Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines Co. is a low-cost American airline based in Dallas, Texas. Its focus cities are McCarran International Airport, Chicago Midway International Airport, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Baltimore-Washington International Airport, William P. Hobby Airport, Dallas Love Field, Oakland International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Orlando International Airport, San Diego International Airport, Tampa International Airport, Nashville International Airport and Denver International Airport.
It is the largest airline in the United States based on passengers carried domestically in 2007 and the 6th largest US carrier based on revenue. With a fleet size of 540, Southwest Airlines is considered the second largest among the world’s commercial carriers according to passenger fleet.
Southwest Airlines was founded in 1967 as Air Southwest. It was renamed to Southwest Airlines in 1971. It adopted the profit sharing plan in 1973 where its employees were given ten percent ownership of the company stock.
It launched its website in 1995 making it the first airline to have a website. Its website, Southwest.com has become the top airline site for online revenue and boasts of high number of unique visitors.
Southwest Airlines added operations at Minneapolis/St. Paul in 2009. It offers eight daily flights commencing from Hubert H. Humphrey Terminal to Chicago Midway International Airport. The top ten airports served by Southwest Airlines in 2008 are Las Vegas, Chicago-Midway, Phoenix, Baltimore/Washington, Houston-Hobby, Dallas-Love Field, Oakland, Los Angeles (LAX), Orlando and San Diego.
It currently holds the distinction of being the largest intrastate airline in California servicing 694 flights, 370 of which are intra-California.
The airline is participating in the Disney’s Magical Express Program in Orlando, Florida.
On January 2009, Southwest Airlines posted profit for the 36th consecutive year.
Southwest Airlines’ slogan is “A Symbol of Freedom/You Are Now Free To Move About The Country.”
Destinations
Southwest Airlines flies to 64 destinations within the United States. It services Birmingham in Alabama; Phoenix and Tucson in Arizona; Little Rock in Arkansas; Burbank, Los Angeles, Oakland, Ontario, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose and Santa Ana/Orange County in California; Denver in Colorado; Hartford/Springfield, Massachusetts in Connecticut; Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Orlando, Palm Beach and Tampa in Florida; Boise in Idaho; Chicago in Illinois; Indianapolis in Indiana; Louisville in Kentucky; New Orleans in Louisiana; Baltimore in Maryland; Detroit in Michigan; Minneapolis/St. Paul in Minnesota; Jackson in Mississippi; Kansas City and St. Louis in Missouri; Omaha in Nebraska; Las Vegas and Reno in Nevada; Manchester in New Hampshire; Albuquerque in New Mexico; Albany, Buffalo and Long Island/Islip in New York; Raleigh-Durham in North Carolina; Cleveland and Columbus in Ohio; Oklahoma city and Tulsa in Oklahoma; Portland in Oregon; Philadelphia and Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania; Providence in Rhode Island; Nashville in Tennessee; Amarillo, Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, El Paso, Harlingen/South Padre Island, Houston, Lubbock, Midland/Odessa and San Antonio in Texas; Salt Lake City in Utah; Norfolk and Washington, D.C. in Virginia; Seattle and Spokane in Washington.
Rapid Rewards
Rapid Rewards is Southwest Airlines’ frequent flyer programme. The programme offers a Standard Award by flying eight roundtrips with them within 24 consecutive months. Members can also earn points by purchasing products or services from Rapid Rewards Preferred Partners that include hotels, credit cards, car hire, dining and retail companies.
Rapid Rewards is probably the easiest airline rewards program because one credit is added to your account for every one-way flight or two credits for roundtrip flights. A Standard Award is automatically credited to the member’s account as soon as the required number of flights is achieved. The award is transferable and can be converted to Freedom Award. A free drink coupon and a companion pass are also part of the awards.