Why Southwest Has a Special Place in My Travel Queue

Zak Stambor recently posted a nice interview to Ragan.com with Paula Berg, Southwest Airlines’ Emgering Media manager. The piece titled “How Southwest juggles social media channels” takes a look at their social media strategy dating back to the launch of  their Nuts About Southwest blog in 2006. 

As the piece comes to a close, Berg shares six ideas Southwest used to emerge as a social media leader: 

• Take advantage of what’s already out there.
• Spark a discussion.
• Divvy up responsibility.
• Keep your channels distinct.
• Become an early adopter.
• Have fun.

This is all good advice, but I don’t think it would work for everyone. 

Southwest appears to be a fun company that encourages employees to share that feeling with passengers. When fun is a part of your culture and you encourage employees to share that,  you end up with great experiences like this:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivjybzdXVmI]

There are many airlines out there. Some get it and some don’t, but more than anything, it’s the way Southwest has embraced that last idea – having fun – that gives them a special place in my travel queue.