Southwest Airlines is the largest low-cost carrier in the world. It is a USA Airline, with its headquarters in Dallas, Texas. It was founded by Rollin King and Herbert Keller in 1967 as Air Southwest. Its current name, Southwest airlines was adopted in 1971.
Southwest Airlines operates flights from airports in the following American cities: Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago?Midway, Dallas?Love, Denver, Houston?Hobby, Las Vegas, Oakland, Orlando, and Phoenix?Sky Harbor. The airline uses the point to point system rather than the hub and spoke system used by other airlines. It operates domestic and international flights to more than 101 destinations in 41 States, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.
Routes Southwest Airlines Operates flights on
The popular Routes of Southwest airlines are
| Popular Routes |
Flight Fares ($) |
| Orlando to Baltimore/Washington |
202 |
| Baltimore-Washington to Orlando |
94 |
| Chicago to Les Vegas |
149 |
| Houston to Dallas |
124 |
| Chicago to Denver |
340 |
| Denver to Las Vegas |
78 |
| Baltimore/Washington to Chicago |
149 |
| Las Vegas to Chicago |
184 |
| Denver to Chicago |
79 |
Southwest Airlines Fleet
Southwest Airlines operates exclusively Boeing 737 aircraft. It is the world?s largest operator of Boeing 737 with more than 735 aircraft in the fleet.
The airline introduced its Heart livery in 2014. The new livery uses dark shade of blue, with yellow and red stripes on the tail. The belly of the heart is painted blue with a yellow and red stripe on the tail. The livery features a heart, which is the Southwest airlines 43 year old symbol. Southwest is written on the body of the aircraft.
Travel Packages Offered By Southwest Airlines
Southwest offers in-flight non-alcoholic beverages for free while the alcoholic beverages are for sale at a flat rate of $5. Members of the Rapid Reward program receive drink vouchers.
Rapid Rewards Program is for frequent flyers. It is a points system. Members can earn and redeem points based on fare and cost of ticket. The Tiers are A-List, A-list preferred and Companion List. Benefits include priority boarding, priority check-in, and dedicated A-list member phone line.
Seating Policy
Southwest Airlines operates open seating policy. Passengers are numbered from 1 through 60 or lettered. Passengers then line up in numerical order within each letter group and then choose any seat on the aircraft.
In-flight Entertainment
The 737 aircraft are equipped with WiFi, free streaming live television, Beats Audio, free eBooks and Video on demand. WiFi access are available free to all passengers while full internet access is available at a discount but free to A-list Preferred Rapid Rewards members.
Special Services Offered by Southwest Airlines
Free alcoholic drinks are offered free of charge on New Year?s day, Valentine?s day and Mardi Gras.
Passengers with disabilities
Passengers should give a 48 hours advance notice for assistance. Wheelchair assistance is available at the airport. Assistive devices such as walkers, canes, crutches, and CPAP machines can be transported in the cabin free of charge. Wheelchair compartment is available at the rear of the aircraft but on a first come basis.
Where to Book Southwest Airlines Flight Tickets
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Flying with Children
Pregnant women
Pregnant women should consult a physician or gynaecologist for medical clearance to fly. Expectant women beyond the 36 weeks of gestation are advised against air travel.
Infants/Children
Only 1 infant over 14 days old but less than 2 years can be carried free of charge on the accompanying adult?s laps. Infants who weigh over 40 pounds or 18kg must occupy their own seats in an approved car seat.
Children between 2 and 11 years must occupy a seat and be accompanied by an adult or use the Unaccompanied Minor Service. Children travelling on a child fare can request for the boarding pass online.
Children between 12 and 17 years travelling alone are considered as young travellers on Southwest airlines. Young Traveller service are not provided on international flights.
Unaccompanied Minor Service
Children between 5 and 11 years old travelling alone must use the Unaccompanied Minor Service on Southwest Airlines. $100 is charged for a roundtrip in addition to the air fare per child. Lone flyers may only use the service on direct or non-stop flights.
Unaccompanied Minor Service is not provided on international flights. Pets can?t travel with unaccompanied minors.
Flying With Pets
Domestic cats and dogs who are 8 weeks or older can travel in the cabin under the front seat. The pets must be carried in an approved kernel. The airline does not accept pets as carry-on or checked baggage. On international flights, animals are not allowed to travel in the cabin.
Pets are accepted on a first come first served basis as only 6 pets are allowed per flight with a limit of 1 pet per passenger. Pets are not allowed to travel with unaccompanied minors.
Southwest Airlines accepts on board fully trained service animals and emotional support animals accompanying passengers with disabilities. It does not accept therapy dogs, rodents, reptiles, insects, hedgehogs, rabbits, sugar gliders or other exotic animals for transportation. Emotional support animals are not allowed to travel to/from Jamaica.
Pets fare is a flat rate of $95 each way per pet carrier.
Cargo Delivery
Southwest Cargo transports general goods, express cargo, human remains, pharmaceutical, live animals and pets, valuables and perishables to different destinations. Southwest Airlines Cargo provides expedited air cargo services for passengers to different locations around the United States.
Terms and Check-in Policy
Check-In
Domestic Flights- Arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes before flight departure.
International Flights-Arrive at the airport at least 3 hours before flight departure. International travellers must verify their passport with an agent or kiosk at the Southwest Airlines Ticket 60 minutes prior to flight departure time.
Boarding begins 30 minutes to flight departure. Passengers must be at the boarding gate at least 10 minutes prior to flight departure.
EarlyBird Check-In
EarlyBird Check-In allows passengers to be checked-in automatically and receive a reserved boarding position 36 hours before flight departure. Boarding passes can be printed 24 hours prior?to flight departure. It costs $15 for a one-way flight. Better boarding position early access to overhead storage and automatic check-in are some of the benefits.
Online Check-In
Passengers including young children can check-in online starting from 24 hours prior to flight departure.
Self-Service Kiosks
All passengers can use the self-service kiosk except Unaccompanied Minors, infants, and young travellers, customers travelling with pets, military fare passengers, passengers travelling with paper tickets. The Kiosks are located at Southwest Airlines Ticket counters and in the main lobby area of selected airports.
Baggage
A maximum weight of 50 pounds or 23 kg is allowed per piece of checked baggage. Excess charge of $75 applies to overweight items from 51 pounds.
Only 1 item of baggage is allowed per passenger. It must meet dimensions of 10x16x24 inches.
Baggage Restrictions
A travel ban has been implemented on Samsung Galaxy Note7.
? Inflammable and explosive materials; oxidants; poisonous and infectious materials; radioactive materials; corrosive materials; magnetized materials.
? Gun-shaped electronic powder fire extinguishers.
? Fuel batteries.
Special Baggage
The following items may be checked in substitution of one piece of the free Checked Baggage allowance for each Passenger free of charge. The equipment must not exceed 23kg or 62 inches in size.
? Archery equipment
? Baseball/Softball equipment
? Boogie or knee board
? Bicycles
? Bowling bag
? Fishing tackle
? Golf bag
? Scuba equipment
? Skateboard
? Snow ski equipment
? Water ski equipment
Sports equipment such as bicycles larger than 62 inches, javelins, kayak, surfboard/kiteboard, vaulting poles, wind surfing board will be accepted as checked baggage at $75 charge for one way flight.
Lost/Damaged Baggage
Passengers with lost or damaged baggage must report in person to the Southwest Airlines Baggage Service office within 4 hours of flight arrival at the destination.
Refunds
Unused, fully refundable tickets without restrictions may be applied toward future travel or refunded within 1 year from the issue date.
No Show Policy
Flights can be cancelled up to 10 minutes before flight departure. Passengers who do not cancel their reservation will be considered a no show and will forfeit a refund.
There is no refund or replacement of a lost ticket.
