Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) wants to wish our Customers a happy, healthy, and safe holiday season. Before taking your flight, our holiday travelers should check www.southwest.com for the latest Federal Aviation Administration security updates, curbside checkin availability, and airport arrival updates. Please keep the following in mind when traveling this holiday season:

• Customers should not wrap their packages/gifts. Southwest Airlines wants to remind Customers that gifts, whether in luggage to be checked or carried onboard the aircraft, should not be wrapped. Carryon items and checked luggage are subject to a physical search in order to identify all items contained within. Therefore, any wrapped packages/gifts are subject to a physical search under the FAA's heightened security measures. Customers who intend to transport several gifts or wrapped packages should make arrangements to ship their gifts and other wrapped packages ahead of time using a shipping company. Travelers also should screen themselves while packing and leave any questionable items at home. Customers can check www.airlines.org for the latest FAA-approved items.
• Packages/gifts will count toward the new FAA-mandated carryon policy. In keeping with new security directives from the FAA, strict limits are being imposed on carryon items. Airline passengers may now carry only one bag plus one smaller, personal-type item onboard the airplane. It is important to note that a gift or bag of gifts carried onboard will constitute a personal item or carryon bag depending on the size. Southwest Airlines' carryon bag sizing limit is 10x16x24, and the personal item should be considerably smaller. If Customers have several small gifts and have no alternative, they should keep the gifts unwrapped and place them in a shopping bag for transport, keeping in mind the carryon limit and the fact that the boxes may be opened for inspection.
• Things to remember when checking your luggage. Southwest does not accept luggage over 100 pounds and charges a handling fee for luggage over 70 pounds. Customers are allowed to check three bags plus one piece of sporting equipment free of charge; so remember, limit the number of gifts you pack if you're planning on taking those snow skis.
• Southwest does not accept styrofoam coolers. Many Customers may bring something home for their family's holiday dinner. However, the Customer assumes the risk of spoilage for perishable items, and Southwest will accept only perishables that are completely frozen and packed in a hard, durable ice chest. Preferable refrigerant would be a frozen gel pack placed inside the plastic bag with the frozen perishable item. Wet ice must be inside sealed, leak proof plastic bags.
• Keep in mind that only ticketed passengers are allowed beyond security checkpoint. Each Customer will need to possess and present proof of his/her reservation and a government-issued photo identification. In addition, unticketed Customers who have a specific need (escorting/meeting Unaccompanied Children; assisting Customers with disabilities; etc.) will be allowed beyond the security checkpoint provided they have obtained proper approval from Southwest Airlines ticket counter personnel.
• Remember that proper identification is required. Southwest Airlines' Customers, age 18 and older, will need valid state or federal government-issued photo identification to travel (passport, driver's license, state-issued identification card, or military identification are acceptable).
• There have been changes in Southwest's cargo operations. At this time, Southwest Airlines is accepting cargo from only "Known Shippers" and "Indirect Air Carriers" that are operating with an FAA-approved security program.

Southwest Airlines, the fourth largest domestic carrier in terms of Customers boarded, serves 59 airports in 58 cities in 30 states. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 2,700 flights a day with a fleet of 355 Boeing 737s.

 

SOURCE Southwest Airlines
Web site: http: //www.airlines.org http://www.southwest.com