We’re building an even better Southwest together.
We’re building an even better Southwest together.
We all benefit from better. Better helps our business, driving stronger financial results and ProfitSharing. Better boosts the performance and Reliability of our operation. Better leads to more loyal and satisfied Customers. Modernizing our operation is a key part of our Foundational Five strategy, and we’ll see transformational changes over the years as we work to build a better Southwest.
Assigned seating and more legroom
You’ll know exactly where you’re sitting before you get onboard, which is especially great for those who want to sit together. We’ll update our boarding process, too. More details are coming soon! We’ll also offer seats with extra legroom in a portion of our cabin. Details are still in design, but we expect roughly one-third of seats across the fleet to have this extra-comfy option.
Pre-checked bags and bag tracking
Next time you fly with us, you can add your checked bags digitally in the app or at Southwest.com® before arriving at the airport and print your bag tags at the kiosk when you arrive. Doing so will expedite the self-service bag tag process at our kiosks, making checking in faster and easier. Plus, with Southwest’s new digital bag tracking, you can now track your checked bags from tagging to arriving at your destination.
In-seat power
Whether you’re keeping the kids entertained or working to complete an important presentation, having more power at your fingertips is always a good thing. That’s why we’ve included in-seat power ports on all new 737 MAX 8 aircraft delivered to Southwest and will add them to our existing MAX 8 and 737-800 planes in the next few years.
Larger overhead bins
All new 737 MAX 8 aircraft delivered to Southwest feature larger overhead bins. The new bins provide more room for carryon items and are easier to access when boarding, and grab-and-go upon arrival. We’re also making steady progress on retrofitting the rest of our fleet with these larger overhead bins and expect that process to be complete in the next two to three years.
New seats and better cabin experience
We've designed a new seat that’s more comfortable and meets your modern needs. Each seat includes a tablet holder on the seat back, perfect for enjoying inflight entertainment. Plus, our new seats are also aligned—and designed—with our environmental sustainability efforts in mind. We've also developed a more calming and uniquely Southwest design for our cabin, featuring a palette of soothing blue tones.
More onboard offerings
In September 2022, we further enhanced our offerings by adding hard seltzer, rosé, and more to our alcohol selection. In July 2023, we added AHA Sparkling Water and Sprite to our non-alcoholic beverage selection. We've also doubled our movie selection, and we now have over 100 movies available in our Inflight Entertainment Portal. Also, you can now make inflight purchases with Venmo, Apple Pay, and PayPal.
Enhanced online experience
You can now add your lap child when booking, check in for your domestic flight up to 20 minutes before takeoff, and link unused and available flight credits to your account. You can also now purchase Upgraded Boarding (when available) for yourself and others on your reservation 24 hours in advance of your scheduled departure on the Southwest app.
Easier app navigation
On our Southwest app, you can now check the flight status of your inbound flight, view your unused flight credits, and store information for the people you travel with most so you can quickly add their information while booking.
A glimpse at our history.
A glimpse at our history.
Time flies when you’re democratizing the skies.
1967
Southwest’s first route map started as a simple sketch drawn onto a cocktail napkin. Fondly known as “The Texas Triangle,” the airline began by serving only three major cities in Texas: Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. However, it didn’t take long for Southwest to expand and start “spreading love all over Texas.”
1972
When Southwest had to give up one of its four aircraft in order to keep the Company solvent, our People worked heroically to maintain the same operational schedule with fewer planes. Even when industry regulations, increased operational complexity, and security requirements made the 10-Minute Turn impossible, Southwest still maintained some of the best turn times in the industry, and continues to work on perfecting safe, quick turns well into the 21st century.
1992
By the early 90s, Southwest was running TV ads with the slogan “Just Plane Smart.” An aviation company in South Carolina thought it sounded a bit too close to their own slogan. What could have become an expensive legal battle instead turned into an arm wrestling competition for the use of the slogan. The 1992 event was coined “Malice in Dallas.”
2020
Frontline Employees continued to provide legendary Hospitality and Customer Service with a smile (even behind the masks) in airports, maintenance hangars, and more.