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Travel Tips for this Holiday Season

clewis730
Employee
Employee

The holidays are here, and that means that many of our Customers are heading to airports across the country to visit family and friends. We’re here to help make sure that your holiday travel is as stress-free as possible, so here are a few tips:

 

Before Flight:

  • Be sure to check in 24 hours in advance to get the best possible boarding position.  And if you download the Southwest App, you can check-in for your flight while you’re on the go!
  • Want Southwest to do the work for you?  Purchase EarlyBird Check-In® and we’ll check you in at 36 hours prior to your flight, so you don’t have to worry about it!
  • Get the airport early!  Arrive at least two hours prior to your flight to allow for time to check your bags, receive your boarding passes, go through security, and to grab some snacks before your flight departs.  Flights typically begin boarding 30 minutes prior to their flight departure time.
  • Bags Fly Free on Southwest Airlines!  Customers can check up to two bags for free, so don’t worry about what you’ll do with those Christmas presents you need to take home. 
  • Traveling with kids under the age of six?  You can take part in Family Boarding, taking place after the “A” group boards, and just before the “B” group begins boarding.

 

Onboard:

  • Carryon items are limited to one bag plus one smaller, personal-type item. Southwest Airlines limits carryon bag dimensions to 10x16x24 inches.
  • Southwest has open seating, so when you get on the plane, you can seat wherever you’d like!
  • Be sure to bring along your own personal device, so you can enjoy the Southwest Entertainment Portal. 
    • Thanks to our partners, you can watch a live TV for free, and surf through a number of TV shows on demand.  Cartoon Network is sure to keep the kids entertained throughout their flight.
    • Be sure you pack plenty of snacks for the kids.  We serve peanuts and pretzels, and select snacks on longer flights, but sometimes you need a little more to keep the kids busy.
    • Traveling on New Year’s Day? Enjoy a complimentary beverage on us!

 

Other Tips:

  • Looking for a last-minute gift? Southwest® gift cards make a great present! 
  • Don’t forget to pack you’re the necessities, like phone chargers, cash for tips, and snacks for on the plane.
  • Your furry friend can fly home with you for the holidays!  Small cats and dogs are allowed on Southwest Airlines; their carrier takes the place of your carry-on.
  • Wait before you wrap!  The TSA may want to check the packages that you are taking through security, so make sure you wait until you arrive to your final destination before wrapping your gifts.

Traveling on December 22, 2017?

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Southwest is once again teaming up with The Container Store to spread holiday cheer by gift wrapping presents for our Customers. Our Customers traveling through Atlanta (ATL), Nashville (BNA), Dallas (Love Field) (DAL), Detroit (DTW), Denver (DEN), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Indianapolis (IND), Chicago (Midway) (MDW), San Jose (SJC), and St. Louis (STL) on Thursday, December 22, from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. will be treated to free gift wrapping once they’re through security with their unwrapped gifts. 

 

Not traveling on December 22? We want to make sure that you have a chance to show off your wrapping skills in our #WrapOff Contest*! From now until December 23, tweet us a photo at @SouthwestAir of your best wrapped gift for a chance to win round trip flights for two on Southwest Airlines and two $50 Store More cards from The Container Store. Be sure to use hasghtags #WrapOff and #Contest to be eligible. Visit swa.is/wrapoff to view Official Rules and Privacy Policy.

 

* NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to 48 contiguous U.S. and D.C. age 19+. Odds depend on number of entries.