Blog Team

bthomas
Author Since 2010

Brooks Thomas

Communications Specialist
Dallas, TX  | 

Born under a favorable sign (Gemini) in the northern suburbs of Chicago, I transplanted to Dallas for college and decided I was okay with the decision, so I stayed. Like the Blog Boy himself, Brian Lusk, I attended Southern Methodist University for journalism. I also worked for the radio station there. Unlike Mr. Lusk, I graduated in 2006, about 40 years after he did. In my former life, I was an aspiring news producer. Complete newscasts watched since I left: 4.

Fun Facts

Languages

English

Hobbies

Travel, music, sand volleyball, not falling off my bike

Family

I’m a loner, Dottie, a rebel – Peewee Herman

Pets

Ernie the Golden Retriever (R.I.P.), Gilmore the Yellow Lab (R.I.P.), Vern the cat (R.I.P.), Elmo the Box Turtle (R.I.P.) All died of natural causes.

High School

Lake Forest High School – Home of the Scouts

College

Southern Methodist University

Favorite Sports Teams

Chicago Bears, Blackhawks, Cubs, SMU Mustangs, Texas Rangers

Favorite Travel Destinations

St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

Your Favorite Southwest Story

Gotta pick two. I know that’s probably not allowed. LUV Classic 2010 and Haunted Headquarters 2010. The former is a golf tournament and the latter our huge Halloween party. In both cases, we selected winners through a picture contest on Twitter and I got to host them at each event. Very cool to bring guests into your own home and have them meet the family (Southwest family, of course). Since these are all people who are especially internet savvy, I imagine at some point they’ll come across this message.

Recent Activity:

Recent Activity Posts

SWA Stew: Episode 46

By: Brooks Thomas bthomas

May 04 2012
In this episode of the Stew, we're winglets, performing on planes, the Hunt for Magic, Loyalty Month, and the Space Shuttle Discovery landing at one of our airports (with the help of a Boeing bird, of course).   read more

Loyalty Day? Let's Make it a Loyalty Month!

By: Brooks Thomas bthomas

May 01 2012
On May 1, 1959, America saw its first observance of Loyalty Day, thanks to U.S. Congress and Ike (then-President Dwight D. Eisenhower).  The tradition was rekindled (or reaffirmed, as it were) last year, when President Barack Obama issued an official proclamation of Loyalty Day.  Officially, today is a day set aside to reaffirm loyalty to the United States, and to recognize the... read more

SWA Stew: Episode 45

By: Brooks Thomas bthomas

Apr 20 2012
This week we're talking chili, Friday the 13th, freeing Hobby Airport, Green Getaways, and the tale of two planes: the maiden commercial voyages of our first Boeing 737-800s!  read more

SWA Stew: Episode 44

By: Brooks Thomas bthomas

Apr 14 2012
This week, we're freeing Hobby Airport, getting crooned by Jon McLaughlin, a historical anecdote involving Boeing, new service to Canton-Akron, Dayton, and Des Moines, and finally-- the commercial introduction of Warrior One, our first 737-800. read more

Southwest Brand Ranks at the Top Again!

By: Brooks Thomas bthomas

Apr 12 2012
Look, we like braggin' about the brass, okay?  And Southwest Airlines, Kayak, Royal Caribbean, and Enterprise continue to rule the travel industry as Brands of the Year according to the 23rd Annual Harris Poll EquiTrend® Study. Americans give highest accolades for Companies who "connect" with Customers and "over-deliver" in their respective categories.  In the category of "... read more

The Great Foodspotting Street Fest Challenge feat. Kobayashi

By: Brooks Thomas bthomas

Apr 05 2012
During our time at SXSW in Austin, we did a handful of surprise and delight giveaways, making people do interesting things in order to win roundtrip tickets on Southwest; from scavenger hunts, to speaking through a Town Crier, to watching people tastefully take a picture of their food and then devour it.The latter is shown in this video shot by Stephen M. Keller, taken at the Foodspotting Street... read more

SWA Stew: Episode 42

By: Brooks Thomas bthomas

Mar 23 2012
Yodel-e-hee-hoo! It's SWA Stew 42! This week, we're discussing food flights, Warrior One (our new Boeing 737-800), Chili, SOC, and Live at 35! read more

SWA Stew: Episode 41

By: Brooks Thomas bthomas

Mar 16 2012
This week we're talking chili (yes, chili), our newly-owned 737-800, the Medical Transportation Grant Program, SOC, and a more efficient way to report your Lost & Found items!  read more

Food Flight!

By: Brooks Thomas bthomas

Mar 15 2012
Did you know that our onboard snacks are really just ingredients for more ambitious cuisine? Neither did I!  Laughing Squid blogger Rusty Blazenhoff found this out when she was on a flight recently with Flight Attendants Mandy and LaDonna, who challenged Customers to come up with the best airplane food recipes.Here's an excerpt from Rusty's blog, which can be found here:On my ... read more

SWA Stew: Episode 40

By: Brooks Thomas bthomas

Mar 10 2012
In this 40th edition of the SWA Stew, we're talking about our Medical Transportation Grant Program, the beautiful Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-800, and Happy Jack!   read more

Recent Activity Luvs

Ready, Set, Blog 3.0!

By: Linda Rutherford LindaR

Jan 24 2011
We spent Friday reminiscing about our award-winning blog history of five years. From its infancy, Nuts About Southwest has always been a learning process and still remains one. At its core, Nuts is about letting Customers not only see behind the curtain, but tear the curtain down altogether. So it is with great pleasure I formally present our latest edition of Nuts About Southwest, fresh out of... read more

A Southwest Story of Survival

By: Tim Hagel thagel

Nov 18 2010
I was on a 20-mile expedition, a sea kayak trip with three fellow paddlers. We travel offshore in the Pacific each year and do an unsupported kayak trip.  We're experienced sea kayakers who have done this for years and paddled thousands of miles across the Arctic and South America. On this trip, we had paddled the rugged and rarely visited northern side of Santa Cruz Island.  Located 27 miles... read more