Southwest Airlines today unveiled its low, low fares and flight schedule
to and from Philadelphia. Customers can now purchase tickets for the new
service with airfares beginning as low as $29 one-way.
Southwest Airlines will begin its Philadelphia service May 9, 2004, with a
total of 14 daily nonstop flights to the following cities: Chicago Midway
(three daily), Las Vegas (one daily), Orlando (three daily), Phoenix (one
daily), Providence (five daily), and Tampa Bay (one daily). The airline
will offer direct or connecting service to 31 other destinations, such as
Ft. Lauderdale, Los Angeles, Oakland, Houston, and Seattle. (For artwork
depicting Southwest’s destinations from Philadelphia, see
http://www.southwest.com/about_swa/press/040212_phl_nonstop.html .)

Southwest Airlines offers its biggest discounts with its advance purchase
tickets. For example, Philly fliers can take off to Boston (via
Providence, R.I.) for only $29 one-way with Southwest’s 14-day advance
purchase fare. The advance purchase airfare to Orlando is only $79
one-way. (For a complete list of fares, see
http://www.southwest.com/about_swa/press/040212_phl_nonstop2.html .)

Even Southwest Airlines’ most expensive airfare to and from Philadelphia
is very inexpensive. The airline’s introductory walk-up fares start at a
mere $49 one-way to Providence, and they top out at only $299 one-way for
cross- country flights to Las Vegas, Phoenix, and the West Coast. No
advance purchase or overnight stay is required on these unrestricted fares.

“Inexpensive flights to and from Philadelphia have finally arrived,” said
Jim Wimberly, Southwest’s executive vice president and chief of
operations, during the announcement at Philadelphia International Airport.
“To say that Southwest’s fares are a bargain compared to what Philadelphia
travelers are used to paying is a huge understatement. Business and
leisure travelers alike need look no further than Southwest Airlines to
find low airfares.”

Southwest Airlines is well known for its low fare leadership. The legacy
carriers serving Philadelphia have been charging up to a whopping $497
one-way for an unrestricted ticket to Providence (Boston Area), compared
to Southwest’s meager $49 one-way unrestricted fare to Providence.
Similarly, Southwest’s walk-up fare between Philadelphia and Chicago
Midway is only $99 one-way.

And, if you purchase at least 14 days in advance of departure and within
one day of making reservations, Southwest’s nonrefundable fare between
Philadelphia and Chicago is only $79 one-way, compared to a competitor’s
fare of $123 each way. Comparable savings can be seen across the board.
(For chart comparing Southwest’s fares to those of other airlines, see
http://www.southwest.com/about_swa/press/040212_phl_nonstop2.html .)

Additionally, so that everyone can join in on the celebration, Southwest
is offering a systemwide sale with advance purchase fares ranging from $39
to $99 one-way for travel every day of the week. Reservations must be made
at least 14 days in advance. Tickets must be purchased within one day of
making reservations and by Feb. 26, 2004, for travel through the end of
Southwest’s published schedule (currently Aug. 7, 2004). Blackout dates
apply to all Florida markets beginning March 18, 2004, through April 11,
2004.

All fares are subject to a federal segment tax of $3.10 per takeoff and
landing. Fares also do not include airport-assessed passenger facility
charges (PFC) of up to $9 one-way and a U.S. government-imposed September
11th Security Fee of up to $5 one-way per person.

On all Southwest Airlines discount fares, seats are limited and will not
be available on some flights that operate during very busy travel times
and holiday periods such as Memorial Day and July 4 weekends. Tickets are
nonrefundable but (except for tickets purchased through our Group Tickets
program) may be applied toward the purchase of future travel on Southwest
Airlines. Southwest’s one-way fares can be combined with other fares. When
combining fares, all ticketing restrictions apply. Fares are valid on
published, scheduled service only. Any change in itinerary could result in
an increase in fare but Southwest does not charge an additional fee for
Customers to make changes. Fares are subject to change until ticketed and
are not necessarily common rated in Houston, the Bay Area, or the LA Basin.

The airline with the most affordable airfares also makes travel a whole
lot easier. Southwest Airlines’ web site, http://www.southwest.com/ , not
only offers some of the industry’s lowest airfares online but also helps
with making other travel accommodations, such as hotel and rental cars.
Customers with an electronic “Ticketless” reservation may also print a
Boarding Pass on the day of travel from the airline’s web site.
Southwest’s Customer convenience focus continues at the airport, from the
ticket counter and Rapid Check-in Kiosks to the boarding gate. Boarding
passes are issued on a first-come, first-served basis and Southwest boards
its flights in three boarding groups. Instead of looking for seat
assignments, Customers can choose their own seat once onboard the flight,
allowing for a quicker boarding process—and on-time flights.

Even Southwest’s frequent flyer program, Rapid Rewards, keeps travel
simple by letting its Members start taking trips instead of counting
miles. Members earn credits by flying or using one of the program’s
preferred partners. (One roundtrip equals two credits.) As soon as a
member earns 16 credits within a 12-month period, an electronic Award
Ticket automatically appears in the member’s account. While an award
notification letter will be sent, the Award is available for immediate
use, and Southwest does not limit seats for Award travel like other
carriers do. Plus, Southwest allows the member to transfer the award
ticket to anyone with no additional paperwork. Customers who book online
can take advantage of a bonus credit promotion for travel booked online
and traveled by June 30, 2004.

With the addition of its Philadelphia service, Southwest will operate
2,800 daily flights to 59 cities in 31 states. Southwest Airlines employs
more than 34,000 people nationwide.
——-