Southwest Airlines launches ‘Fly By’ priority security lanes at Seattle-Tacoma Airport

Southwest Airlines, the low-fare airline based in Dallas, Texas, the United States, has introduced a new fast-paced security lane access, or Fly By’ lanes, for its Business Select and Rapid Reward A-List passengers at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The carrier started offering the ‘priority security lanes’ in 2008 at certain airports in the United States to give select passengers a security lane intended to move them fast through the check-in process. Southwest Airlines has already set up the ‘Fly By’ lanes at many of its 64 airports.

These airports include Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI), Dallas Love Field Airport, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), Orange County John Wayne Airport (SNA), Denver International Airport, San Francisco International Airport (SFO), and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, also called Sea-Tac Airport, is located in SeaTac, Washington, the United States.

Southwest Airlines said in a statement that it plans to expand the ‘Fly By’ lanes programme to more airports in the United States as and when required. According to Southwest Airlines, its Business Select fare provides the same flexibility as its current Refundable/Anytime Fares, and comes together with other added perks, including priority boarding, bonus Rapid Rewards frequent flyer credit, and one complimentary adult beverage (for customers of legal drinking age). Business Select Fares are refundable and changeable.

Rapid Rewards A-List Customers will also get priority boarding privileges and automatic check-in. Passengers can access the ‘Fly By’ security lanes, Southwest Airlines said, by presenting an A-List identification card or a Business Select boarding pass. The A-List status is applicable to members of theRapid Rewards programme who fly 16 qualifying round-trip journeys in 12 months. The so-called ‘priority lanes’ are gradually being implemented by airlines at airports across the United States with a view to helping frequent travellers get through security faster than usual.

Southwest Airlines said passengers can take advantage of the ‘Fly By’ programme by presenting an A-List identification card or a Business Select boarding pass. For additional information on the Fly By programme, passengers have been requested to visit the website www.southwest.com/flyby Southwest Airlines, which has been in service for about 38 years, is the biggest United States-based carrier in terms of domestic passengers boarded.

At present, the airline serves 64 cities (with service to Minneapolis/St Paul starting on March 8, 2009) in 32 states and operates over 3,200 flights a day and has more than 35,000 employees system-wide, the official statement said.