I am a couple of months away from training at SWA. Could someone elaborate on SWA traveling privileges?

My understanding is that immediate family can travel for free. Are we given coupons/passes to use or pass out each year? Are there any restrictions?

I suppose this will be covered during training. Just thought I'd get some answers before I start.

 

You are correct about the family - which includes parents. I flew with an FO last week (I don't work for SWA) whose wife is a SWA FA and he pulled out a few paper coupons. I'm not sure of a paperless system, though. It seems like the paper coupons are antiquated but maybe that's the only (read: inexpensive) system they have.

 

Unlimited space availible travel for your family (spouse, children, and the EMPLOYEE'S parents).

Several programs have been run in the past that award space availible passes on SWA that anyone can use, the most recent being a perfect attendance program. It has since ended, and I have not heard of the/a new one. Seems there will be but the ? is when.

Your family (as mentioned above) is also entitled to interline travel, meaning being able to purchase space availible passes on other airlines.

 

There are several choices for Non Rev travel at SWA. If you are married with children, your spouse, children and parents can all fly non rev space available on SWA. You will obtain passes twice a year in APRIL and OCTOBER as they expire and you are required to obtain new ones. SWA is working toward a paperless system that we hope to have sometime this year, but for now........passes are required. If you are not married, you can name a "companion" which can be anyone of your choice, just be sure it is someone you can trust with your passes as your name is on the pass and if the person "misbehaves" it can come back to you......the companion will get 4 passes per year. As far as passes for friends are concerned, the old "perfect attendance" program has been replaced with a program where you are able to obtain twice as many passes(4 per quarter) however, you are required to work a certain # of flight hours....I believe it is 233 per quarter. This prevents people who work very few hours from obtaining passes when they are not contributing much to the company......Hope that helps

 

After you retire the privileges are only with you. Your child/children will fly until they are 24 or 23 providing they attend school full-time.