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Southwest Airlines

Baggage Policies | Food Service | Airline Features and Services | Planes Operated
Southwest AirlinesThe mission of Southwest Airlines is dedication to the highest quality of Customer Service delivered with a sense of warmth, friendliness, individual pride, and Company Spirit.

Website: http://www.southwest.com/ | Phone: 1-800-I-FLY-SWA  | Frequent Flier: Rapid Rewards



Baggage Policies

Carry On Policy: Southwest Airlines allows 2 carry ons per passenger. Details: Per TSA regulations, carryon items are limited to one bag plus one smaller, personal-type item.
  • Personal-type items include purses, briefcases, cameras, food containers, or laptops (case included).
  • Southwest Airlines limits carryon bag dimensions to 10x16x24 inches.

Checked Baggage Policy: Southwest Airlines allows 2 carry ons per passenger. Details:
  • Baggage Allowance: Beginning January 29, 2008, Southwest will allow two (2) checked pieces of baggage per ticketed Customer. Size and weight limitations apply.
  • Excess Baggage: Effective January 29, 2008, you may check a third bag for a charge of $25. Your 4th through 9th bag or item will incur a charge of $50 per piece, and any bag or item thereafter will be $110 per piece.
  • Weight and Size Allowance: Maximum weight is 50 pounds and maximum size is 62 inches (length + width + height) per checked piece of luggage. Effective March 1, 2005, overweight items from 51 to 70 pounds will be accepted for a charge of $25.00 per item. Items weighing from 71 to 100 pounds and oversized items in excess of 62 inches but not more than 80 inches (i.e., surfboards, bicycles, vaulting poles) will be accepted for a charge of $50.00 per item.

Food Service

FOR ECONOMY CLASS
Snacks: If your flight segment is less than 600 miles in length, you will be served peanuts/pretzels. On nonstop flight segments that are 601 to 1270 miles long, you will be served a packaged snack appropriate to the time of day for your travel. On flights longer than 1271 miles, you will be served your choice of snacks from our Select-A-Snack box which features three different snack options.
Meal Service: Southwest Airlines does not serve sandwiches or meals; however, you may bring something to eat onboard.
Drinks: Southwest Airlines serves complimentary coffee, juices, and cold drinks on all flights. For a list of complimentary drinks, please visit Southwest Airlines Inflight Services.
Premium Drinks: Energy Drinks are $3. Beer, Wine and Cocktails are $4. Southwest Airlines' frequent flyers are encouraged to use their drink coupons.


Features

Infant   Policies, features and fees associated with traveling with an infant. Also, potential amenities offered for those flying with an infant.
  • Traveling with the infant on your lap:
    • One child over 14 days and under two (2) years of age, not occupying a seat, may be carried free when traveling with an adult (12 yrs of age or older).
    • Although a boarding pass is not required for the infant, you will need a Boarding Verification Document.
  • Traveling with the infant in an FAA approved car seat:
    • Affordable Infant Fares are available that enable a Customer to reserve a seat for an infant and use his/her FAA approved car seat.
    • A boarding pass is required.
    • Online checkin is available if the infant is traveling on an Infant Fare and is age verified.
  • A birth certificate is required to validate age of all infants under age two.
  • A medical release for travel is required for any infant under 14 days old.

Cost: None Specified



Animals and Pets   Policies and pricing for traveling with an animal and/or pet such as a dog, cat or other household pet.
Southwest Airlines does not accept live animals in the aircraft cabin or cargo compartment other than fully trained assistance animals accompanying a person with a disability or being delivered to a person with a disability.
Cost: None Specified



Boarding   Procedure and process for boarding the airplane as established by the airline.
  • Each Customer will be issued a boarding pass grouped by A, B, or C based on when the Customer checked in or based on the fare they purchased. Customers may check in online at southwest.com, at the Skycap Podium, Ticket Counter, Departure Gate, or E-Ticket Check-In kiosk (where available).
  • Prior to general boarding, unaccompanied children between the ages of five and 11 and Customers with disabilities who have a specific seating need to accommodate their disability and/or need assistance in boarding the aircraft may preboard. Customers who choose to preboard cannot sit in an emergency exit seat.
  • Effective October 2 in all Southwest cities, an adult traveling with a child four years old or younger will board between the “A” and “B” boarding groups. If you have an “A” boarding pass, please feel free to board with that boarding group. With an all-jet fleet outfitted with comfortable, leather seats, our families with small children are easily accommodated together.
  • Because Southwest Airlines maintains an open-seating policy, general-boarding Customers may sit in any open or unclaimed seat. Customers holding boarding pass "A" will begin general boarding, followed by Customers with boarding pass "B," and then "C." General-boarding Customers who choose an emergency exit seat must meet all requirements set forth by the Federal Aviation Administration and Southwest Airlines.

Cost: None Specified



Check In   Policies and procedures for checking in at the airport. Consideration for online check-in capabilities.
Customers may check in for their flight and receive their boarding pass and Rapid Rewards credit online at southwest.com (for eligible reservations only), at the Skycap Podium (in select locations), Ticket Counter, Departure Gate, or E-Ticket Check-In kiosk (where available).
  • Customers who are age 65 and older and traveling on a Senior fare must be age verified in order to request their boarding pass online. Visit our Travel Tips for Seniors for more details on how to become age verified.
  • Customers may check luggage and receive boarding passes at the Skycap Counter (in select locations) or Ticket Counter up to four hours prior to scheduled departure.
  • To determine the best time to check in for your flight, please refer to the Airport Arrival chart. The Departure Gate opens for checkin and boarding pass distribution one hour prior to departure.
  • At 20 minutes prior to scheduled departure you can get a boarding pass only at the Departure Gate.
  • Passengers who do not obtain a boarding pass and are not present and available for boarding in the departure gate area at least ten minutes prior to scheduled departure time may have their reserved space canceled and will not be eligible for denied boarding compensation.

Cost: None Specified



Customers of Size   Policies, seat restrictions and ticket ordering policy for customers of size.
Customers who are unable to lower the armrests (the definitive boundary between seats) and/or who compromise any portion of adjacent seating should proactively book the number of seats needed during initial reservations. This purchase serves as a notification of an unusual seating need and allows us to process a refund of the additional seating cost after travel (provided the flight doesn’t oversell). Most importantly, it ensures that all onboard have access to safe and comfortable seating.
Cost: None Specified



Expectant Mothers   Policies and procedures concerning expectant mothers.
While air travel does not usually cause problems during pregnancy unless delivery is expected within 14 days or less, in some cases, traveling by air has been known to cause complications or premature labor. Female Customers at any stage of pregnancy should consult with their physicians prior to air travel. Southwest Airlines strongly recommends against air travel after the 38th week of pregnancy. Depending on their physical condition, strength, and agility, pregnant women may, in some cases, be asked not to sit in an emergency exit seat.
Cost: None Specified



Unaccompanied Minors   Policies concerning minors traveling without an adult: unaccompanied minors.
Southwest Airlines Policies, Procedures and Tips on Children Traveling Alone.
  • Unaccompanied children ages five through eleven are accepted only on nonstop or direct flights which do not require a change of aircraft or flight number. Proof of age may be required.
  • Southwest Airlines will be unable to transport Unaccompanied Minors on flights anticipated to terminate short of or bypass the child's destination due to weather or other operational situations.
  • When making reservations, please advise the Reservations Sales Agent that the booking is for an Unaccompanied Minor.
  • Southwest Airlines asks that you have the Unaccompanied Minor check in at the Departure Gate at least 45 minutes prior to departure. An Unaccompanied Minor form must be completed before Southwest Airlines can accept the child for travel. The Unaccompanied Minor form will be inserted in the Unaccompanied Minor lanyard. The lanyard must be worn by the child throughout the entire flight and is needed for Southwest Airlines Employees to identify Unaccompanied Minors.
  • The child will be preboarded and be identified to the Flight Attendant as an Unaccompanied Minor. Unaccompanied Minors arriving too late to be preboarded will be boarded last to ensure identification to the Flight Attendant. When the flight arrives at its final destination, the child will be escorted off the aircraft by a Flight Attendant and released to the person designated on the Unaccompanied Minor form or another designated Southwest Employee.
  • The dropping off and receiving party should follow the Suggested Airport Arrival Times in order to allow time to obtain an 'escort pass,' which grants access through security checkpoint to deliver or meet the child at the aircraft’s Gate. A federally-sponsored identity verification process at the ticket counter is required before issuing an 'escort pass.' The party picking up the child must be the person designated on the Unaccompanied Minor form, which is completed at the beginning city of the journey. Southwest Airlines will require the designated receiving party to produce positive identification and sign a release for the Unaccompanied Minor.
  • In some cases, there may be a wait in receiving the child if there is the need for Southwest personnel to assist in the departure of another aircraft. Southwest Airlines hopes you will understand the time spent is for the safety of your child.
    Cost: None Specified


    Bereavement   In the event of a death in your immediate family, airlines sometimes allow for discounted travel.
    Southwest does not offer bereavement fares.
    Cost: None Specified



    On Time Statistics   Statistics on the airline's performance according to being on time. Stats are gathered from the Department of Transportation for January 1, 2008 - May 30, 2008.
    21.09% of flights are late, with an overall average of flights being 7.05 minutes late.
    Cost: None Specified



Planes

Boeing 737 300 (733) - View Picture

Boeing 737 700S (73S) - View Picture

 
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