Blog Team
Laurel Moffat
With a banjo on my knee, or maybe not, I was born in Birmingham, Alabama. I moved to Texas when I was a wee little one, so I really do call Dallas my home. My passion for writing and speaking took me to the University of North Texas where I earned my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Journalism. Go Mean Green! I joined the Southwest Family in July 2007, and have been living the Southwest Way ever since and proud to work alongside my Communication Team co-hearts.
Fun Facts
Languages
English y un poquito de Espanol
Hobbies
photography, music, travel, art, movies, reading, wine & beer tasting, spending time with family and friends
Family
I've been married over 8 years—no kids. I have two nephews who I love to spend time with and get them really hyper—then give them back to my sisters-in-law. :) My family is pretty spread out. My dad is here in Dallas and my mom, brother, and the rest of my family are in Alabama and Tennessee.
Pets
I've tried to get a penguin as a pet, but no luck yet. They're so cute!
High School
North Garland High School, Home of the Raiders
College
University of North Texas - BA and Master’s in Journalism
Favorite Sports Teams
I'm a huge racing fan. I love to watch Indy. That passion started in 2003 when I worked with the Texas Motor Speedway Media Relations team during the race events for seven years.
Favorite Travel Destinations
Spain. I studied abroad for 5 weeks during my undergrad. I lived in Valencia the majority of the time, and I was also able to go to Madrid, Toledo, Barcelona, Ibiza, and Paris. I've recently been to Ireland and Scotland, but only for a few days--I'd love to go back and spend more time there. My favorite Southwest destination is San Diego. I have a great friend that lives there, which makes it even better!
Your Favorite Southwest Story
I’ll never forget the day I spoke with the wife of one of our most frequent flyers who lived in California. That day, she wasn’t calling with a normal question about her husband’s Rapid Rewards account. My mouth fell open as I learned that her husband had just passed away in a train accident. She said she had so many other phone calls to make, but she called us first because a Southwest plane was like her husband’s second home. As I got off the phone, I sat in silence for a moment—I wanted to do something—show her somehow that I, Southwest was thinking about her in such a difficult time. In our phone conversation, she mentioned that her husband loved the outdoors. I visited www.arborday.org, and donated some money to have 10 trees planted in a forest near the Customer’s home. A few weeks later, I heard back from her. In tears, she told me that Southwest was more than just an airline, we were like family. This is the company I work for, who empowers Employees to do the right thing.
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Recent Activity Posts
Calling All Musicians: Vote for your Favorite Finalists!
By: Laurel Moffat 
May 25 2012
“There always on time, so just kick back and relax.” “Pack your bags and get away—let’s celebrate a special day.” “It’s just me and my suitcase; even two is okay.”
Last month we asked if you had the skills to play live music at 35,000 feet on a Southwest 737 to help celebrate our 41st birthday. These are just a few lines from the songs we received from around the country... read more
Going Green: Celebrating Green with a Little Red, White, and Blue!
By: Laurel Moffat
May 22 2012
Happy Green Tuesday! The Memorial Day Holiday Weekend will be here soon, where we all have the opportunity to take a moment to be still and think about the brave sacrifices of the service men and women who have fought for the Freedoms we enjoy and appreciate every day.
This weekend also kicks off summer, so whether you plan on celebrating this time of remembrance by planning a picnic to enjoy... read more
A Look Back on a Month of Giving
By: Laurel Moffat
May 15 2012
Giving back is just part of the Southwest DNA. In my almost five years at Southwest, I’ve had the privilege to volunteer alongside my Co-Hearts to plant trees, paint schools, clean-up parks, help build trails, and the list goes on. Just last year, nearly 5,000 Southwest Warriors rolled up their sleeves to volunteer more than 114,000 hours to support almost 900 different organizations... read more
Dream Green Getaway Contest - We Have a Winner!
By: Laurel Moffat
May 11 2012
Turn an empty wine bottle into a vase or candleholder for your table. Wrap your gifts or ripen up your tomatoes using old newspapers. Cut plastic bottles into sections to have a container garden. These were just a few ideas I mentioned recently to get your creative juices flowing to share your fun and unconventional ways you recycle ordinary objects like water bottles, T-shirts... read more
CONTEST ALERT: Calling All Musicians
By: Laurel Moffat
Apr 24 2012
Do you have the skills to play live music at 35,000 feet on
a Southwest 737? We’re looking for a few good musicians to surprise and
delight our Customers with an inflight concert. On June 18, Southwest
turns 41. To help celebrate our birthday, show us what you’ve got in a :30
second video or less. Make sure your song theme includes Southwest Airlines and
our 41st birthday, and we... read more
[CONTEST ALERT]: Dream Green Getaway Contest
By: Laurel Moffat
Apr 18 2012
So, your fave music tee just got a rip – do you part with it or think about how reincarnation could make that T-shirt live on. Maybe that AC/DC shirt will become part of your next quilting project to keep you warm while you watch a movie, or it could replace the cover on an old journal, or it could be turned into a shopping bag!
At Southwest, we’re always looking for ways to recycle and use our... read more
Don’t Pinch—Top 10 Ways Southwest Goes Green
By: Laurel Moffat
Mar 16 2012
As you can imagine, as an airline,
it’s not easy being Green. But, we are always looking for ways to reduce our
impact on the environment and use our resources responsibly.
Here are our top 10 reasons why
you shouldn’t pinch the next Southwest Employee you see OR the next LUV jet you
fly on because here’s how Southwest goes Green:
10. ... read more
Going Green: Trash Talk
By: Laurel Moffat
Mar 06 2012
You’re
standing in between the recycle bin and the trash can with your beverage bottle
in your hand. Which bin does it go into? Trash or recycle?
Check out the bottom of your bottle for the recycling logo and see which
stamped number is inside those triangular chasing arrows. If you see
#1-7, you can toss that bottle into the recycling bin—maybe even practice your... read more
Fueled by Southwest Airlines—Actor/Comedian Owen Benjamin Breaks World Record For Most Airports Visited
By: Laurel Moffat
Dec 21 2011
After 88 Southwest flights, 62 airports, and dozens of jokes, Actor/Comedian Owen Benjamin landed in Raleigh-Durham yesterday to
officially break the RecordSetter world
record for the most unique airports visited in 30 days. Funny on the Fly took off in Dallas on
November 21, and Southwest Customers and Employees across our system have had
the chance to experience nonstop laughs with Owen... read more
Going Green: Save Green and Be Green This Holiday Season!
By: Laurel Moffat
Nov 29 2011
If you’re like me and weren’t brave enough to venture out on Black Friday and go shopping (I don’t have enough football padding to survive that madness) and you missed Cyber Monday, there are still plenty of deals out there to be had. If you want to save green and be green, I have just the shopping fix for you. Nonprofit organization Green America is pushing for a new annual... read more
Recent Activity Luvs
LUV Touches Down at SxSW
By: Paul Flaningan 
Mar 22 2012
Every year in March, the center of the music, film, and online interactive industries across the globe converge in Austin, Texas for ten days of networking, discovery, creativity, and some old-fashioned good times!This year, Southwest Airlines was proud to be the Official Domestic Airline of South By Southwest. What started as small music event with 700 registrants in 1987 has now grown to more... read more
Making a Difference in the Lives of Families Facing Serious Illness One Ticket At A Time
By: Marilee McInnis 
Feb 22 2012
What does a patient
do when they need specialized treatment at a hospital that is thousands of
miles away from home? Often these patients are forced to travel for treatment
without their families or caregivers, and the travel expense can too often be
prohibitive. That’s where the LUV airline has the opportunity to step in.
Southwest’s Medical Transportation Grant Program seeks to lessen... read more
Meet EVOLVE: The New Southwest Interior
By: Bob Jordan 
Jan 17 2012
One of the most satisfying aspects of my job is to work alongside my colleagues to plan and execute exciting major companywide strategic initiatives. I’m pleased to report significant progress that we’ve made recently on one of these, which is a fleet modernization plan to ensure that we maintain a safe, efficient, and Customer-friendly fleet. Last month, we made a huge announcement regarding... read more
Santa Swoops in on a 737
Dec 16 2011
Every
year, the DAL Maintenance Hangar turns into a child’s dream for the children
and grandchildren of Maintenance & Engineering. Inflatable bounce houses,
pony rides, crafts, and Santa’s workshop fill the hangar to provide hours of
FUN and entertainment for the children.
Once the party is underway, Santa arrives on a Boeing 737 direct from the North
Pole. And, Mrs. Claus and Santa even... read more
Showing LUV to Our Communities for 40 Years
By: Rachel Barry 
Jul 12 2011
In Southwest Airlines’ 40th year of service, it’s amazing to look back and see how much we have changed over the years. Since our humble beginnings, there are some things that we’ve held true—building meaningful relationships, showing our LUV and our commitment to our Customers, and making a positive difference in the communities we serve.
In honor of our 40th Anniversary, we want... read more
Holiday Travel Alert: Now Accepting Bookings Through January 6, 2012!
By: Bill Owen 
May 24 2011
Being There--Southwest Airlines Salutes Father's Day
By: Paul Flaningan
Jun 16 2010
Go to any bookstore or Google, “Fatherhood,” and you’ll be sure to come across stacks of books and articles written about unlocking the secrets of being a good dad. As the father of three kids, 13- and ten-year old daughters and a six-year old son, I’ve acquired a certain zen-like knowledge (and massive hair loss) of what it takes to be a good father. You ready for this? It’s a little something... read more
