Southwest Airlines Offers Low Fares to Philadelphia; Airfare to Philadelphia as Low as $29 to $99 One-Way
Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) 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.
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.
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, 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.
www.southwest.com
Customers: To book these great low fares, go to:
http://www.southwest.com/jp/luvhome.shtml?src=PR_PHL_021204
SOURCE Southwest Airlines