Blog Team
Whitney Bartels
I graduated from SMU with a degree in Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, and minors in Spanish and Business, and have been a displaced Midwesterner ever since. Upon graduation, I was offered an internship at Southwest with Charitable Giving and Community Relations. I LUVed the experience and the Company too much to leave, and took a full-time position in 2010. Less than a year later, I began a new adventure as @southwestwhit- working with Customers in the online space and promoting our brand. Today, I'm a proud member of our Outreach Communications Team, focusing on all the positive ways Southwest is making a difference in our communities!
Fun Facts
Languages
English and un poquito de Espanol
Hobbies
Running, Triathlons, Reading, Traveling
Family
Two great parents, and I’m in the middle between an older sister, Hayley, and little brother, Nick (who isn’t so little at 6’3).
Pets
No.. but am looking to adopt (can I put that here?)
High School
Blue Valley North High School, Overland Park, KS
College
Southern Methodist University
Favorite Sports Teams
Mizzou Tigers, KC Chiefs, SMU Mustangs, Texas Rangers
Favorite Travel Destinations
West Coast SWA Cities, and anywhere and everywhere in Spain!
Your Favorite Southwest Story
I'll never forget traveling to the Boeing Factory outside Seattle, and flying home a brand-new, beautiful -800 with my co-hearts!
Follow me:
Recent Activity:
Recent Activity Posts
Military Heroes Month: A Reverence that Will Not Be Forgotten
By: Whitney Bartels 
Nov 15 2012
Baked With LUV: The Cakes Are In!
By: Whitney Bartels
Jun 21 2012
The cakes are in, and we couldn’t have asked for a better 41st birthday celebration! From vintage Flight Attendants to “Bags Fly Free,” entrants in the Pinterest “Baked with LUV” Contest showed their Southwest Spirit by decorating unique 41stbirthday cakes for the LUV airline. To enter, bakers were asked to create an original cake that... read more
CONTEST ALERT: If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd Have Pinned a Cake
By: Whitney Bartels
Jun 11 2012
Southwest Airlines is turning 41, and we’re looking for the
perfect birthday cake to help us celebrate! Show us some LUV from your kitchen
and create your favorite, original cake recipe. No Betty Crocker accepted
here! The recipe must be an original creation.
From June 11 to June 18, entrants must create a board titled "Baked With LUV" on
their personal Pinterest profile page, including the... read more
Live in the Vineyard: A Perfect Pairing
By: Whitney Bartels
Apr 25 2012
As
soon as I stepped into Uptown Theatre in downtown Napa on Friday night, April
13, I knew I wasn’t at an ordinary concert. The theatre was filled with experts
in the music, food, and wine industries, making the perfect audience for the
event.
The venue was small and intimate, complimenting the acoustic sounds of some of
the most popular artists today. The event was Live in the Vineyard,... read more
Winning Spirit: Helping Tacey
By: Whitney Bartels
Jan 12 2012
Each month, hundreds and hundreds of letters come through the
Customer Relations Department. But it’s not every day that one of these letters
offers the opportunity to change a life.
Customer Relations and Rapid Rewards Writing Representative,
Laura Anstine, had only been working for Southwest Airlines a few months when
she received one such letter. The letter came from the Raulerson family,... read more
LUV at 30,000 Feet
By: Whitney Bartels
Aug 17 2011
For six years, Paul Lovine and his girlfriend, Kat, have been flying between
Burbank and Oakland to see each other as much as possible despite the distance.
In the process, the couple has accumulated literally thousands of miles
traveling the popular route, proving their loyalty to Southwest, and their love
for one another. So, when Paul, who prefers to go by his middle name, was searching for... read more
Stories from the System: A Family Far From Home
By: Whitney Bartels
Jun 02 2011
We
hear it all the time: it’s the People who make Southwest Airlines unique. Through Customer Service, Charitable Giving,
and the everyday tasks of running an airline, the People of Southwest have
an infinite number of opportunities to positively impact another person. But, perhaps one of our most distinguished
qualities is not only our passion for serving our Customers, but our... read more
Hopping to Help Out
By: Whitney Bartels
Apr 25 2011
Headquarters
was hopping with excitement this past week as Southwest Airlines Employees jumped at
the chance to participate in an annual tradition that has been around nearly 15
years. Each Spring, various Departments from Headquarters rally Employees to donate
Easter baskets to give to local charities including Children’s Medical Center,
Ronald McDonald House, and Casa Shelter.... read more
Going the Extra Mile
By: Whitney Bartels
Mar 21 2011
Shaving for Success: The Saga of Ruppel's 'Stache
By: Whitney Bartels
Jan 26 2011
Recent Activity Luvs
Celebrating the Southwest Rink at Skyline Park: Just 4 Days Left to Lace Up Your Skates
By: Tami Door 
Jan 27 2011
This winter, Southwest Airlines teamed up with the Downtown Denver Partnership (DDP) to restore one of Denver’s favorite traditions by bringing back an outdoor ice rink to Downtown Denver. Tami Door serves as President and CEO of the DDP, and she shares with us her unique insight into the success of the Southwest Rink at Skyline Park in her blog post below.
Linda Rutherford,... read more
Latest LUV Mail
From: Cynthia Moynihan
Tampa,Florida
An Act of Kindness
May 20 2013
Going to an airport and getting on a plane and traveling to
unfamiliar territory takes on a whole new meaning when one...
