Southwest Airlines Takes Entertainment To New Heights

DALLAS, Aug. 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Airlines™ (NYSE: LUV) celebrates its continued partnership as the Official Airline Sponsor of "Live In The Vineyard" by reintroducing the official "Live In The Vineyard"-decaled Boeing 737 airplane to its fleet and kicking off the national Getaway Sweepstakes for the fall event in Napa. 

Entering its second year of sponsoring "Live In The Vineyard," Southwest has used the partnership to revolutionize the concept of in-air entertainment.  The decaled jet is used as an in-air concert venue to host live performances at 35,000 feet.  With nearly ten surprise inflight concerts performed in the air to-date, the fall season welcomes new opportunities.  Among the past Live@35 performers are artists SafetySuit, Green River Ordinance, Mat Kearney, and American Idol winner Kris Allen, to name a few.  The Live@35 series of inflight concerts will 'pop up' throughout the next two months leading up to the event in Napa.

"We're always looking for opportunities to engage the Southwest brand in creative ways," said Linda Rutherford, Southwest Airlines Vice President Communication and Strategic Outreach.  "This partnership provides our Customers with a unique experience combining the element of surprise with people's passion for music—all onboard a Southwest jet!"

Southwest also shares its LUV for music by providing Customers with the Live In The Vineyard Getaway sweepstakes. Customers can visit www.southwest.com/liveinthevineyard between now and Oct. 14, 2012, to enter for a chance to win two roundtrip tickets on Southwest Airlines, two VIP tickets to "Live In The Vineyard," an exclusive meet and greet with Alanis Morissette, a three-night hotel stay in Napa, California, Nov. 1-4, and transportation to all VIP events. 

"Live In The Vineyard" holds much to anticipate as the three-day event will showcase a series of acoustic performances from some of today's top artists including Alanis Morissette, Gavin DeGraw, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Adam Lambert and more.  Southwest provides "Live In The Vineyard" contest winners with roundtrip airfare to and from the Bay Area for the event, which runs Nov. 1 through Nov. 4, 2012. 

"'Live In The Vineyard' is thrilled to renew and expand on our incredible partnership with Southwest Airlines, creating more innovative ways to bring music, food, and wine to their Customers," said "Live In The Vineyard" Cofounders Bobbii Jacobs and Claire Parr.  "Southwest's Culture, Customer Service, and commitment to excellence are what attracted us to them.  We love the spontaneous ideas that we create to integrate our partner artists, chefs, and winemakers.  It's a natural fit."

ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.

In its 41^st year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other low-fare carriers by providing a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service.  Including wholly owned subsidiary AirTran Airways, the Company now serves 97 destinations in 41 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, six near-international countries, and employs more than 46,000 People.

Visit southwest.com/citizenship to read the Southwest Airlines One Report™ and see how Southwest is doing its part to be a good citizen while underscoring a commitment to the triple bottom line of Performance, People, and Planet.

Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines, one of the most honored airlines in the world, is the nation's largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded.  Southwest currently operates more than 3,400 flights a day and serves the communities around 74 airports in Southwest's network of domestic destinations.  To book a flight, visit southwest.com.

AirTran Airways

AirTran Airways, a wholly owned subsidiary of Southwest Airlines Co., has been ranked the top airline in the Airline Quality Rating study three times in the past five years. AirTran offers coast-to-coast and near-international service with nearly 700 flights a day on North America's newest all-Boeing fleet. The airline's low-cost, high-quality product also includes assigned seating and Business Class. To book a flight, visit airtran.com.

ABOUT "LIVE IN THE VINEYARD"

"Live In The Vineyard" marries peoples' access to recording artists, top tier wine makers, and world- renowned chefs during an "once-in-a-lifetime" event.  The three-day event consists of a series of private and exclusive "winner" only acoustic concerts from some of today's hottest pop superstars and emerging artists (i.e. Jason Mraz, Train, Lenny Kravitz, Daughtry, Sarah McLachlan, etc.), 56 winery partners, and multiple celebrity Napa and nationally known chefs.

These vineyard events take place in the foothills of California's famed wine country – Napa Valley, and include lodging from some of Napa's finest resorts, tours, and private tastings with the most revered vintners, exquisite foods, and intimate concerts unmatched by any other public show.  All of our attendees have a chance to meet and talk with our participating artists, chefs, and wineries for a total immersion in music, wine, and food!  Dates for 2012 are April 12-15 and Nov. 1-5, 2012.  For more information, visit www.LiveintheVineyard.com

SOURCE Southwest Airlines