Members of Southwest Airlines' (NYSE: LUV) Rapid Rewards frequent flyer program will keep right on earning double credit for online bookings at southwest.com, the airline announced today.

"Customers love this bonus promotion," said Debra Benton, Southwest's director of loyalty marketing. "Now, members of our frequent flyer program, Rapid Rewards, can earn double credit for trips booked and flown by June 6, 2003." (Previous deadline was April 4, 2003.)

Double credit was first introduced to southwest.com Customers in 1997. Since then, the promotion has been renewed many times because of Customer demand.

Here's how it works: Customers in the Rapid Rewards frequent flyer program normally receive two credits for each roundtrip (or one for each one- way). It takes 16 credits or eight roundtrips to get a free ticket. With double credit, that same traveler receives a free ticket in as few as four roundtrip flights purchased online at southwest.com and flown by June 6, 2003. At the elite level, Southwest offers members who fly 50 roundtrips (or earn 100 credits) within 12 months a Companion Pass, which allows a member to designate a traveler to fly with them free of charge for 12 months. Again, with double credit for booking online, it would take only 25 roundtrips!

Rapid Rewards is an industry-leading frequent flyer program because of its simplicity. Once an award ticket is earned (by flying or using preferred partners), the ticket is automatically sent to the Customer -- free travel fast with no hassle!

"Southwest, like no other program in the industry, has no capacity controls in its frequent flyer program," Benton said. "That means, other than limited blackout dates, a Customer can redeem an award ticket for a seat on any flight as long as there is a seat available -- there is no waiting six months or dealing with limited seats. Rapid Rewards is truly the program that frequent flyers can actually use."

Southwest serves 19 of the top 25 destinations chosen by frequent flyers to visit when they redeem their award travel.

The refreshingly real Rapid Rewards program also has been recognized by InsideFlyer magazine as giving its members great Customer Service, outstanding bonus promotions, and incredible redemption. The airline has won several "Freddie Awards" by InsideFlyer over the years and has been given high marks for many program elements, including "Best Bonus Promotion" and "Program of the Year" in 2002.

Southwest is the nation's fourth largest carrier in terms of Customers boarded. The airline currently operates more than 2,800 daily flights to 59 airports in 58 cities in 30 states. Southwest employs more than 36,000 Employees nationwide.

www.southwest.com

SOURCE Southwest Airlines