Southwest Airlines Community

Rob Verger's blog on the Travel Channel's WorldHum pays tribute to our 'Twitcom' contest: To read more, visit: http://www.worldhum.com/travel-blog/item/a-twitcom-from-southwest-airlines-20090324/ ... View more

By MIKE ESTERL DALLAS -- Gary Kelly is navigating Southwest Airlines Co. through one of the industry's most turbulent periods by expanding into new markets and tinkering with the carrier's low-cost service. The airline's chief executive is adding flights to heavily trafficked domestic airports and seeking cross-border alliances with foreign carriers. He's also considering adding on-board Internet surfing and more-extensive wine and coffee service. To read more, visit: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123793884639232193.html ... View more

Due to popular demand, Southwest has added another priority security lane at PHX for our Business Select and Rapid Reward A-List Customers. Last summer, SWA implemented a lane branded “Fly By” at PHX Checkpoint D. At the request of business and Rapid Reward A-List customers, an additional Fly By lane is now open at Checkpoint C. A number of priority security lanes have already opened at our 65 airports, including: BWI, DAL, SNA, DEN, SFO, SEA, and LAX.  SWA plans to expand the priority security lane program to additional airports nationwide as needed. Please visit www.southwest.com/flyby for additional Fly By information. ... View more

How do you keep people trusting you at a time like this? Trust is essential in our lives, and it has been since the beginning of our country. Our dollar bills say In God We Trust. Yet today trust is all but vanishing, especially trust in our business leaders, whose greed and short-term selfishness seem to have been a major cause of our economic crisis. With negativity running amok, it is no small wonder that trust within the organizational context is slipping. To read more, visit: http://www.forbes.com/2009/03/23/trust-respect-employees-leadership-managing-blanchard.html ... View more

According to campusgrotto.com, Southwest ranked third in the list of Best College Internship Programs, just behind Google and Microsoft.  Southwest was chosen based on our combination of fun and freedom to travel, career development classes, and casual dress.  Other companies that made the list include: Apple, Genetech, Edward Jones, Nike, Pixar, Sun, and Exxon Mobile. To learn more, check out: http://www.southwest.com/careers/internships.html ... View more

Spring into Summer with Airfares Starting as Low as $49 One-Way     Southwest Airlines is offering Customers nationwide airfares starting as low as $49 one-way. Take advantage of these super low fares on southwest.com and start planning your spring or summer getaway today! Fares are available for travel Mondays through Thursdays or Saturdays when purchased by April 6, 2009. These fares are only available on southwest.com and require 14-day advance purchase for travel by Aug. 14, 2009. To get these special online fares, click here. Examples of fares include (see Additional Fare Rules below): ·         $49 one-way between Burbank and Sacramento ·         $69 one-way between Denver and Oakland ·         $79 one-way between Dallas Love Field and El Paso ·         $89 one-way between  Chicago Midway and Manchester ·         $99 one-way between Houston Hobby and Los Angeles After almost 38 years of service, Southwest Airlines, the nation’s leading low-fare carrier, continues to differentiate itself from other airlines—offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service.  At Southwest Airlines, there are no hidden fees. Customers can check their first two bags for free (size and weight limits apply), no fees for a window or aisle seat, and, as always, snacks, sodas, and smiles are all complimentary! ... View more

Spring is in the air, and there's something about soggy lawns, blooming flowers, and mud on my shoes that gets me itching to travel. With 65 Southwest cities to choose from (including our newest: MSP as of March 8th!) it helps to have a special occasion to narrow it down. Say...a festival of some sorts? Food-based is preferable, but I'll settle for flower or art-related as well. The best place to start planning? Visit Southwest’s new Travel Guide, flip open a Spirit magazine or visit this handy-dandy online version of their event calendar: http://www.spiritmag.com/calendar/    They've already done the hard work for you: narrowing down a plethora of going-ons and hubbub to a select choice few. And you're in luck, as a nationwide ticket sale on southwest.com starts today. If you're feeling especially antsy in April, try combining the Virginia Arts Festival in Norfolk with the Improv Festival in Phoenix . Travel from  Phoenix to any destination in the east (including Norfolk , VA ) is on sale for $99 or less one way. Then head to the West Coast for the perfect pairing: strawberries and bubbly. With one way trips within California on sale for just $49 one way, you can fly to SFO for a jaunt in the wine country, then head down to LAX for the California Strawberry Festival.  To check out more red-hot deals, check out the link below. Also keep in mind these fares require a 14-day advance purchase.  http://travel.southwest.com/specialoffers/offerDetails.html?id=9312464&src=SITEBLGSALE000000090319 Additional taxes, fees, and exclusions apply.  As for choosing between BBQ ribs in Kansas City or funnel cake in Miami , well, you're on your own for that. Here are my top suggestions for spring field trips, courtesy of Spirit:     Apri 14th Norfolk, Virginia Virginia Arts Festival When the six-week Virginia Arts Festival starts in mid-April, you’ve got to move fast. How else will you fit in the more than 50 acts spread out over 10 cities in the region, all within a 60-minute drive? Pick from performances by Liza Minnelli, Patti LuPone, the Czech National Theatre Ballet, Ravi Shankar, Emmylou Harris, the Kronos Quartet, and the Tokyo String Quartet. Stick around through May, when more fun arrives in the form of the Virginia International Tattoo (honoring centuries-old military musical traditions) and the Panorama Caribbean Music Fest, held the first and second weekends of May, respectively. Both events occur in conjunction with the Arts Festival and a beer fest on April 25th featuring nearly three dozen domestic and international breweries. With all this to see, we suggest bringing an appreciation for the arts—and your running shoes.   April 16th Phoenix, AZ Phoenix Improv Festival Quick: You’re the captain of a ship, and your crew is planning a mutiny. No, wait: You’re Indiana Jones, and you’re trying to rescue your precious bullwhip from a pit of snakes. OK, now you’re at a restaurant, and you’ve just found out your blind date is actually Albert Einstein. Action! Those are just a few scenarios that you may find at the Phoenix Improv Festival, where players create entire performances on the spur of the moment. The art of improvisation lies in not being prepared at all, so the shows in this three-day festival remain unwritten, and will stay that way until showtime. Now in its eighth year, the Phoenix Improv Festival hosts performances by improvisational troupes from around the country, while workshops provide inspiration for improv actors-in-training. Previous years have featured performers like Jack McBrayer from NBC’s 30 Rock and a workshop with Dan Bakkedahl from Comedy Central’s The Daily Show. We’d tell you who’s going to be at this year’s festival, but we’re planning to make it up on the spot.   MAY 16th Oxnard, California California Strawberry Festival It’s the most wonderful time of the year. No, not that one: It’s strawberry season in Oxnard—located 60 miles northwest of Los Angeles—and therefore the perfect time for a Strawberry Festival. Fresh berries strewn across shortcake, dipped in chocolate, served in pie, skewered on kabobs, floating in beer—if you can dream it, this festival serves it. Strawberry purists, of course, can buy the fruit fresh from farmers on-site, as well as listen to live music and browse an arts and crafts show featuring more than 300 artists. If eating the berries isn’t enough, you can also stomp them, hunt for them, study how they’re grown, and in Strawberryland, let your kids play on rides resembling them. If you turn red and sprout a green top, don’t say we didn’t warn you.   May 22nd St. Louis, MO Rib America Festival Whether you hail from San Antonio or Kansas City, you know that barbecued ribs come in all styles and spices. That’s why we like Memorial Day weekend at the Rib America Festival in St. Louis, where you can try them all. For four days at Soldier’s Memorial in St. Louis, party in the shade of the Gateway Arch to the smells of smoked meat and the sounds of local bands. Sample ribs from vendors across the country, and rock out to live musical acts. Last year’s party featured KC and the Sunshine Band, Jonny Lang, and Cross Canadian Ragweed, plus seven teams serving award-winning barbecue ribs. Don’t skip out on the sides, either: roasted sweet corn, bratwurst, and onion blossoms, with funnel cakes and deep-fried Oreos for dessert. That’s our idea of a well-rounded meal. So don't delay, book your ticket today!   ... View more

Have you ever wanted to brag to someone about a wonderful vacation you had or share an idea on a great place for a business dinner? Now, there’s a place for it! Meet Southwest Airlines’ new online travel community – Travel Guide! This multi-faceted, Customer-friendly enhancement will provide a variety of benefits to assist Customers in making travel plans. Travel Guide users can share their own experiences and check out ratings, reviews, photos, and videos posted by fellow travelers of destinations, hotels, restaurants, and activities they recommend. Check it out by visiting http://www.southwest.com/travelguide.   “Fourteen years ago this week, we revolutionized the industry by launching southwest.com (iflyswa.com in those days).The addition of Travel Guide to southwest.com shows that we are continually evolving, and it is also a fun way to get Customers more involved in the site,” said Kevin Krone, Southwest Airlines Vice President Marketing, Sales, and Distribution. Travel Guide offers Customers insights, tips, and unbiased opinions from a vast network of other travelers within a friendly and relaxed community built on unscripted traveler dialogue. Customers can utilize the site for pre-trip planning, or as an outlet to share travel knowledge by posting photos, videos, ratings, and written reviews either during or after their trip.  The Guide also includes some hints and tips from the best travel experts we know—our own Southwest Airlines’ Employees!   Customers can create their own Travel Guide profile and search for information on their favorite vacation spots by desired destination, activity, or theme. Each destination page features a city bio, a seven-day weather forecast, information on local hotels, shopping, nightlife and restaurants, airport information, and driving directions to local attractions. Not only does Travel Guide offer information on cities that Southwest serves, it features surrounding destinations as well. You can access Travel Guide from the main navigation on southwest.com. As a way to celebrate the launch of this exciting enhancement, Southwest is offering an added incentive to Customers who create a Travel Guide account and submit content to the site. Now through April 16, 2009, any approved photo, video, or post contributed to the site will earn Travel Guide users a one-time chance to win a vacation package to Chicago , Fort Myers , New Orleans , or Seattle . Check out Travel Guide today, and be sure to share a tip or two with your fellow travelers during your visit! ... View more

You know you work at a crazy-fun Company when you ask a Coworker in the bathroom if she has any pointy ears—and she doesn’t bat an eye. What on earth would I need pointy ears for, you ask? Why, for my leprechaun outfit, ye lads and lasses! There are times in your life when you are called upon for a higher purpose. One must cast aside their petty troubles and report for duty with an impish smile and a twinkle in the eye. This was one of those times: Southwest Airlines requested my presence as a leprechaun on a DAL-HRL flight last Thursday, March 12th. I slipped on my sparkliest slippers, donned my most dapper derby hat, and mildly attempted an Irish accent. (That last part was not so successful.) Then fellow sprite Steve Heaser and I set off for a journey across Texas to spread some shamrock cheer, and sprinkles of that SOUTHWEST SPIRIT. I was amazed to learn that even on a 7:30 am flight, our Customers were eager to play some inflight trivia and take their picture with me—before they’d even had their coffee, no less. Armed with a pot-o-gold (okay, pot-o-brown), I handed out green bubblegum doubloons, Southwest tschotkes, coloring kits, and—oh yes—a roundtrip ticket for the best picture taken with the Leprechaun.* Interacting with Customers is always a treat for me, but my Flight Crew really put the cherry on top of my delightful day. Special thanks to my Flight Attendant Neicee Coulson, who truly had the biggest heart and Fun-LUVing attitude on the plane that day. *All decisions are final and completely subjective, as leprechauns are nonsensical creatures and cannot be held accountable for much of anything.   ... View more

How to sum up the past 72 hours at SXSW? Well, I think it says a lot about an event when you're unable to check your e-mail due to the massive amount of bandwidth overload happening every second. With over 10,000 attendees blogging, tweeting, IMing, surfing, and skimming within a two-mile radius, it’s a wonder the Internet itself hasn’t imploded yet. Austin may have been cold and rainy, but the Web 2.0 is heating up with user-generated content, random widgets, and iPhone apps a-flyin'. Highlights from the event?   Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos.com, gave Southwest Airlines a shout-out during his keynote presentation on Saturday. His down-to-earth, pragmatic approach to happiness in the workplace was fascinating to listen to, and his company culture appears to be as strong as Southwest’s. He actually offers his employees $2,000 to leave Zappos—that’s how confident he is about Zappos. Tony is one of the biggest names to follow on Twitter; @Zappos has over 240,000 followers.   On a much smaller scale, I attended a Core Conversation led by Daniel Hope from the University of Texas here in Austin. He’s an expert on corporate blogging, and he mentioned Nutsaboutsouthwest.com as one of his favorite blog names. Thank ya kindly, Daniel! Read about his tips for starting a corporate blog at www.tracksuitceo.com   Tip: If you can’t get into a crowded panel at SXSW, why not make your own? That’s right, the aptly titled “Twitter for Marketers” Sunday panel (featuring our fellow airline friend Morgan Johnston @JetBlue) was packed to the gills. Thanks to mob rule, we set up shop in the hall, and ended up having our own grassroots Twitter panel. Here at SXSW, random intellectual conversations about Tweetdeck versus Twitteriffic happen at every corner. Speaking of Twitter, David Holmes (the Southwest Airlines Rapping Attendant) is blowing up. He was first discovered on YouTube and Twitter, and through the power of social media…he was even mentioned on CNN this week! Check out that clip at http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2009/03/15/kadf.rapping.flight.attendant.kdaf And of all the 10,000 techie minds swarming the Austin Convention Center this week, our own Christi Day was interviewed for the local news. Check it out at: http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/sxsw_gets_interactive With two more days of jam-packed panels, core conversations, trade show giveaways, and keynote speakers, we can only hang on to our hats (or perhaps iPhones?) and enjoy the ride.   ... View more

Members of the Blog Team are heading down to Austin this weekend to kick-start their first official foray into the informational/sensory overload that is SXSW. I’ve always thought the Interactive portion of the festival was one of the best-kept secrets in the Web 2.0 World—I myself only learned about it through volunteering there during my spring break from the University of Texas back in the day. Well, it’s not exactly a secret anymore, as 2008 was their biggest year ever. More than 10,000 people attended the festival, and I have a feeling those numbers will be surpassed this year. Who exactly attends these kinds of things, besides the “Nuts” team? Well, that’s exactly what makes this event so unique. It’s a mishmash of content developers, web designers, programmers, bloggers, wireless innovators, gamers, tech entrepreneurs, and investors—just to name a few. Not to mention you might see the Craig from Craigslist or Mark Zuckerberg (the Facebook guy) wandering around. Who are we most excited about seeing? Tony Hsieh from Zappos, John Adams from Twitter, Chris Anderson from Wired magazine—plus many, many more. As for listing all the panels we can’t wait to attend…well, that could take days. Southwest Airlines is absolutely ecstatic to be a part of this gathering of creative minds, and we’d love for you to vicariously attend through us. Follow us on Twitter @SouthwestAir as we share pictures, mind-boggling new ideas, and the fascinating people we’ll meet throughout the week. And welcome to Austin, Texas! ... View more

Southwest came in #2! To read more, please visit: http://www.dot.gov/affairs/dot2809.htm ... View more

Yet another one of our 21 Operation: Kick Tail $10,000 Winners!  To check out the local news clip, please visit: http://www.cbs6albany.com/video/?bcpid=1137806146&bclid=1143371293&bctid=14996172001 ... View more

St. Paddy’s isn’t until March 17 th , but Southwest’s Culture Committee (and Blog Team) are already conspiring to “Own the Holiday .” If you happen to be flying Southwest March 12 th , be on the lookout for three very sprightly, very green, very enthusiastic leprechauns. Do not be frightened by their seemingly endless cheer, pots-o-gold, and overabundance of shamrock-green attire. The three leprechauns will be playing trivia inflight, passing out prizes in departure gates, and generally making mischief wherever they go. They will journey near and far to spread goodwill on Thursday, March 12 th . Look for them in these fair Southwest cities:   Dallas , TX     San Antonio , TX Harlingen , TX Chicago Kansas City    Tulsa , OK Denver , CO Kansas City , MO St. Louis , MO           If you’re lucky enough to Spot the Leprechaun, ask to take a picture with them, and we’ll post it on the blog.* Not only will you become instantly famous, but you will have proof of having witnessed a rare leprechaun sighting.** Happy Hunting!***   *please email all pictures to blog.southwest@wnco.com **photographic sample of Leprechauns below ***Southwest not responsible for sudden mood elevation, good luck, and instantaneous rainbows ... View more

 Well, the LUV officially came to town on a chilly Sunday morning at 7 am in Minneapolis/St. Paul (MSP). That's right, the first flight out of our 65th destination city left on Sunday for Chicago's Midway Airport. How did the Southwest Employee volunteers get there in the first place? We had the chance to jump aboard one of the airplanes being flown into MSP from Dallas Love Field to begin our service here. I just learned that a ferry flight is a special term for a flight that has a very specific purpose. Our purpose was to deliver the LUV aircraft to its newest home: beautiful and snowy Minneapolis/St. Paul, and to bring along more than 2,300 pounds of canned goods to donate to a Minneapolis food bank.   It was my first time on a ferry flight, and I couldn't have enjoyed myself more. What made the flight so special? First of all, there was a father-son team flying together for the first time--well, the first time on a Southwest flight, that is.  Jim Johnson, the father, had just celebrated his 25th anniversary with Southwest a few days earlier, and his son, Craig, is not only the youngest, but the newest pilot to join the Southwest family. Jim is a native Minnesotan, and a love of all things aviation runs in the family. In fact, even Mom (Mrs. Johnson) came along too--it was truly a family affair. We were also lucky enough to be on one of our WiFi-equipped flights, which allowed us to blog, tweet, and IM to our little techie heart's content!   The 65 Employee volunteers onboard were greeted with cheers, high fives, and local media upon arrival. One of our MSP Employees had already written us a rousing cheer, and we belted it out with glee to the amusement of our (future) Customers and passing spectators. To watch news coverage of the event, check out this link: http://tinyurl.com/chs7xz   Sunday afternoon, ten teams headed out to Cub Food Stores to participate in a canned food drive in connection with the Second Harvest Heartland. Here was yet another new Employee tradition: dressing up as Spirit Junior! Yes, I was one of the blessed three trusted to don our infamous baby airplane costumes. Although hanging out in a grocery store for three hours might not sound insanely exciting, I actually had a blast meeting and greeting Minnesotans shopping for their Sunday night supper. Although, when you're dapperly dressed as a baby airplane, people are just naturally drawn to you. Everyone we met was more than willing to donate money and food packages to the food drive, and for their kindness they were entered into our drawing for two roundtrip Southwest tickets! It was heartwarming to hear people tell us they had not only heard of Southwest, but were looking forward to flying us. This was my first time visiting MSP (I'm not counting my I-35 road trip ten years ago) and I have to say, the rumors are true: the phenomenon known as "Minnesota nice" is alive and well here.   Oh, and if you need one more reason to visit Minneapolis/St. Paul, come for the buttermilk pancakes at Mickey's Diner (check it out at www.mickeysdiningcar.com/.) Or the cheeseburgers. Or the "pre-war recipe" baked pinto beans. Also be sure to holler at my new best friends: Keith the cook, Dee the self-proclaimed "beverage girl," and Bill the milkshake-maker. Actually, my Mickey's experience is a blog post unto itself. Stay tuned.   Monday morning will bring a bevy of dignitaries, among them being the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul, the governor of Minnesota, and our own CEO Gary Kelly. Look for a fleet of Spirit Juniors--I'll be the one doing loop-de-loops in the back.     ... View more

Yesterday, Planet Out launched the 17th Annual Travel Awards.  Please take the time to vote for Southwest as your Favorite Airline! To vote, please visit: http://travel.gay.com/17th-annual-gaycom-travel-awards-favorite-airline.html ... View more

Southwest Airlines today introduces priority security lane access for its Business Select and Rapid Reward A-List Customers at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport .   The airline has already implemented the lanes branded “Fly By” at a number of its 64 airports, including: Baltimore/Washington International, Dallas Love Field, Phoenix Sky Harbor International, Orange County John Wayne, Denver International, San Francisco International, and Los Angeles International. Southwest plans to expand the priority security lane program to additional airports nationwide as needed. Please visit www.southwest.com/flyby for additional Fly By information.    Southwest Customers can take advantage of Southwest’s Fly By Security Lanes by presenting an A-List identification card or by presenting a Business Select boarding pass. Southwest’s Business Select fare provides the same flexibility as our current Refundable/Anytime Fares, and comes with other added perks, including priority boarding, bonus Rapid Rewards frequent flyer credit, and one complimentary adult beverage (for Customers of legal drinking age).  Business Select Fares are refundable and changeable. A-List status applies to Rapid Rewards Members who fly 16 qualifying roundtrips in 12 months. Rapid Rewards A-List Customers also receive priority boarding privileges and automatic checkin.  ... View more

by Mark Pilling Bob Montgomery, vice-president of properties at Southwest Airlines talks about the airline's move into larger hubs like Minneapolis St Paul, New York LaGuardia and Boston, how airports are responding to airline calls for lower charges and whether his airline is going to charge passengers to use the on-board toilets. Check out his interview at: http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/airline-business/2009/03/network-usa-interview-bob-mont.html ... View more

by Sean Ludwig Twitter isn't just about finding out about plane crashes and what your best friend ate for lunch. Its uses are evolving, and big corporations are joining the fun. Some corporate accounts serve as a boring PR tool that spews press releases and follows everyone who tweets about their company. But others have found interesting, inventive ways to engage customers on Twitter. To read more, visit: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2341886,00.asp ... View more

Southwest Airlines announces today that the Company has reached a tentative agreement with Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 555, representing Ramp, Operations, Provisioning, and Freight Agents. The tentative agreement is for a new, three-year contract through June 30, 2011. The current contract became amendable on June 30, 2008. TWU Local 555 and Southwest Airlines began contract negotiations in January 2008.  “The negotiation process has been long and arduous – both negotiating committees have certainly worked diligently and in good faith,” said Gary Kelly , Southwest’s Chairman of the Board, President, and CEO. “We urge our Employees to give serious consideration to the tentative agreement, keeping in mind that in these uncertain economic times, our common goal should be to take needed steps to protect Employee jobs and to ensure the financial viability of our Company.” The TWU Executive Board has voted to submit the tentative agreement to all members of TWU 555 for review and a ratification vote. TWU Local 555 represents approximately 7,780 Southwest Airlines Employees. Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV), the nation's largest carrier in terms of domestic passengers enplaned, currently serves 64 cities (will begin service to Minneapolis-St. Paul March 8, 2009, and service to Boston Logan in Fall 2009) in 32 states. Based in Dallas , Southwest currently operates more than 3,200 flights a day and has more than 35,000 Employees systemwide. ... View more

Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) announced today that the Company flew 5.1 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in February 2009, a 6.0 percent decrease from the 5.4 billion RPMs flown in February 2008.  Available seat miles (ASMs) decreased 6.5 percent to 7.4 billion from the February 2008 level of 7.9 billion.  The load factor for the month was 69.1 percent, compared to 68.6 percent for the same period last year.               For the first two months of 2009, Southwest flew 10.2 billion RPMs, a 6.2 percent decrease from the 10.9 billion RPMs recorded for the same period in 2008.  Available seat miles decreased 5.4 percent to 15.6 billion from the 2008 level of 16.5 billion.  The year-to-date load factor was 65.8 percent, compared to 66.3 percent for the same period last year.     Revenues softened in February compared to January, bringing the year-over-year increase in passenger unit revenues to the two percent range for the first two months of 2009.   Business travel, in particular, has softened significantly, as measured by a decline in the percentage of full-fare traffic.  As a consequence of the continued deterioration in revenue and booking trends and the current economic environment, the Company's revenue outlook for the remainder of the year is more cautious.   This release, as well as past news releases on Southwest, are available online at southwest.com.     ... View more

By Katie Hawkins (CNN) -- For some, it's chocolate. For others, it's coffee or cigarettes. But as this Easter approaches, some young and devout Christians are anxious to return to what they gave up for Lent: Internet sites Facebook and MySpace. Many users describe the popular social networking sites as addictive, which is why they say giving up these 21st-century temptations is a sincere sacrifice. Members on both sites create profiles and add each other as friends. They can also share messages, photos, videos and personal blogs. to read more, visit: http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/internet/03/29/no.facebook.lent/index.html ... View more

As oil prices soared last year, Southwest kept flying affordable. Unlike many of its rivals that piled on fees, the airline didn't make passengers pay for things like in-flight soft drinks and snacks, or their first two pieces of checked luggage. If that's not admirable, what is? To read more, visit: http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/mostadmired/2009/snapshots/2068.html ... View more

Sometimes, the littlest airports can have the biggest families. At least that's what I walked away with (well, flew) after spending the day at the Little Rock National Airport in (you guessed it) Little Rock, Arkansas. With only 62 Employees, I was able to meet just about everyone on a rainy, gloomy day in February. The occasion? Why, the 25th Anniversary of Southwest Airlines coming to LIT! The Station Leader is responsible for overseeing pretty much everything, and you couldn't ask for a sweeter, more involved Leader than Gwen Thalley. Then again, anyone who can wear high heels or cowboy boots every day with a smile on their face is a personal hero of mine.   All week long, Gwen has been giving her Employees "the week of LUV." From parties to massages to BBQ, Gwen has been showering everyone with affection. Not only does she know everyone's name, but also their years of seniority, their spouse's name, and their "handle." Like my favorite Southern trucker film Smokey and the Bandit, everyone here has a nickname that can't be found on their nametag.   There are four original Employees still working at the station: Leland Fort, Cargo Agent Bernard Rhoades, Cargo Agent Randy Stroud, Cargo Agent Terry Stroud, Customer Service Agent Randy and Terry met and married at Southwest, and have a son named Matt (who works there too as a Ramp Agent). Fun fact: Southwest currently has 1,165 married couples—it’s just one of the many reasons we’re called “the LUV airline.” I was lucky enough to meet two of the originals, and like most Southwest Employees, they were modest enough to downplay their seniority. Without too much wheedling and coaxing, we were able to get an impromptu performance from Leland and Steven "Stevie Ray" Stewart, another longtime Employee. Leland has been making his own violins by hand for years, and they are jaw-droppingly beautiful. Check out a scene of them playing together in the accompanying video posted today. They subconsciously must have known I was a Dolly Parton fan, as they played one of her tunes when I stepped in the room. Pretty amazing when you consider they are both self-taught musicians.   If you happen to find yourself at the ticket counter in LIT, look for the best dreadlocks in Little Rock. They belong to Judith "Najite" Douglas, Customer Service Agent.  She put it best when she said, "Southwest has always allowed us to express ourselves and our unique personalities." I definitely saw that with each and every person I chatted with. Everyone was all smiles, everyone had a nickname, and everyone was truly happy to be working there. From a push-ups contest in the Ops room to Jesse Johnson's unique boarding announcements to Barry “Steve” Neely's beautiful black-and-white photography on display in the break room, this is one Southwest city I can't wait to return to--even if I never leave the airport. ... View more

Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson today announced that the Federal Aviation Administration has awarded the Dallas Love Field Airport a grant for $3,387,010. The money will be used to construct a taxiway and to rehabilitate runway lighting. "Love Field is a convenient, accessible airport that has served the people of North Texas well for decades," Congresswoman Johnson said. "This funding will enable the airport to repair and modernize its runway system, and I know it will be money well-spent." Dallas Love Field Airport is located in Congresswoman Johnson’s Congressional District. According to a recent report by the Texas Department of Transportation’s Aviation Division, the direct economic output attributable to the airport is estimated at more than $352.7 million. Additionally, scheduled airlines, and to a lesser extent, general aviation aircraft, transport over 1.7 million visitors to the area each year, supporting more than 18,000 visitor-related jobs and $377.8 million in payroll. Visitor expenditures are also responsible for $659.7 million in direct economic output.  U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson is the highest-ranking Texan on the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure and a senior member of the Science Committee. She represents the 30th Congressional District of Texas, which, includes Downtown Dallas, Fair Park, Oak Lawn, Old East Dallas, Pleasant Grove, & South Oak Cliff; all of Balch Springs, DeSoto, Hutchins, Lancaster & Wilmer and parts of Cedar Hill, Duncanville, Ferris, Glenn Heights and Ovilla. ... View more

What do you get when you put an internationally known hotel chain, a comfy Southwest Airlines airplane, and great Customer Service together? A new Rapid Rewards partnership between Best Western Hotels and Southwest Airlines! The Rapid Rewards program has added “The World’s Largest Hotel Chain®” as the newest preferred hotel partner. Members are now able to earn Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards credits redeemable for free flights anywhere the airline flies. Best Western RewardsSM members have the option to earn half of one Rapid Rewards credit for each stay at any of the more than 4,000 Best Western hotels worldwide.  To book flights or hotel stays, visit: http://www.southwest.com/?src=PRPRPRNGENR000000080808 In celebration of this new partnership, Rapid Rewards Members who are also members of Best Western Rewards can earn double credit (one credit per stay instead of the standard 0.5 credit) when they register and stay two or more qualifying nights at any Best Western hotel between February 15 and April 5, 2009. Plus, Best Western is offering a sweepstakes for 1 million Best Western Rewards points (good for up to 125 free nights) and six Southwest Airlines roundtrip tickets from February 15 to April 5, 2009. Rapid Rewards Members are automatically entered in the sweepstakes with a stay at any Best Western property during the spring. “Earning credits towards free travel on Southwest Airlines by staying at Best Western hotels is an option we know our Members will appreciate,” said Kevin Krone, Vice President Marketing, Sales, and Distribution. “Whether they choose to earn points toward free room nights or credits toward a free flight, our guests can travel with confidence knowing Best Western and Southwest Airlines are helping stretch their budgets,” said Dorothy Dowling, senior vice president of marketing and sales for Best Western International. “This alliance is a tremendous opportunity for Best Western and Southwest Airlines to best serve our loyal travelers, as we have hotels in every U.S. city Southwest flies.”   ... View more