonna, who challenged Customers to come up with the best airplane food recipes. Here's an excerpt from Rusty's blog, which can be found here: On my Southwest Airlines flight to SXSW 2012 conference, I snagged the front row bulkhead seat. Little did I know, I would soon be in the middle of a very fun experiment put on by our flight attendants, Mandy and LaDonna. My seatmate Susan and I watched as they filled up ten vomit bags with various food items found in the plane’s galley. Mandy then announced that she wanted volunteers as she had been wanting to try out airplane food recipes with passengers for a long time. Volunteers were chosen (including my seatmate) and she began to tell us how to prepare the recipes. Mandy called the first recipe “Key Lime Cookie Dough Sort Of” and it consisted of crushed airplane-shaped cookies, Coffee Mate creamer and a wedge of lime. The next was simply peanut butter and several passengers attempted to crush peanuts to a smooth consistency. It got even better when the pilot came out and offered up an unexpected suggestion: Chocolate Mousse. It was a simple recipe made of powdered hot chocolate mix and Coffee Mate creamer. We ended up dipping our mini pretzels into the (somewhat delicious) finished “mousse”. Winners were announced and much fun was had by all involved. In fact, it may have been the most fun I’ve ever had on a commercial flight. Rusty's original blog post can be found on Laughing Squid.  Check it out to see a detailed description of each photo! ... View more

DALLAS—March 13, 2012—Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) today announced several executive changes at the Company. Matt Hafner, Southwest’s current Vice President of Integrated Operations, has been named Vice President of the Operations Coordination Center. In this role, Hafner will oversee Southwest’s 3,200 daily flights and AirTran’s more than 600 flights, ensuring that Customers receive a safe and efficient flight experience. Hafner will lead areas including Dispatch, Meteorology, Operations Coordination Center Automation and Support, Air Traffic, Customer Service Coordinators, Flight Following, and the coordination efforts with Maintenance Control. Hafner started his Southwest career in June 1988 as a Dallas Ramp Agent, and later served in numerous positions within the Ground Operations Department. More recently, Hafner held positions including Senior Director Ground Operations and Vice President Ground Operations. Jack Smith, AirTran Airways’ current Senior Vice President of Customer Service, is joining Southwest Airlines as Vice President of Ground Operations/AirTran. In his new role, Smith will oversee all Ground Operations for AirTran Airways. Smith will play a key role in the integration of Southwest and AirTran Ground Operations functions, while maintaining operational excellence and outstanding Customer Service. An industry veteran for more than 30 years, Smith joined AirTran in April 2002. Smith has been responsible for Ground Operations, Inflight, Cargo, Reservations, and Customer Relations during his career.  Prior to joining AirTran, Smith held various Leadership positions for both Northwest Airlines and Midway Airlines. Nan Barry, Southwest’s current Senior Director to the Chief Executive Officer, has been promoted to Managing Director of the Executive Office. In her new role, Barry will serve as Chief of Staff to Gary Kelly, Southwest's Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer.  She also will oversee the administration of Southwest's Board of Directors and the Executive Office as well as management of the Company’s Executive Committees.  Barry also leads the Internal Customer Care Team and serves on the Board of the Southwest Airlines Catastrophic Assistance Charity.  Barry joined Southwest Airlines in 1988, and served in a variety of leadership positions within the Finance Department, including Senior Director of Treasury and Tax.  Prior to Southwest, Barry worked in public accounting for Arthur Young & Co. She is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Texas. Jim Sturgis has been named Southwest’s Managing Director of Quality, Programs, and Maintenance Safety. In this new role, which reports within the Technical Operations Department, Sturgis will provide Leadership for the Quality Assurance, Aircraft Programs, and Maintenance Safety Teams and will be the liaison and point of contact with the FAA concerning all regulatory affairs relative to Southwest Maintenance. Sturgis joins Southwest from CAVOK, a global aviation regulatory consulting firm, where he served as President. Sturgis has a long history of successfully guiding airlines through the complexities of regulatory issues and has been a key advisor to Southwest during its integration with AirTran. As a founder of CAVOK, Sturgis has assisted air carriers; Maintenance, Repair, and Overhauls (MROs); and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) with inducting new fleets into their operations, implementing new processes, and designing and implementing Safety Management Systems. He also has led numerous merger/acquisition activities from a regulatory perspective, including the three largest in U.S. aviation history.  Sturgis has held senior leadership positions in technical services, maintenance training, technical publications, flight operations, and flight crew training at various commercial airlines. Sturgis will join Southwest Airlines on April 2, 2012. All other changes are effective immediately.             For photos and bios, visit www.swamedia.com.  About Southwest Airlines In its 40th year of service, Southwest Airlines continues to differentiate itself from other low-fare carriers—offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service. Southwest Airlines is the nation's largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded and has recently acquired AirTran Airways, now a wholly owned subsidiary of Southwest Airlines Co. Southwest serves 73 cities in 38 states and is one of the most honored airlines in the world known for its commitment to the triple bottom line of Performance, People, and Planet. To read more about how Southwest is doing its part to be a good citizen, visit southwest.com/cares to read the Southwest Airlines One Report(TM). Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,200 flights a day and has more than 35,000 Employees systemwide. Media Please Contact:  Public Relations at 214/792-4847 ... View more

In this 40th edition of the SWA Stew, we're talking about our Medical Transportation Grant Program, the beautiful Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-800, and Happy Jack!     ... View more

Some people have a burning desire to do drastic things; to throw caution to the wind and maybe join the circus. Others have a fiery passion for thrill-seeking. Others still are content to simply read about heroic feats. You won't catch me on a trapeze, nor will I don a flying suit.  I'm not much of a reader, either.  I'm somewhere in the middle. But I'm a fan of literal interpretation.   For years, Employees of Southwest Airlines have been faced with the possibility that the next year could really be the LAST EVER Chili Cookoff. Okay, so maybe this year's event isn't really in danger of being our 39th and Last Chili Cookoff (and actually, there's a story there...), but we still want to act like it is, and provide a lucky winner and a guest with the opportunity to enjoy it for themselves. Not only that, we want our lucky winner to be one of our chili cookoff guest judges!  Nodding to the previous mention of literal interpretation, I know when something is about to end, you gotta get when the gettin's good.     The details: 39th and Last Chili Cookoff Date: Saturday, April 14th, 2012 Location: Sandy Lake Amusement Park in Dallas, TX   The contest: We want to know: what makes your heart burn for Southwest Airlines? 1. Take a picture. 2. Send it to write.southwest@wnco.com   It's as simple as that. Only one entry per email address is allowed.  Unlimited use of creativity is preferred! OFFICIAL RULES “What Makes Your Heart Burn For Southwest?” Contest NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN.  A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING. VOID IN PUERTO RICO AND WHERE PROHIBITED. 1.   How to Enter the Contest a.    Southwest Airlines “What Makes Your Heart Burn for Southwest?” ("Contest") will begin on or around 10 a.m. CT on Friday, March 9, 2012 and will end on or around 5 p.m. CT on Friday, March 23, 2012.  b.    To participate in the Contest, you may enter via the following method: Submit a creative photo to write.southwest@wnco.com that illustrates "what makes your heart burn for Southwest Airlines."  All entries submitted will not be acknowledged or returned. By entering, Entrant grants Sponsor an irrevocable, perpetual, royalty-free, freely transferable license to use the photo for all purposes, in any and all media, whether now known or hereafter devised. Photos must not be copied.  Entries may not violate any third party rights nor use any third-party intellectual property such as logos or background signs.  Entrants acknowledge and agree that their entry does not violate any rights of privacy or publicity and that they have the written permission of those appearing in their photo to submit their image.  Entries must not disparage; contain material that is inappropriate, indecent, or vulgar; or promote bigotry, racism, hatred or discrimination based on race, gender, religion, sexual orientation.  Use of any device to automate entry is prohibited.  Proof of submission of an entry shall not be deemed proof of receipt by Southwest.  Southwest Airlines computer is the official time keeping device for the contest.  Southwest is not responsible for entries not received due to difficulty accessing the internet, service outage or delays, computer difficulties or other technological glitches.  By entering this Contest, you agree to abide by these Official Rules. c.    One entry per person is permitted. Any person found using multiple email addresses to enter will be found to be ineligible. 2.   Eligibility Restrictions a.    The contest is open to all legal residents of the 48 contiguous United States and the District of Columbia who are 18 years of age or older and the age of majority in their place of residence as of March 23, 2012.   Void in Puerto Rico and where prohibited or restricted by law.  The contest is open to legal residents of the United States and is offered only in the United States.  Employees of Hertz, LaQuinta, Southwest Airlines, AirTran Airways, the independent judging entity, and the members of their immediate families (spouse and parents, children and siblings and their spouses) and individuals living in the same households of such employees are ineligible to enter or win.  The contest is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. b.    Only one winner per household is permitted in any Contest administered by Southwest. c.    Entrants are required to provide truthful information and Southwest will reject and delete any entry that it discovers to be false or fraudulent.  Southwest Airlines will disqualify any entry from individuals who do not meet the eligibility requirements, and Southwest Airlines will also delete any entry received from persons under the age of 13 in compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. 3.   Prizes: a.   One (1) grand prize to consist of opportunity for Winner to be Guest Judge at 39 th and Last Chili Cookoff, roundtrip airfare for winner and one (1) guest from the closest major airport to winner's residence served by Southwest Airlines, on published, scheduled service (subject to Southwest Airlines terms and conditions; certain restrictions may apply), to winner's choice of a Southwest Airlines city destination. Airline tickets awarded will expire on 3/31/13. Grand Prize to also include a two (2) night (double occupancy) stay at any LaQuinta Inn & Suites in the continental U.S., and $100 gift certificate to Hertz Car Rental (minimum age and credit restrictions apply).  Approximate Retail Value of Prize: $1050  No prize substitutions, cash equivalent, or transfer of prizes permitted except at the sole discretion of the Sponsor. Prize subject to availability and the Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to award a prize of greater or equal value if the advertised prize is unavailable.  Taxes are solely the responsibility of the winner.   b.    In the event that a prize or prize certificate is mailed to the winner, it will be with the prior written consent of the winner and therefore, winner assumes the risk of its loss.  Sponsor is not responsible for the safe arrival of a prize or prize certificate. 4.   Selection of Winners Decisions of judges with respect to the Contest are final.  This is a contest of skill. Your chances of winning depend on how well your entry reflects the judging criteria, as compared to the other entries in the contest. The judges will be judging on the following qualities: Creativity and Originality: 20%  Entertaining: 25% Southwest Appeal: 35% photo should reflect our Culture and Fun-LUVing Attitude. Rules: 20% Read and complied with the official rules. a.    The top “What Makes Your Heart Burn for Southwest?” submission will be selected by a panel of judges. You need not be present to win. b.    Potential winner notification will be made by Sponsor via email. Potential winner must execute and return any required affidavit of eligibility and/or liability/publicity release in which they agree to hold Sponsor and its parent, subsidiary and affiliated corporations, and the officers, shareholders, directors, employees, agents and representatives harmless against any and all claims or liability arising directly or indirectly from use of the prize or participation in the Contest.  Affidavits will be mailed or emailed based on the potential winner’s preference beginning March 30, 2012.  Affidavits must be executed and returned within seven (7) days or prize will be forfeited and an alternate winner may be chosen. If a potential winner cannot be contacted, fails to sign and return the required affidavit of eligibility and liability/publicity release within the required time period, or if a prize or prize notification is returned as undeliverable, potential winner forfeits prize.  Upon timely completion of required affidavits and release, winners should expect to receive their prizes in the mail by April 11, 2012. 5.   Conditions a.    Payments of all federal, state and local taxes are solely the responsibility of the winner.  Winner may be required to sign an IRS Form W-9 or the equivalent. b.    By participating in the contest, the winner agrees to have their name, voice, or likeness used in any advertising or broadcasting material relating to this contest without additional financial or other compensation unless prohibited by law, and, where legal, to sign a publicity release confirming such consent prior to acceptance of the prize. c.    Southwest Airlines is not responsible for lost, stolen, mangled, miss-delivered, postage due, illegible, incomplete or late entries, telephone service outages, delays, busy signals, equipment malfunctions and any other technological difficulties that may prevent an individual from entering or claiming a prize. d.    Southwest Airlines, in is sole discretion, reserves the right to disqualify any person tampering with the entry process, the operation of Southwest Airlines website or is otherwise in violation of the rules.  It further reserves the right to cancel, terminate or modify the contest if it is not capable of completion as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention or technical failures of any sort. e.    Sponsor reserves the right to make changes in the rules of the Contest, including the substitution of a prize of greater or equivalent value, which will become effective upon announcement.  f.     Failure to comply with the Contest rules may result in a contestant’s disqualification solely at the discretion of the Sponsor. g.    The Sponsor is not responsible for typographical or other errors in the printing, the offering or the administration of the Contest, or in the announcement of a prize. h.    Copies of the written Contest rules and a list of the winner (when complete) are available during regular business hours at Southwest Airlines, Emerging Media P.O. Box 36611, Dallas, TX 75235-1611.  For a winners list, send a self-addressed return envelope, after March 23, 2012.  All requests must be received by April 30, 2012.  6.         Sponsor:   Sponsor is Southwest Airlines Co., Emerging Media, P.O. Box 36611, Dallas, TX 75235-1611.   ... View more