Southwest Airlines Community

This past weekend, the Southwest Adams Golf Team had a break out win with Kenny Perry finishing on top of the Seniors Players Championship (considered a Major on the Champions Tour).  Kenny beat out Fred Couples down the stretch to pull off the win. We couldn’t be happier for Kenny who not only is on the Southwest Adams Golf Team, but also a long-time Rapid Rewards Member who regularly flies Southwest out of Nashville (BNA).  Kenny watching the Golf Channel onboard Kenny is a huge Southwest Advocate, who loves us for our Golf Bags Fly Free policy, and that we don’t give a Penalty stroke for changing flight plans since pro golfers’ schedules are always changing.  It’s only fitting that Kenny pull of this Major win as he is also featured as the Southwest Freedom Story in this month’s Spirit Magazine. Kenny wasn’t the only player on the Southwest Adams Golf Team making headlines this past weekend.  Ash Hall made a strong run at the United Leasing Championship, getting edged out in a Play-off. Ash Hall Trading Places with Southwest Airlines Employees at the Wichita Airport The Southwest Adams Golf Team is comprised of eight PGA Tour Players and six Web.com players.  All players on the Southwest Adams Golf Team are avid Southwest Customers who embody why Southwest Airlines is the Official Airline of Golf Lovers.  Out on the course, the players sport the highly visible Southwest Airlines Adams Golf Bags and wear hats (visor in Kenny’s case) with our Southwest Airlines logo.  If you are watching any golf on TV or make it out to a tournament, keep your eye out for one of our players! Southwest Adams Golf Team – Co-branded Tour Bags Check out southwest.com/golf to meet the Southwest Adams Golf Team and learn why Southwest Airlines is the Official Airline of Golf Lovers. ... View more

We  LUV our sports at Southwest, and we’re partnering with the most respected editorial voice in golf, The Sports Illustrated Golf Group (SIGG), for something unique and fun for our Customers and Employees all summer. Bags Fly Free is a passion for Southwest Customers, including golfers, who appreciate that their baggage fee savings can be applied to greens fees.* The partnership centers around creating exciting and enjoyable experiences at the four largest U.S.-based championships of 2012.   What better place to start the Sports Illustrated at the Majors Presented by Southwest Airlines events than Georgia’s deeply-rooted golf community in Atlanta? This weekend at Piedmont Park, we are bringing the green for golfers to experience the Majors with us and Sports Illustrated, as we continue to celebrate our recent start of service to Atlanta.  On a championship-style putting green—complete with scoreboard, caddies, and marshals—“ Gateway to the Majors” will allow players of all levels to feel the tension and white-knuckled anticipation of putting on the green with a hushed crowd surrounding them just as the pros experience. Every visitor will also have a chance to register for a chance to win a trip to the next Sports Illustrated at the Majors experience in San Francisco.  Those who make the designated championship putt of the day will be entered into a daily drawing for two roundtrip tickets to any Southwest Airlines destination. And, so that Atlantans can enjoy watching their favorite tournament of the year with their friends in a beautiful outdoor setting, there is a large video screen showing the broadcast coverage of 2012’s first major golf tournament from Augusta. If you’re in Atlanta, the weather is going to be beautiful this Easter weekend, so come on out and putt on the green with us. We don’t need volunteers, but we would LUV to enjoy your Southwest SPIRIT as we celebrate with our new partners at Sports Illustrated. Here is the schedule and locations for the Sports Illustrated at the Majors presented by Southwest Airlines.  For details you can also visit www.GOLF.com/majors. •           The Masters, April 3-8 Augusta: National Hills Shopping Center •           US Open, June 14-17 San Francisco: Union Square Park •           PGA Championship, August 9-12 Kiawah Island, S.C.: Freshfields Village •           Ryder Cup, September 27-30 Chicago: Navy Pier * First and second checked bags. Weight and size limits apply. A golf bag may be substituted for one checked bag. ... View more

All eyes were drawn to the Southwest Airlines Flight Brigade last Saturday as they strutted down Peachtree Street in Atlanta, waiving their wands in perfect unison.  The SWA Flight Brigade, joined by their friends at AirTran, were one of the highlights of The Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Christmas Parade, an annual event to kick off the holiday season.  Not only does the parade raise funds for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta but it also provides a sense of community for Atlantans and entertainment for all.  And entertaining it was!  The Flight Brigade, which consists of Southwest Employees from all over the country, performed spectacular routines down the parade route, a testament to the practice and hard work they've put in. The appearance of both Southwest and AirTran in the parade reflected the close relationship Employees have developed as our two airlines continue to grow into one. As the SWA Flight Brigade and AirTran marched along the route, they were warmly greeted with folks chanting, “Bags Fly Free,” and “Atlanta LUVS Southwest." The unique Southwest Culture was in full effect.   Southwest Airlines is proud to be a part of this wonderful event, and so proud to support the Atlanta Community. ... View more

Many folks know that Bags Fly Free on Southwest Airlines, however what you might not know is that this includes golf bags.  With the PGA Tour Playoffs (The Barclays in Edison, NJ) kicking off this weekend, just a pitching wedge away from EWR, we felt it was only fitting to let New Yorkers know that Southwest Airlines is the best way to their favorite golf getaway.  Whether it’s one of our newer golf destinations (Charleston, S.C. / Beaches of Northwest Florida) or one of your old favorites (Orlando/Phoenix,) it’s easier than ever to get there with expanded service from the NYC Metro area! To continue celebrating our new EWR service, and the fact we don't charge "Golf" Bag Fees, we converted The Southwest Porch at Bryant Park into a fully immersive golf experience! The Porch has been outfitted with putting greens, a golf simulator, and plenty of fun golf activities to give New Yorkers and visitors a little golf getaway in the heart of Manhattan.  Folks will have the chance to win everything from Southwest-branded golf balls and putters, to Charleston golf vacation packages provided by our good friends at Explore Charleston. After a few swings and putts, Customers can come to the clubhouse (The Porch) to sip on Arnold Palmers and order bites from Wichcraft, whose servers will be decked out in outrageous golf outfits that will be sure to give Ian Poulter a run for his money.   So if you are in the Tri-State area this weekend, come on over to The Porch (weather-permitting) for some golf set amongst the skyscrapers of New York.  If not, help spread the word that the green fees are the only fees you have to think about when flying with Southwest Airlines! ... View more

Thanks to all who have sent us their feedback on the Rapid Rewards Let Em’ Fly promotion.  For those who had issues with the dice freezing, we have looked into this further.  In some cases it might be because you are using an outdated browser or are experiencing connectivity delays.  We have optimized the site so hopefully it will work better for you.  Some folks had questions on the “codes”, this is not needed to enter.  The codes are optional and intended for  the folks that have received a winning game piece at one of our events happening throughout the US.  We have updated our site to call this out.  We hope that you roll again and wish you the best of luck of at hitting that Yahtzee! If you're continuing to experience issues, please let us know in the comments section of this post!   Now Let 'Em Fly! ... View more

As one of our Managers on the Marketing Brand Engagement Team, my job is to promote the Southwest brand and our products, as well as find unique and meaningful ways to interact with and engage our Customers.  With the recent launch of our All-New Rapid Rewards program in March, my Team was tasked with finding a way to promote the new program in a way that would be fun and appealing to both new and current Rapid Rewards Members.  Well, “Yahtzee!” – we’ve found a way to do both! We are teaming up with the good folks over at Hasbro to introduce Rapid Rewards Yahtzee.  There are two main ways to play the game—via a game piece distributed by a Southwest Rapid Rewards Brand Ambassador in 11 select cities, or anyone can play online at www.southwest.com/yahtzee.  The concept for both ways to play the game is the same – simply roll the dice to see if your next vacation is just a roll away!  We’ll have Brand Ambassadors in the following cities handing out the game pieces: New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington D.C., Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco/Bay area, and Phoenix.  If you live in one of these cities, or happen to be traveling through, look for us at an event or busy intersection and all you have to do is scratch off a silver bar to reveal five dice.  If the roll totals 25 points or more, you will win 5,000 Rapid Rewards Points!  Pretty easy, huh?  Our Brand Ambassadors will be hitting the streets beginning Monday, July 18, through the Monday after Labor Day (Sept. 5, 2011), who will be passing out game pieces and showing people how to play online.  This is where the “Engagement” part of my job comes in, and we’ll be in a wide variety of fun locations in the 11 cities throughout the promotion.  For example, look for us at the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheater if you live in Denver or you’re going to see a show, or look for us at the Manchester Elvis Festival or concerts at the Hatch Shell up in the Northeast, or you can find us at the Southwest Porch at Bryant Park in New York City.  Our goal is to talk to as many people as we can to introduce them to Rapid Rewards Yahtzee, and give them their chance at winning Points that they can use for their next getaway.  Look for us in your city! If you don’t happen to live in one of the 11 cities listed above, don’t worry – we didn’t leave you out of the fun.  Anyone can play online by visiting www.southwest.com/yahtzee to sign up for Rapid Rewards and play the online version.  Once you sign up, simply roll the virtual dice to see if you come up with any one of several winning combinations (three of a kind, four of a kind, full house, small straight, large straight), or roll a “YAHTZEE,” five of a kind, and you will win one million Rapid Rewards Points!  Just imagine the places you could go and things you could do with a million Rapid Rewards Points!  So, if you’re in one of the select cities or hear a co-worker randomly yell, “Yahtzee – I’m going on vacation!” – you’ll know what all the fuss is about.  I hope you’ll join the fun and take your turn to see if your next vacation is just a roll away. ... View more