World’s largest low carrier airline, Southwest Airlines is a major US airline and the airline’s headquarter is at Dallas in Texas. Currently the airline has around 46,000 employees and operates more than 3,400 flights per day.As of August 2012, Southwest Airline was declared to be the largest operator of the Boeing 737 worldwide with over 550 in service, each averaging six flights per day.

Southwest Airline was established on 15th March 1967 after the merger of Air Southwest Co and Herb Kelleher and at that time the airline operated only in the Texas region. The name Air Southwest Com was changed to Southwest Airline Co. on March 29th 1971. Fortune has listed Southwest Airlines as number three among America’s Top Ten most admired corporations among all the industries in year 2004. In May 2014 Southwest Airlines announced that it has chosen Amadeus IT Group replace its current domestic reservation system. The new branding, including a new livery and logo were introduced in September 2014.

As per the records collected in January 2015, the Southwest Airline has around 647 fleets with an average age of 11.5 years. The airline operates only Boeing aircrafts and is world's largest operator of the Boeing 737, was the launch customer of the 737-300, -500 and -700, and will be the launch customer of the 737 Max 7 and 8. Southwest placed an order of 150 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, the delivery of which will start from 2017 onwards. An additional order for 20 Boeing 737 MAX 7 was placed on May 15th 2013 and the delivery of these aircrafts is scheduled for 2019. Southwest's original primary livery was desert gold, red and orange, with pinstripes of white separating each section of color. The new livery was showcased on September 8, 2014 and uses a darker shade of blue. Yellow has replaced the orange tail stripe and the belly of the aircraft is now in blue and features a heart, which has been a symbol for Southwest from the past 43 years.

Since its establishment in the year 1967, the Southwest Airline has received many awards and recognitions. The company has been profitable for the last 43 years and never had layoffs or involuntary furloughs. From the past 20 years, the airline has made it to the Fortune magazine’s list of ‘most admired companies’. Mentioned below are some of the awards –

• Southwest Receives Multiple Awards for Outstanding Service Including the Diamond Award and Domestic Carrier of the Year in 2013

• Air Transport World Magazine Names Southwest Airlines Eco-Pioneer of the Year in 2012

• Southwest Airlines Receives Domestic Carrier Of The Year in 2011

Passengers travelling on Southwest Airlines can check-in at the counter or opt for online check-in option. Online check-in can be done 24 hours prior to scheduled departure. Boarding pass can be collected from the Skycap Podium, ticket counter, or self-service kiosk at the airport. For airport check-in, guests should arrive 2 hours prior to the schedule departure (especially in case of an itinerary that includes at least one international flight) and counter closes 60 minutes before the departure time.

Southwest Airlines offers maximum free baggage weight of 50 pounds and maximum size of 62 inches (length + width + height) per checked piece of luggage. Overweight items from 51 to 100 pounds and oversized items in excess of 62 inches but not more than 80 inches will be accepted for an overweight and oversize baggage fee of $75 per item. Southwest Airline reserves the size of hand baggage to 10x16x24 inches one small bag can also be carried.

All Southwest-operated flights, domestic and international, have open seating. Passengers can take any seat of their choice when on board. The Boeing 737-800 aircrafts of Southwest Airlines has The aircraft has 175 seats, 38 more than the former largest plane in Southwest's fleet and includes the Boeing Sky Interior, and some are equipped with ETOPS capability.

While booking a ticket passenger are subject to applicable bag fees etc. Passengers are not charged additional, other that the difference in fare, when modifying the booking. Cancellation too can be made easily and the airline does not charge anything for the same. In case of upgraded boarding $40 per passenger is levied. For unaccompanied minor, $50 is charged.