CH-CH-CH-CH-CHANGES

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Thu, 11/16/2006 - 15:27 — Bill Owen

I love that old David Bowie song. I always have--although until the advent of internet lyric searches, I was WAY off on the lyrics. I mean, I'm the same guy that thought that "The Pina Colada Song" was "The Bean Enchilada Song" (I never could figure out what bean enchiladas had to do with getting caught in the rain!). I'm still kidded about that one.

Change can be good, or it can be not-so-good...but sometimes it can be great, and we have a GREAT change coming your way, effective March 11 of next year! (For the press release, please go here.) We've used our new schedule optimizer (the "Garage-O-Mizer" that I covered in a recent blog post) to help us implement the large-scale schedule change needed to take maximum advantage of our new ability to more efficiently connect Dallas with the rest of our ocean-to-ocean network (also the subject of a recent blog post, "The Wright Stuff").

For the new schedule, the optimizer--based on our input--evaluated quite literally millions of possible schedule moves that would connect Dallas more fully on a onestop, same plane basis with more of America. The results are as startling as they are wonderful. The number of onestop, same plane itineraries between Dallas and cities outside the Wright Amendment perimeter will increase to almost 100 every business day. By next March, you'll be able to "jump the fence" of the Wright Amendment to 15 destinations without ever getting out of your comfortable, leather seat. Add in our convenient connecting service, and our Dallas Customers will have the "Freedom to Fly" to 61 Southwest airports from sea to shining sea.

There are a number of other awesome surprises built into our new March schedule. We're adding two more flights between Dallas and St. Louis, as well as our first-ever nonstops between Dallas and Birmingham (which also allow us to offer roundtrip onestop, direct service between Dallas and Nashville). Brand-new nonstop service between Reno and San Diego, between Cleveland and Orlando, and between Baltimore and Pittsburgh is also coming. A total of 22 markets all around our network will receive new or added service, bringing us to nearly 3,300 Southwest nonstop flights every business day-more than any other single airline in the world.

As with any of our optimized schedules, this effort has taken a great deal of time and energy but I think it's well worth it--quite literally, a labor of LUV. The March 2007 schedule not only offers new service and increased connectivity, but is a significantly more efficient and productive schedule. Efficiency and productivity are two of the cornerstones of low costs, and here at Southwest we're all about keeping costs low so we can keep fares low-and SPIRITS high!

I hope you enjoy the "ch-ch-ch-ch-changes" we're bringing you next March. Of course, I also hope you get to enjoy our low fares, excellent Customer Service, and smiling faces between now and then! As I said--change can be great--and we're making an already great network better. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

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Comments

Bill - thanks to everyone in the Schedule Planning department for all of the hard work you do. I know it goes without saying, but, "YA'LL ARE THE BEST!!!"

James Malone
MDW FA

James Malone — Thu, 11/16/2006 - 20:59

So this explains why today's schedule extension came later than expected! :) Sounds like the Garage-O-Mizer is in need of a processor upgrade.

Great work!

Drew — Thu, 11/16/2006 - 21:20

Any new and exciting service for New Orleans?

Matt Madderra — Thu, 11/16/2006 - 21:27

I would like to see more connections to PIT. That is closest to where my family lives. A BNA-PIT or HOU-PIT connection would be great.

Chris Baker — Thu, 11/16/2006 - 23:25

Way to go Dean @ customer service.....
I must withdraw my previous post from 11/16/06 @ 3:33PM...
I called SWA CS and explained to Dean what happened to me at Love Field in Dallas on Tuesday. Obviously (said Dean) there was a mis-understanding at the ticket counter. Dean and his superior(s) have decided to send me a one way ticket and I truely thank you SouthWest Airlines. Your actions speak louder than words- it would be nice if other competitors could be this understanding. Cheers to you SWA !!

Lee Zamora — Thu, 11/16/2006 - 23:38

Thanks for the comments, everyone!

James--you are the MAN....hope you have a wonderful Holiday Season, buddy!

Drew, a lot of work went into the March Optmized schedule--but unlike other airlines, we don't take what comes out of the "black box" and just publish it. Our guys spent seven or eight weeks manually tweaking the schedule "output" adding the human touch to the cyber wisdom to make the best possible product for all of y'all out there. Trust me--the Southwest Airlines schedule will NEVER be "untouched by human hands!"

Chris, you don't say where you're flying from, but we're expanding our PIT service as fast as we can. Be patient with us!

Bill

Bill Owen — Fri, 11/17/2006 - 03:28

Okay, I admit it. I'm a schedule geek!!!

It was fun (yeah, I know, still "nuts") looking through the .pdf schedule on Southwest.com, seeing all the ways ya'll connected DAL to the rest of the system. REALLY nice job on the one stops, gang!!!

I've already carried DAL passengers on my ABQ-SEA flight, this month, so I know what you're doing is appreicated by our Customers.

And your Internal Customers, as well.

Will Browne — Fri, 11/17/2006 - 04:12

Bill and the rest of Schedule Planning:

ThatÃ

Brandon Dotson — Fri, 11/17/2006 - 05:49

Bill,
This is GREAT news!! As a Dallas-based SWA traveler, I thank you and your team for all of your hard work, and shall eagerly look forward to seeing the new schedule. Considering how many combinations/permutations that had to be calculated for this optimization, now I'll bet you're glad you held onto your powerful TRS-80 Radio Shack computer!!
LOL
Kim :-)

Kim Seale — Fri, 11/17/2006 - 06:16

I'm confident that you will have more service in Pittsburgh. Southwest has gotten to the top with a philosophy of controlled, patient, disciplined growth. SW has already humiliated USAir in other cities. It will happen there, too.

I'm from Austin.

Chris Baker — Fri, 11/17/2006 - 19:06

I noticed this:

Flight 1359: AUS 9:15am to BWI 1:20pm
Flight 67: BWI 2:25pm to PIT 3:20pm

I could book these flights separately. However, I can not book an AUS-BWI-PIT flight. Is this an error?

Chris Baker — Fri, 11/17/2006 - 19:16

why no expanding at the newest city dulles? ugh!

Greg — Fri, 11/17/2006 - 19:48

Bill and the rest of your scheduling team,
Congratulations on the new schedule! I'm another "schedule geek" and big Southwest fan who LUVs to see your latest creations.
One minor surprise from my perspective is that all of the outbound flights from Corpus and Harlingen still go through Dallas (after stopping in Houston, Austin, or San Antonio) - I was sure that y'all would change some of those flights to allow even more cities to have one-stop service into Love Field. (Admittedly, my bias is for this to happen so that Harlingen in particular would potentially get better connections to the East Coast via a HRL-HOU- flight, which I haven't seen in your schedule for ages.)

P.S. - The loading of the schedule yesterday was a bit confusing to me. I finally figured out that the initial load only allowed booking on flights without a change of plane. Is that normal?

P.P.S. - I think that the new upload lost some of the featured prices to Orlando - the internet sale prices that were available to HRL and CRP from MCO before the upload seem to have disappeared.

Bryan Knight — Fri, 11/17/2006 - 21:13

Bill - I got a chance to meet you and Lee back in '97, and we talked like "scheduling geeks", and it was fun. Your whole department does an awesome job!! Every schedule thankfully has a human touch and I am glad to hear that will never be lost. Keep up the good, nay, great work!! Now for my plugs. Please bring on some LAS-FLL or LAS-DTW.

Don Kessinger — Mon, 11/20/2006 - 15:46

I am very glac to see the CLE to MCO service, but was suprised to see a cutback of Cle to BNA and dropping 1 CLE to MDW flight per day.. Why did cle actually lose 1 non stop per day?? We need new Cle to Phildelphia serice ASAP.

jack tighe — Tue, 11/21/2006 - 21:32

Bill, Glad to see the new DAL-BHM flights that continue on to BNA. Is there enough traffic for a nonstop flight to JAN with one plane service to one of your Florida destinations?

roy — Sat, 11/25/2006 - 16:49

Please consider coming to South Carolina.....Charleston or Columbia. I lived in Dallas for 10 years, and sorely miss SWA. Also, when will you add more flights back into New Orleans?

Paula Vial — Sat, 11/25/2006 - 19:04

When will you schedule ANCHORAGE, ALASKA??????

Broke in ALaska — Tue, 11/28/2006 - 19:15

Hey Bill, Why are there so many changes in the upcoming March schedule? We here in MAF are unhappy with at least one big change, that being the loss of our early morning nonstop to HOU. It is a huge favorite of many businessmen and vacationers alike. I know there will be one later in the morning but I have been asked about the loss of the 0625 flight nearly everyday since it was loaded on the web site! The most baffling thing is the fact that the AUS am nonstop is still there, it is a loser. thx ttony/maf

ttony — Fri, 12/01/2006 - 03:03

I, along with many other Omaha flyers are Not too happy with Southwest. We have read several times in the local newspaper that Southwest is going to add new flights out of Omaha. This has not happened. Sounded like it was a "done deal" for OMA-DAL service. Guess not ?? That's Ok, American is adding flights between OMA and DFW.
We say to Southwest.....Put up or shut up !

Jim — Tue, 12/05/2006 - 02:01

Jim,

I'm not sure where you read or heard that Southwest was adding new flights out of Omaha, in particular to Dallas Love Field. Southwest, and all other airlines, are prohibited by federal law from doing that, at least for the time being. Under the terms of the compromise to the Wright Amendment signed into law earlier this year, we can't fly nonstop from our home at DAL to any airport outside of TX, OK, NM, LA, OK, AR, MO, MS, or AL until 2014.

What we *have* done, effective in October of this year, is to make Dallas accessible from Omaha in the form of new fares and one-stop connecting service via St. Louis. Then, we'll upgrade that connecting service to two daily one-stop, no-change-of-plane roundtrips effective with the March, 2007 schedule change, which is the subject of the blog piece to which you posted your comment.

Other than new nonstop service from Omaha to Dallas--which we can't give you, at least not for 2,868 more days--we're very happy with our existing nonstops between Eppley and Phoenix, Vegas, St. Louis, and Chicago/Midway. We're very proud to be the #1 airline at Omaha, and will carry nearly a million people to or from OMA this year. If you have other service you think we ought to look at, let me know! We're always interested in the local viewpoint.

Overall, I think we've done a pretty good job of "putting up" in Omaha, and "shutting up" isn't my style, so I'll let my last words be.....GOOD LUCK IN THE COTTON BOWL, 'HUSKERS!!! And thanks, Jim, for your comment!

Bill Owen — Tue, 12/05/2006 - 16:24

To Jim in Omaha,
Howdy from Texas! I'm sad to read that you are upset with Southwest for not implementing service from Dallas Love Field to Omaha, but I hope you understand from Bill Owen's explanation that they legally CANNOT do so just yet.

Being in Dallas, we were located in the epicenter of much of the Wright Amendment controversy and conflict, whether it was being discussed or just plain cussed. As a result, I know that many rumors and incorrect statements were rampant, and had to be carefully sifted out of the truth. Our local paper often could not be counted on to accurately state what was happening during and immediately after the compromise was announced. So, it doesn't surprise me that things could be even more fuzzy in Omaha or anywhere else that word-of-mouth was carrying the story intertwined into people's hopes and wishes.

Please don't blame Southwest for not providing what they are unable to, but please do as I've done for many years; enjoy the hospitality and Positively Outrageous Service provided by Southwest on TWO hops to and from Dallas! It gives them TWICE as many opportunities to impress you with how great they are!

Best wishes,
Kim :-)

Kim Seale — Wed, 12/06/2006 - 03:29

Ugh. My husband was flying on Southwest every other weekend between ELP and SJC and now you've made it so inconvenient to fly back from SJC on a Sunday afternoon that we've switched to US Air. Please don't think that Rapid Rewards inspires such wonderful loyalty in your customers that we don't see a slap in the face when we receive one.

Jamie — Mon, 12/11/2006 - 21:49

Jamie,

Short answer: we'll miss you.

Longer answer: we certainly didn't mean to "slap" anyone, and while we've clearly upset you and your husband with this schedule change, I respectfully maintain that overall, the March 2007 schedule represents a significant improvement in convenience and usability in the majority of markets we serve. San Jose to El Paso is a good market for us, but it is one market--and we serve over 1,300 markets. While we did eliminate a onestop, same-plane direct flight from San Jose to El Paso, by doing that we improved service in the Las Vegas - El Paso, Seattle - Los Angeles, and San Jose - Houston markets, all of which are larger than San Jose - El Paso.

I'm sincerely sorry we've "rocked your boat" so thoroughly about this. Hopefully, in upcoming schedules, you'll give us a chance to redeem ourselves.

Bill Owen — Mon, 12/11/2006 - 22:53

Bill,
You talk about a March 2007 schedule release. Will there be a schedule release before that, maybe in January? I am waiting to book flights in June from PHL and PIT to PHX or LAS then onto HNL.
Thanks
Dave

Dave — Thu, 12/28/2006 - 22:10

Are there any plans to add service to MEM?

I currently live in ABQ, but am planning to move to PHX sometime this year.

It's actually closer for me to fly into MEM when I visit my family, but as I prefer Southwest, I have begun flying into LIT and driving the extra hour-and-a-half. Regardless of which airline I fly, I have to change planes in either Dallas or Houston, anyway -- so really the only issue for me, personally, is the extra driving time.

But if you're counting votes, cast mine for MEM!

Thanks!
Victoria

Victoria — Wed, 01/03/2007 - 22:09

Any idea when the schedule post 5/10/07 will be released? I'm looking to book some flights in May and June, but if the schedule isn't released shortly, I might have to book with one of your competitors to assure I get the flights I want.

Brian — Fri, 01/26/2007 - 22:30

Gee Brian,
How did you get all the way to this post and not see Bill's post on this topic right on the front page??? Here's the link.

Blog Boy

Brian Lusk — Fri, 01/26/2007 - 22:48

How about adding one non stop flight a week from Omaha to Tampa or Orlando. I can only imagine how popular this flight would be since there is currently NO airlines that offer non stop service to Florida.

steve miller — Tue, 01/30/2007 - 03:26

Is there any chance that Southwest will change their no-pet policy?? We appeal to the hip, fun and nutty side of Southwest to please allow small dogs to ride in the cabin with their owners. PLEASE!

Desiree — Tue, 01/30/2007 - 22:44

Please, Please, PLEASE bring back the direct BNA to CLE flights on Monday mornings and the direct CLE to BNA flights on Thursday afternoon. I, along with many colleagues depended on those flights to get to and from work every week. We are desperate, so I beg...please bring back those flights! :)

Jessa S. — Tue, 03/20/2007 - 17:06

Please bring back service to/from Harlingen to/from Love Field! It's such an inconvenience to land in other cities when all I want to do is go to Dallas as quickly as possible.

Robby — Tue, 06/05/2007 - 17:23

Cleveland Reduction in Service Why are you dropping 2 flights in November 2007 in Cleveland.. Cle to Bwi and Cle to PHX??

jack Tighe — Mon, 07/09/2007 - 17:03

Southwest, I'm your biggest fan! My rewards card lists me as a member since 1993. My family wonders why they get FREE LUV t-shirts for the holidays. I still remember the free R.R. credit I received for not being a "BIN HOG". I had everything I wanted from a loyal airline. Then, no more non stop flights from PHX into CLEVE., and back, as of Oct 3rd. I am crushed. I hope this is not the beginning of the end of a good thing. My flight was way full last week, (when I watched the Indians beat the White Sox in the 11th inning). "Reconsider Me", W.Z.

JOE in CAREFREE, AZ — Tue, 07/31/2007 - 03:20

Hello Everyone!
First off, let me start by saying I luv Southwest. I fly SWA whenever I am able. I wish I could fly them more than I do. I would like to propose SWA look again at the Omaha market. As you know, there are SEVERAL cities that are in the top 20 destinations out of Omaha and are not served. Southwest has a way of finding its niche and I would LUV to see service to BWI, Philly, and Long Island. Heck Boston would be amazing. I do understand they reasons why those flights do not exist at this moment, but the numbers are growing. The east coast is underserved from Omaha. I like MDW, but would much rather fly directly. I just ask you to look at the numbers again and see what you can do.As you have stated SWA is the number one airline out of OMA, this year I believe they will be carrying close to a Ã‚

Ryan — Sat, 11/24/2007 - 23:13

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