This summer, I flew to fourteen cities, met hundreds of incredible people, and accumulated almost three days above 35,000 feet in the air—all while working hard at the job of my dreams.
As an Intern in the Communication and Outreach Department at Southwest Airlines, I gained valuable experience by writing Company documents, planning events, and learning the ins and outs of communicating on behalf of a major corporate Company. From planning an exciting city opening in Wichita and creating Southwest’s first Instagram video, to having multiple writing assignments and spending Independence Day in our nation’s capital, my internship experiences at Southwest are ones I will never forget.
But the thing that stood out the most to me about working here? The Culture. Southwest Employees pride themselves on being a Family, and after a summer working at the Company’s Headquarters in Dallas, I understand why. The People at Southwest have an unmatched passion for their job, something I find extraordinary in today’s working world. I know that many of the people I worked with at Southwest will be mentors and friends for years to come.
Does my experience sound too good to be true? Does it sound like something you’d love to be a part of? Lucky for you, the Southwest Airlines NoLimits Internship Program is looking for qualified, passionate individuals for Spring and Summer 2013. Southwest offers internships in a wide range of departments—Marketing, Maintenance, Finance, and Communications, just to name a few!
My fellow summer Communications Intern Liz Blumberg (who is with me in all the pictures above) and I put our heads together to come up with a few things we wish we would’ve known at the start of this incredible journey:
Apply for ALL the positions that you are qualified for. You may end up in a department that you absolutely love, even if you didn’t know anything about it initially.
Be honest in your interview. Why do YOU want to work at Southwest Airlines? Be genuine, because it’s easy to tell when you’re not.
Yes, free flights are a great perk of the internship. However, it’s a privilege and not a right—being a diligent Employee is your ultimate responsibility.
Moving to Dallas for the summer isn’t as scary as it sounds! (I live in Florida and I have LUVed my time in the Lone Star State!)
Remember, this is one of the most competitive internship programs in the country. For the Summer 2013 internship session, Southwest received more than 13,000 applications for just about 80 spots. That’s an acceptance rate of less than one percent! So, put thought and care into your application materials and interviews.
Don’t miss out on the flight of your life! Southwest will begin accepting online applications for both the Spring AND Summer 2014 NoLimits Intern positions beginning Monday, August 19.
For complete information and to apply visit http://www.southwest.com/internships.
Good luck!
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08-06-2013
12:00 PM
7 Loves
Starting in 2003, Southwest Airlines invested in some little parts that make a big difference on our aircraft—winglets. Today, most of our aircraft are equipped with winglets, the vertical fins on the tips of a plane’s wings. Winglets help Southwest save fuel, reduce emissions, and get our Customers to their destinations more quickly.
In fact, winglets on Southwest aircraft are responsible for saving an estimated total of more than 42 million gallons of fuel annually. How does such a small thing make such a huge impact on our bottom line? It’s all about aerodynamics.
Winglets affect two forces that contribute to each plane’s aerodynamic abilities: lift, the upward force of air flowing around the plane’s wings, and drag, the resistance of air against the plane.
Vortices are air currents that form at the end of the wing, creating drag. Winglets reduce the vortices, resulting in improved performance and allowing Pilots to use less power to maintain speed.
Of course, they make for a pretty great view of the clouds, too. Now that’s a reason to snag the window seat!
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As the Official Airline of Golf Lovers, it's not surprising that Southwest Airlines has created an all-inclusive golf experience fit for a pro. Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Visa Signature Cardmembers can participate in an auction for a trip for two to hang out with Southwest Adams Golf Team player Kenny Perry at one of the world’s premier golf locations—Pebble Beach! The three-day trip, from Sunday, August 25 until Tuesday, August 27, includes: Roundtrip airfare for two on Southwest Airlines Two nights’ luxury accommodations at the Lodge at Pebble Beach Cardmember-only golf clinic One round with caddy at Pebble Beach Golf Links Private cocktail reception and dinner with Kenny Perry Five-day car rental Sound like a golf-LUVer’s dream? It is! Act quickly, because the auction ends Friday, July 12, 2013 at 11:59 p.m. EST. The Golf Getaway is available to Cardmembers only, courtesy of Visa. Check out the video of Rapid Rewards Cardmembers who experienced a dream vacation to Pebble Beach last year, and click here to enter the auction.
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07-03-2013
11:00 AM
84 Loves
From the lakes of Minnesota to the hills of Tennessee, we LUV flying throughout America with you! A special red, white, and Canyon Blue thanks to our Servicemen and Servicewomen for protecting our freedom—enjoy priority boarding tomorrow! For everyone else flying with us to your fireworks-viewing destination tomorrow, enjoy a free drink onboard, and check out our decorated gates and patriotic attire throughout the system. If you see a decorated gate that would make our Founding Fathers proud, show it to us on Instagram with the hashtag #SWApic. Here’s a little Independence Day trivia about Southwest Airlines to get you in the patriotic spirit! Questions 1. Which of the following free phrases has never been used in a Southwest Airlines campaign? A. Bags Fly Free B. Free Flyin’ Fun C. You are now free to move about the country D. Set Love Free 2. Which of the following was the fourth city in the Southwest system? A. Austin B. San Antonio C. Harlingen/ South Pardre D. Corpus Christi 3. Which of the following signature planes does not have red, white and blue paint in its specialty design? Note: The Southwest Colors on the tail don’t count! A. Colorado One B. Triple Crown C. Illinois One D. California One 4. Where is the American flag located on every Southwest plane? A. On the nose B. On the winglet C. On the tail D. On the forward door Answers 1. B 2. C 3. D 4. C
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It’s not surprising that people in the Mile High City are always on the move. They have a passion for the pursuit of exploration. Southwest Airlines shares that same passion, and it’s no secret that we LUV Denver. After all, Denver is our fifth busiest airport in terms of daily departures, and Southwest Airlines is Denver’s largest domestic carrier in terms of originating, domestic passengers. There’s something special about the mountains and the mountain air, so naturally, this LUV affair is a perfect match! This summer, Southwest wants to thank the folks in Colorado for helping the Mile High City live up to its name—and then some. Therefore, we have rolled out a special Rapid Rewards promotion for our Colorado Customers, and we have launched a Denver-specific advertising campaign this summer. Rapid Rewards Members and potential Rapid Rewards Members are eligible to receive double points and double Tier Qualifying Points on Southwest booked flights for travel to and from Denver between now and August 15, 2013. This promotion will help Rapid Rewards Members earn reward flights and tier status twice as fast. Members simply need to register, book through Southwest, and complete their Denver travel during the promotional period to be eligible for this promotion. So, what are you waiting for? See what the hype is all about by booking travel to and from Denver. And be sure you register prior to your travel for double Rapid Rewards Points at http://www.southwest.com/rapidrewards/promotion?f=26pl5lpe . This week we are also launching a Denver-specific advertising campaign to show Denverites all the reasons they should fly Southwest Airlines. The television commercials were filmed in Denver (and some of the great places you can go from Denver), and feature our very own Denver-based Employees. Although the advertisements feature many iconic Denver locations, the theme of the ad will resonate with every Denver native: the excitement of the pursuit. To check out the commercials, and all things Southwest Airlines is doing in Denver, visit: www.southwest.com/denver.
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It’s an exciting day for Southwest Airlines—our 42 nd birthday! We know what you’re thinking. “I need to rush out and buy Southwest Airlines a birthday gift!” …Right? Well, break out those party hats, but relax, because we’re going to celebrate a little nontraditionally. We couldn’t have made it 42 years without our wonderful Customers. So, we have gifts for you! We’re giving away Bags of SWAG (SWA Goodies). One bag features a grand prize ski trip for four to Salt Lake City/ Park City, our 42 nd destination. The trip is complete with roundtrip air fare for four, a rental car, a four-night stay in Park City, ski lift tickets and rentals, and a food and beverage credit. Now that’s our kind of birthday party! The other 42 bags, however, were quickly, but LUVingly, filled with whatever Southwest stuff we could find. See if our birthday luck is as contagious as our birthday spirit. Enter to win at southwest.com/birthdayswag. Also, if you’re flying with us today, enjoy a complimentary birthday beverage. Just don’t be surprised if it comes at the cost of singing “Happy Birthday!”
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Last weekend, the vivacious sounds of saxophones and bass guitars overtook beautiful Grant Park where more than 500,000 people enjoyed the Chicago Blues Festival. And, there was no better place for attendees to tap their toes to the music than in the Southwest Blues Lounge! Southwest Employee Ambassadors hosted festival goers at the lounge, inviting them to register for a chance to win a Southwest Vacation to New Orleans, taking a fun photo in front of our green screen, and getting a Blues Name for the weekend with the Blues Name Generator! Of course, Southwest’s engagement in the Chicago community goes far beyond the festival. We recently established a relationship with the Chicago Parks District to bring Chicagoans and travelers exciting events that highlight the area’s rich fine-arts culture all summer. Examples of the events sponsored by Southwest Airlines include “Theater on the Lake,” a summer-long theater festival showcasing Chicago’s impressive off-Loop theater community, and “Summer Dance in the Park” events, providing free opportunities to enjoy a wide range of culturally distinct dance instruction and featuring local musicians. Southwest Airlines is also the Official Airline of the year-long Jazz City Concert Series, connecting people of all ethnicities and generations to the legacy of jazz in Chicago. In addition to supporting our Blues and Parks sponsorships as SWA Ambassadors, the Chicago Culture Committee and MDW Employees are gearing up for a busy summer full of internal events that put each Employee’s Warrior Spirit, Servant’s Heart and Fun-LUVing Attitude to good use. Chicago Employees will serve at a Ronald McDonald Dinner, enjoy a Luau Hangar Party, and cheer on the Chicago White Sox within the next two months. Employees are also participating in MDW’s own version of “The Biggest Loser” throughout the summer, encouraging each other to better health and competing for cash and prizes. With so much going on, you can imagine the hype around MDW lately! From the Blues Festival to embodying our Culture every day, Southwest is proud to provide service and entertainment to our Employees and Customers in Chicago.
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There's something majestic about flying internationally. A hundred years ago, it typically took weeks to travel abroad. Now I can board an airplane near my home, take a quick nap and wake up in another country—all in one day! And today, Southwest Airlines made international travel even easier. We are proud to be the first carrier to offer nonstop service between Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and San Jose del Cabo/Cabo San Lucas International Airport via AirTran Airways. To celebrate, Passengers enjoyed festivities, including breakfast and a water cannon salute, before saying “adios” to Austin and boarding a southbound AirTran plane, ready for a tropical getaway. Whether you’re looking for adventure or just a little relaxation this summer—Cabo San Lucas has just want you need in a vacation. I, for one, can’t wait to hit the beach with a good book! The new route is offered on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Southwest also offers nonstop service via AirTran between Cabo and John Wayne Orange County Airport and Denver International Airport. Tickets can be purchased at southwest.com or airtran.com. Happy Trails!
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