Southwest Airlines Community

When the ashes clear from this economic Armageddon, the leaders and organizations left standing will be the ones that stand for something. That have a clear purpose. I’m sure of this because I worked with two CEO-founders who indeed stood for something: Herb Kelleher of Southwest Airlines (LUV) and Sam Walton of Wal-Mart (WMT). I worked with these iconic entrepreneurs on their companies’ advertising, marketing and internal culture. They taught me that performance is driven by the core purpose of an organization. This is true particularly when crisis is all around. To read more, visit: http://postcards.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2009/02/18/guest-post-wal-marts-and-southwests-magic/ ... View more

Christie Volkmer from Choctaw was thisclose to being eliminated on the Season 14 premiere episode of “The Amazing Race.” She and teammate Jodi Wincheski of Houston, both flight attendants for Southwest Airlines, started off strong, reaching the race’s first destination — Locarno, Switzlerland — in first place. To read more, visit: http://blog.newsok.com/television/2009/02/16/oklahoman-starts-the-amazing-race-strong-but/ ... View more

Who’s this category for? Bloggers who blog about one or more aspects of the industry Criteria: the Best Aviation-related Blog is awarded to the blog that was best able to demonstrate success in entering the discussions that happen in the blogosphere, had a strong track record in the use of all multimedia tools at their disposal and clear evidence of interaction with the blog’s readership and community. Judges: Jon Ostrower (FlightBlogger – Flightglobal), Adam Tinworth (Head of Blogging – Reed Business Information) to read more, visit: http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/02/09/322224/webbies-2008-best-aviation-related-blog.html ... View more

By Zak Stambor A behind-the-scenes look at Southwest Airlines’ social media strategy—and how its six-person team manages the workload When Southwest Airlines unveiled its Nuts About Southwest blog in April 2006, it wanted the site to offer customers a behind-the-scenes look at the company’s daily workings. To read more, visit: http://www.ragan.com/ME2/Audiences/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=MultiPublishing&mod=PublishingTitles&mid=5AA50C55146B4C8C98F903986BC02C56&tier=4&id=358DD7CF69D747C6BCF153945CE6B21C&AudID=3FF14703FD8C4AE98B9B4365B978201A ... View more

To view, please visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zuIzGQab5Q ... View more

Watch this clip from Fox News on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_ta2uxYXE4 to learn more! ... View more

On Wednesday evening of this week I had the pleasure of seeing Linda Rutherford present the Southwest Airlines brand story at a Business Marketing Association- Colorado dinner meeting. Linda is the Vice President for Communications and Strategic Outreach and did a marvelous job of engaging the audience in the Southwest brand experience. To read more, visit: http://www.brandchampionsblog.com/my_weblog/2009/01/brand-champion-of-the-day-linda-rutherford-vp-communications-strategic-outreach-southwest-airlines.html ... View more

If a jet burns an average of 744 gallons of fuel on a one-hour flight, how many gallons of jet fuel will be burned on a 90-minute flight?*  More than 30,000 fifth-grade students nationwide will find answers to this and other questions as they participate in the Southwest Airlines Adopt-A-Pilot community relations program this year. To further its commitment to community and education, Southwest Airlines is kicking off its annual Adopt-A-Pilot program this month. From February through May, fifth-grade students in more than 1,000 classes across the country will “adopt” Southwest Airlines Pilots in this award-winning educational mentorship program that leads students through science, geography, math, writing, and other core subjects, all based in aviation-related activities. Students will also research careers, develop life values, and realize the importance of staying in school. In order to teach students the importance of “Going Green,” the Adopt-A-Pilot program has added environmental awareness to the curriculum. The lesson focuses specifically on how Southwest Airlines views energy usage and fuel consumption and ways the airline has worked toward improving its aircraft to make them more eco-friendly. The students will learn about the aircrafts’ winglets, fun fuel conservation facts, energy and recycling habits, and ways they can help the environment too. ”The new environmental awareness lesson teaches about Southwest’s mission to be environmentally friendly. Our Employees are excited about our green initiatives and their inclusion in the Adopt-A-Pilot program is a great way to spread awareness and spark interest in students across the United States,” said Linda Rutherford, Southwest Airlines Vice President of Communications and Strategic Outreach. More than 750 Southwest Pilots volunteer in the four-week-long mentorship program. Pilots volunteer their time in adoptive classrooms and correspond from the “road” via e-mail and postcards. Classrooms chart their Pilot’s course on an official U.S. route map and complete lessons related to the Pilot’s monthly flying schedule. “We always enjoy our time in the classroom. The students’ curiosity and imagination makes the program worthwhile,” said Southwest Airlines Pilot Tim Leonard. “I’m proud to be a part of something that is diverse in its curriculum, enriching for students, and gets them excited about travel and future professions. The Adopt-A-Pilot program is more than just a volunteer opportunity for Pilots; it’s about building relationships.” Created in 1997, Adopt-A-Pilot started as a small community outreach program in just 50 classrooms in Southwest’s destination cities, and now it reaches more than 800 classrooms in large and small communities nationwide. Southwest Airlines developed the program in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Education and the Smithsonian Institute’s National Air and Space Museum. National leaders such Gen. Colin Powell, President Bill Clinton, and former First Lady Laura Bush have recognized the excellence of the Adopt-A-Pilot program. For additional program information and to view the program curriculum please log on to the web site at www.southwest.com/adoptapilot.  Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV), the nation's largest carrier in terms of domestic passengers enplaned, currently serves 64 cities in 32 states (Southwest will begin service to Minneapolis/St. Paul in March 2009). Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,200 flights a day and has more than 35,000 Employees systemwide. Click here to view a video from a recent Adopt-A-Pilot event with Southwest Airlines CEO, President, and Chairman of the Board Gary Kelly: http://www.blogsouthwest.com/video/southwest-airlines-adopt-a-pilot-2009 * (Answer: 1,116 gallons of jet fuel will be burned)   ... View more

Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:  LUV) announced today that the Company flew 5.1 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in January 2009, a 6.4 percent decrease from the 5.5 billion RPMs flown in January 2008.  Available seat miles (ASMs) decreased 4.4 percent to 8.2 billion from the January 2008 level of 8.5 billion.  The load factor for the month was 62.8 percent, compared to 64.2 percent for the same period last year.  For January 2009, passenger revenue per ASM is estimated to have increased in the six percent range compared to January 2008.  This release, as well as past news releases on Southwest, are available online at www.southwest.com   ... View more

Southwest Airlines has selected Wunderman as its Agency of Record for the airline’s award-winning frequent flyer program, Rapid Rewards.  The account will be managed from from Wunderman’s Irvine , California office and will utilize the resources of the Wunderman network. Wunderman will be tasked with strategic, creative, and analytical responsibilities related to Rapid Rewards marketing communications programs.  Southwest and the agency will work together to develop campaigns in a range of mediums.  “We chose Wunderman because of their strategic vision, their ability to provide innovative solutions, and the personal chemistry that they demonstrated with our team,” said Kevin Krone, Vice President Marketing, Sales, and Distribution.  “They’ve shown that they know how to marry creativity and innovation to reach consumers effectively.”  “Southwest Airlines knows their Customers," said Wunderman North American Managing Partner Dan Olson.  “Wunderman’s role is to provide fresh thinking that will spur growth and energize their ability to create meaningful dialogue and deeper relationships with Rapid Rewards Members.”    ... View more

The question "May I get you something to drink?" can often spark a panicky fear in some people's hearts. The decision to choose amongst a bevy of beverages is often too overwhelming. They'll stammer a quick, "Uhhh...no thank you" before immediately regretting their answer. Once out of the decision spotlight, they'll calmly reflect on how refreshing an icy cup of ginger ale would taste, and why they just didn't think of it in time. Perhaps this case of indecisiveness doesn't affect that many. But for the 0.05% of population that it does (myself included) there is an answer to our tentative prayers. On Februray 1st, Southwest will unveil the new Inflight Menu. After months of planning, pruning, and practice, the laminated 6x12 menu will be debuting in the 137 seatback pockets of each and every red-bellied warrior (i.e. our Boeing 737 jet.)  Wondering what kinds of complimentary inflight beverages we offer? What spirits might you partake in? What snacks are offered on long-haul flights? Wonder no more, as all your answers may now be found on the menu. (Confession: the menu has always been in the back of our inflight magazine, Spirit, but it was sometimes hard to locate amongst the many witty articles and Sudoku games wedged in between.) The idea for an inflight menu took many minds, and many months.  Any time a new product is added to our aircraft, it must go through vigorous tests for approval. All in all, the marketing team met with Aircraft Appearance, Purchasing, aircraft cleaners, Inflight communication, and even the FAA. Fun fact: our inflight magazine Spirit always has the same number of pages each month. Why? Planes are subject to strict weight standards, so each and every item on board (even a mere magazine page) must be accounted for. Luckily, the menu was light enough that it wasn't a problem. Besides the standard listing of complimentary beverages, a signature special drink will appear quarterly, which will feature a sponsored alcoholic beverage and mixer. For instance, this quarter will offer the 'Cranapple Blast' (a mix of Finlandia vodka and Cranapple juice.) The Spirited Selects section mentions the upcoming free drinks to commemorate special events or holidays happening in that specific quarter. Look for special Valentine's and St. Patrick's Day drinks on the house (provided you're 21 and up, of course) when you fly on those holidays. The Southwest Scoop section of the menu will give you a hint of what to expect in the Southwest skies--new cities, new beverages, big events...anything's possible. Notice a pattern yet? All sections of the menu start with an "S." It's no coincidence--six months of planning makes for one very streamlined menu. The menu will be changing quarterly, so be sure to check it out each time you're on a Southwest flight. And remember to have those credit cards ready--our Cabin has been Cashless since last Fall. ... View more

You really can buy me LUV! Take advantage of low fares from Southwest Airlines to whisk away your sweetie while keeping the cost cheap! Southwest is announcing a nationwide fare sale. Fares are available as low as $49 one-way for travel on Tuesdays and Wednesdays or $59 one-way for travel Thursdays through Mondays when purchased by Feb. 19, 2009. These fares are available on southwest.com only and require 14-day advance purchase for travel by May 20, 2009. To get these special online fares, click here. Examples of fares include (see Additional Fare Rules below): ·         $49 one-way between Dallas Love Field and New Orleans ·         $69 one-way between Denver and Seattle-Tacoma ·         $89 one-way between Baltimore/Washington and Houston Hobby              Southwest Airlines is also offering outrageously low fares between specific cities for travel Mondays through Thursdays or Saturdays.  Customers can travel within the Northeast from Baltimore/Washington for $49 one-way or flee the Windy City ( Chicago ) and head to California for only $99 one-way. Customers also can go west or northwest from Phoenix for $49 to $99 one-way. These fares are available on southwest.com only and require 14-day advance purchase for travel by May 20, 2009. To get these special online fares, click here. Examples of fares include (see Additional Fare Rules below): ·         $49 one-way between Minneapolis/St. Paul and Chicago Midway (service begins March 8, 2009) ·         $49 one-way between Baltimore/Washington and Pittsburgh ·         $99 one-way between Chicago Midway and Los Angeles ADDITIONAL FARE RULES Fares are only available on www.southwest.com. Southwest Airlines fare sales are available with a 14-day advance purchase Jan. 27, 2009, through Feb. 19, 2009, 11:59 PST, and travel must take place between Feb. 10, 2009, and May 20, 2009.   Fares do not include a federal segment tax of $3.60 per takeoff and landing.  Fares do not include airport-assessed passenger facility charges (PFC) of up to $9.00 and U.S. government-imposed September 11th Security Fee of up to $5.00 one-way. Travel to/from Florida , Orange County , Calif. , or Washington , D.C. (Dulles), not included in either sale.  Seats are limited. Fares may vary by day of travel and will not be available on some flights that operate during very busy travel times and holiday periods. Fares are available for one-way travel. Fares may be combined with other combinable fares.  Fares are not combinable with Senior Fares. When combining fares, all rules and restrictions apply. Fares are nonrefundable by may be applied toward future travel on Southwest Airlines.  Fares are not available through the Group Desk.  Any change in the itinerary may result in an increase in fare. Standby travel requires an upgrade to the Anytime fare. Fares are subject to change until ticketed. Fares are valid on published, scheduled service only.   ... View more

We've all had those days when we've woken up on the wrong side of the bed, had an extra helping of grumpy for breakfast, and then stubbed our toe on the way out the door. On days like this, it's easy to let that bad mood dissipate into everything you do: greeting your coworker's cheery "good morning!" with a grunt, scowling at your monitor, or perhaps taking the last of the coffee without making more. We're all guilty of the Monday (or Tuesday) blues, but it's nice to be reminded that sometimes even the littlest of actions could make someone's day. Who knows, you could even end up as the subject of a sermon that week. Through the magic of word-of-mouth, I came across a weekly bulletin from the Church of the Nativity in Burke, Virginia. David Castelveter, the Vice President of Communications for the Air Transport Association, was in attendance at a Sunday Mass in December when Southwest Airlines was the subject in his pastor's sermon. I'm posting the church bulletin in its entirety below, but in it Father Richard Martin talks about his trip to Baltimore for his mother's 95th birthday. Traveling is especially stressful during the holidays, what with the potential of bad weather, long lines, and crowds of cranky people everywhere you go. So Father Martin was a tad astonished to find these Southwest attendants being cheerful, attentive, and overall displaying a Fun-LUVing attitude. In this day and age, it's sometimes a surprise to see people actually enjoying their jobs. For most people, flying is not exactly fun. You're crammed in a plane with a bunch of strangers for several hours miles above the ground. But I've always associated the happy, often hilarious Flight Attendants as the face of Southwest, and since coming to work here, I appreciate them even more. Their job is anything but easy, but they're always the friendliest, happiest people on the plane--and they're the ones working! It's heartening to know such simple gestures--smiling at Customer, helping put away bags--could inspire a pastor in Virginia to dedicate his weekly bulletin and homily to these FA's. Father Martin has been a fan of Southwest since they flew into BWI fifteen years ago. He flies at least once a month, and around fifteen to twenty times a year. He flies so much that Flight Attendants from all over recognize him on flights. What inspired him to dedicate his entire bulletin to this particular flight on November 24th? It was Flight Attendant David Feather's closing announcement at the end of the flight, reminding Customers to "have a safe day and be kind to one another." "I was just so impressed by what that man said," Father Martin exclaimed. "I've never heard that from any other airline." So why put it in a sermon? "I believe you should communicate good news more. Bad news always makes the rounds, but positive things sometimes get left behind." I knew Father Martin was a true Southwest fan when he mentioned founder Herb Kelleher's book, "Nuts!" He believes it's practically a spiritual reading, and has actually given it as a gift to friends. "The people of Southwest live up to everything in that book. I have never met a mean person that works for this airline." How did his congregation react to his Southwest sermon on Sunday? With over 15,000 members, there were more than a few calls and emails pouring in with people wanting to tell their own Southwest story. The Golden Rule can be found all over the halls of Southwest, and it's easy to walk right by it without noticing. But thanks to Flight Attendant David Feather and Father Martin, I'm going to look at it a little differently from now on. And the next time I wake up feeling particularly crotchety (usually every morning before coffee) I'm going to remember that the littlest things can often leave the biggest impression. And who knows, you might even wind up as the subject of a sermon next Sunday. ... View more

Southwest Airlines may be the only airline without a PR problem right now. So why are they additionally showering their passengers with cash -- literally? Southwest rented a cash cube for a party last week at New Orleans' Louis Armstrong International Airport, celebrating 30 years of service at the Big Easy. And they announced it in a tantalizingly 2.0 way -- by live-blogging and tweeting the cube's arrival (with a picture too!) to read more, visit: http://www.jaunted.com/tag/Airport%20Parties ... View more

LUV flying and flowers?  Then Southwest Airlines has the deal for you.  The airline announced today that the carrier’s award-winning frequent flyer program, Rapid Rewards, has added Teleflora, the world’s leading floral wire service, as a new Preferred Partner.  The Teleflora-Southwest alliance will allow Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards’ Members to earn one-half of a credit on each order that costs between $34.95 - $99.99, and one full credit on each flower order that costs $100 or more.  Rapid Rewards Members will be directed to www.rapidrewards.flowerclub.com to make floral purchases with Teleflora, or they can call the dedicated phone line (800) 355-4381.  “With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, you can have your flower arrangement delivered to your home while you get credit for traveling!  It’s like having a bonus every time you buy a gift,” said Ryan Green, Southwest Airlines’ Director of Customer Loyalty. “We saw a great opportunity for our customers in this alliance, and teaming with Teleflora will bring an added value to our Rapid Rewards program.”             It is fast and easy to earn free travel through Rapid Rewards.  Rapid Rewards Members earn credits by flying or using the program’s Preferred Partners, like Teleflora, the premier flower source that only offers hand-arranged, hand-delivered beautiful floral gifts and plants by neighborhood florists.  It takes just eight roundtrips, or 16 credits, to qualify for an Award.  However, members can accelerate their earnings by using the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Visa Signature Card, doing business with any of the airline’s other Preferred Partners, or by purchasing Southwest’s Business Select fares when flying.  Plus, once it’s earned, Southwest Airlines allows the member to transfer the Award to anyone.  The Award is free but subject to the U.S. government September 11th Security Fee of up to $10 roundtrip.             “Teleflora’s Flower Club is proud to partner with Southwest Airlines, one of the nation’s leading low-fare carriers to offer its members credits for purchasing our beautiful arrangements.  Everybody loves to receive a bouquet, and Teleflora has something for everyone no matter what the reason or occasion.  With a network of 20,000 local florists, Teleflora will be able to meet all of Southwest customer’s floral buying needs,” said Jim Morris, Director Partnership Development at Teleflora. ... View more

By DERRIK J. LANG, AP Entertainment Writer Most contestants on "The Amazing Race" must tackle language barriers during their trek around the world. As the reality series' first-ever deaf contestant, Luke Adams had double the trouble. The 22-year-old recent college grad and his mother Margie are among the 11 two-person teams racing for the $1 million prize in the upcoming 14th season. "I thought it would be easy because my mother and I have always communicated really well," the longtime "Amazing Race" fan, who doesn't speak or read lips, said through an interpreter. "In the airports, my mom had to do all of the work because she had to do all of the talking. It was kind of hard for me to depend on her to do all of that." "In the beginning, I think Luke didn't have a whole lot of trust that I was going to communicate all of the information that I was receiving to him properly," said Margie. "I would ask a question or for directions, and it would take five minutes to get the answer, then I'd give him a 30-second reply. He'd say, 'No, you didn't tell me everything.'' " Other teams this season include pairs of stuntmen, Southwest Airlines flight attendants, former National Football League cheerleaders and University of Louisville college athletes. Brother-and-sister team Victor Jih, 35, and Tammy Jih, 26, both graduated from Stanford University and Harvard Law School and now work as corporate litigators in California . "Having seven years of higher education under our belts, we thought it would give us a big advantage because we're good at learning," said Tammy. "We went into this race knowing that everything we would face would be difficult and new and things that we're not familiar with, but we were really comfortable in the fact that we're good learners. " Beginning at the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base near Long Beach , Calif. , the Emmy-winning CBS reality competition (premiering Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. EST) will follow the teams for 12 episodes as they travel over 40,000 miles in 22 days to nine countries, including _ for the first time _ Romania as well as Switzerland , India and Russia . "We shot in the city of Krasnoyarsk and the city of Novosibirsk ," said "Amazing Race" executive producer Bertram van Munster. "The teams get from one city to another via the Trans-Siberian Railroad. Of course, it started off nice, but we got into this Siberian snowstorm with below-zero temperatures, which we weren't used to. It was pretty exciting." At 68, Mel White is the season's oldest contestant. The gay-rights activist and former speechwriter for Pat Robertson and Billy Graham is teamed up with his 38-year-old son Mike White, the actor-screenwriter who penned such films as " School of Rock " and "Nacho Libre." Despite the frantic pace of the race, Mike insists he didn't bicker much with his dad. "Compared to some of the other teams, I think we got along like a Hallmark card," he said. ... View more

We're back from the 11:00 a.m. ceremony. Chris Wahlenmaier, Vice President of Ground Operations, presented the airport with a model SWA Boeing 737-700 plane. Carol Lowe, deputy director of aviation for MSY, and Mary Beth Romig, New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau Director of Communications and Public Relations were also in attendance. Then the disco ball started glowing, the confetti started flying, and the DJ started spinning. 1970s hits were pumping as music videos played on three screens. Customers and Employees alike hopped on the dance floor to boogie on down. My favorite moment had to be the SMU basketball team stepping out on the dance floor to perform that classic dance: the Electric Slide. Flawless in their execution, and matching perfectly in their red warm-up suits, I had to hold myself back from jumping in the middle and embarrassing myself. The departing flight at 11:30 was treated to a water arch by the New Orleans Fire Department. A rainbow also made a guest appearance. Karaoke is starting soon, which should give everyone a chance to fully embarrass themself. Stay tuned! ... View more

10:15 a.m.: The crowds are slowly trickling in, and the DJ has just arrived. I've spent the past hour frantically cutting King cake for hungry Customers and Employees alike. As is King Cake tradition, there's a plastic baby hidden inside each doughnut-shaped treat. Usually the person who receives the baby has to bring the King Cake to the next party. But this time, they'll be entered in a drawing to win two roundtrip tickets to any Southwest city. So chew carefully--that baby could be your next ticket to freedom! We're also giving away all sorts of Southwest goodies: sunglasses, inflatable planes, heart-shaped mints, backpacks, and pens. Trivia games are being played in select departure gates, so be sure to brush up on your 1979/Southwest knowledge. Off to attend the 11:00 a.m. ceremony. We're thanking New Orleans for 30 groovy years, and presenting the airport leadership with a model plane. Check out the photo below of the four original MSY employees. They've been working here since 1979. I think they each deserve a whole King Cake! Names of Employees, left to right: Jerome Robinson, Ops Agent Kurt Schellhaas, Ops Supervisor  Belinda Salas, CSA Jimmy Robert, Ops Agent ... View more

Get ready for some live blogging as Christi Day and I spend the day at New Orleans Louisiana's (NOLA) Airport MSY to celebrate Southwest's 30 years of service here.  Home to jazz, po' boys, and Mardi Gras, this day is guaranteed to be anything but boring. We caught the first flight out of DAL at 6:55 and just arrived at 8:15. We were greeted by go-go girls, disco dancers, and a faithful recreation of those famous 70s Flight Attendant hot pants. I grabbed an Afro wig, Christi donned a psychedelic headband, and we're heading out to "get down on it." (Kool and the Gang, anyone?) Stay tuned as we bring you updates throughout the day about the fabulous festivities planned by our Culture Committee: Karaoke, Cash Cube, King Cake, costumes...as they say, "Laissez les bons temps rouler!" ... View more

To read our press release, visit: http://southwest.com/about_swa/press/prindex.html   ... View more

Last night over 140 local professionals were in the audience to listen to Southwest Airlines legend Colleen Barrett talk about managing corporate culture during hard times. Ms. Barrett had a very relaxed speaking style. She had no prepared remarks, but instead just allowed her mind to free-flow a stream of consciousness. She talked to the crowd like a next door neighbor, sharing her anecdotes and passion about corporate culture. Clearly sage advice. To read more, visit: http://thomsinger.blogspot.com/2009/01/managing-corporate-culture-during-hard.html ... View more

by Jennifer Van Grove We all know brands are using Twitter — whether or not you want them around. Some of them don’t quite get the medium and just tweet self-serving links or marketing speak, but you won’t find any of those brands here. We’ve handpicked 40 of the best brands experimenting with the micro-blogging platform, and asked them a few short questions about how they’re using Twitter. To read more, visit: http://mashable.com/2009/01/21/best-twitter-brands/ ... View more

Spend less green to get to the jewel of the Pacific Northwest   Dorothy had to follow that long yellow brick road and then click her heels for her roundtrip to Oz.  All you have to do is click your mouse to get a great deal for travel between the Emerald City and more than fifty Southwest Airlines destinations. For 72 hours only, Customers will be able to get 50 percent off any Southwest Airlines “Wanna Get Away” fare for roundtrip travel to and from Seattle-Tacoma!   These super low fares are available today, Jan. 20, 2009, through 11:59pm PST on Jan. 22, 2009, for travel Feb. 3, 2009, through May 31, 2009.  To book these low fares enter the promotion code “ SEATTLE ” at southwest.com or click on the following link http://www.southwest.com/landing/seattle50off.html.   Examples of fares are listed below (see Fare Rules): ·         $112 roundtrip between Sacramento and Seattle-Tacoma. ·         $122 roundtrip between Oakland and Seattle-Tacoma. ·         $130 roundtrip between Denver and Seattle-Tacoma. ·         $180 roundtrip between Philadelphia and Seattle-Tacoma. ... View more

We've all heard the age-old expression: "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." But what about PVC pipes, plastic cups, fuzzy doodads, and other random tchotchkes found in any office setting? They too can be repurposed for a higher calling. In this case, it happens to be for the annual weekend of "Camp Culture" for the MIT (Managers in Training) Level II training class here in Dallas. Southwest plucks its biggest and brightest stars for Leadership classes throughout the year, and the MIT Level II group is one of the most well-respected. This year's class of sixteen will be flown in from all over the country to take part in a six week-long leadership course--culminating with a Team camping trip in the Oklahoma wilderness. How did this all come about? Five years ago, Cheryl Hughey, then the director for MIT, was looking for a Teambuilding exercise for that year's class. Something a bit off the beaten path. Something a little more fun than trust falls or blindfolded Twister, and slightly less dangerous than Paintball wars. Thanks to online happenstance, she was introduced to Bernie DeKoven's site: junkyardsports.com. A quick phone call to Bernie, founder and creator of the site, confirmed that Junkyard sports had exactly what she was looking for: an encouragement of Teams, open communication, and rules that were made to be broken.  So just how did Bernie DeKoven come up with this idea to play with discarded materials? "The idea of using junk was inspired by the street games of the 1930s through 1960s--especially in Philadelphia and New York. I used sports because these are games that people already know--so they could understand how to make the game work. But, since they were using the 'wrong' equipment, they could also feel that the game was theirs for fun, not to be taken seriously." Bernie has written several books on the subject, and has been preaching the positive effects of non-competitive play for both kids and adults alike for over thirty years. He believes the test of a good game is to teach it, and then leave the room. If you come back and the kids are still playing it, it's a success. He also believes wholeheartedly in adults rediscovering the games of their youth, so with Southwest's Fun-LUVing attitude as one of their Core Values, it was a match made in junkyard heaven. I asked Cheryl just how they came up with all the, well, junk for the golf game. Turns out they didn't have to look far. "We went to people's offices asking for their junk. It was a trick-or-treat of sorts. We took anything: coffee cups, paper goods, anything non-perishable and random." No surprise there, considering Southwest's knack of acquiring various flotsam and jetsam throughout the years. Go into any storeroom in Headquarters. and you will find odd memoribilia dating all the way back to 1971. The MIT Team then set off to the woods of Oklahoma for their three-day weekend retreat. The off-site Camp Culture was the perfect setting for an intense game of junkyard golf. Teams were divided up into nine groups of four. Each team was designated a hole, and had fifteen minutes to create their miniature golf hole. As you can tell by the pictures, it was a roaring success, and a nontraditional way to end their time together. Bonnie Endicott, now the manager of Leadership Development MIT, has kept the tradition alive. "It lets them have fun, be creative, and it's low budget. It's a terrific Teambuilding exercise." And with all the recycling of junk going, it's green as well. So gather up your discarded office supplies and head outside for a little bonding experience with your own workmates. Just be sure to provide your own golf balls. And check out a clip that aired on CNN of Bernie at the Redondo Beach Junkyard Fest last year: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zy11rfpVE8c ... View more

“With the Power of an Education, the Sky is the Limit” is the new Southwest Airlines advertising campaign launched today in print, radio, and the internet to celebrate Black History Month.   Southwest also created a link where Customers can learn more about the educational organizations the airline supports at www.southwest.com/blackhistory.                                                                                       “For more than 30 years, Southwest Airlines has been committed to education and the creation of new opportunities in our communities, “ said Marian Thompson, Southwest Airlines segment marketing specialist.  “Black History month is not just a 30 day celebration at Southwest; it’s an all year pledge to our core values.”  That’s why we celebrate Black History all year round by supporting the potential of tomorrow’s leaders through education related partnerships.             Southwest Airlines’ long heritage of serving the African American community stems from the Company’s commitment to diversity at all levels.  With more than 30 community based organizations as partners, an active Corporate Community Affairs department, and a diverse workforce, Southwest Airlines empowers its message with true action. Ads will run in several mediums, including Ebony, Essence and Black Enterprise, with a portrait of a young African American student dreaming of a bright future. To see the ad link to:   http://www.southwest.com/images/swamedia/0109_blackhistorymonth.jpg  The title “The Sky is the Limit” exemplifies how Southwest Airlines understands how dreams can be accomplished through education. The campaign was created by Austin based agency, GSD & M, Idea City .  ... View more

Southwest Airlines Co. carried the most passengers domestically and overall during the first 10 months of 2008 when compared to other U.S. airlines, a new report from the Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics said Thursday. To read more, visit: http://albuquerque.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/stories/2009/01/12/daily42.html?ana=yfcpc ... View more