<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000092380-18-000026.txt : 20180202
<SEC-HEADER>0000092380-18-000026.hdr.sgml : 20180202
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20180202171407
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000092380-18-000026
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20180131
FILED AS OF DATE:		20180202
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20180202

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Jordan Robert E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001381318

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07259
		FILM NUMBER:		18571800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
		STREET 2:		2702 LOVE FIELD DRIVE
		CITY:			DALLAS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75235

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000092380
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	AIR TRANSPORTATION, SCHEDULED [4512]
		IRS NUMBER:				741563240
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			TX
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2702 LOVE FIELD DR
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 36611
		CITY:			DALLAS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75235
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2147924000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 36611
		CITY:			DALLAS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75235-1611

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	AIR SOUTHWEST CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19760108
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2018-01-31</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000092380</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>LUV</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001381318</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Jordan Robert E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2702 LOVE FIELD DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DALLAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>75235-1908</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP Corporate Services</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-01-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15660</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>76036</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-01-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15954</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>91990</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10433</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By ProfitSharing Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Reflects the exempt acquisition of restricted stock units upon the satisfaction of performance criteria underlying an award of performance-based restricted stock units pursuant to the Southwest Airlines Co. Amended and Restated 2007 Equity Incentive Plan.  The restricted stock units will vest on February 21, 2018, and will entitle the reporting person to one share of common stock for each restricted stock unit that vests.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Reflects the exempt acquisition of restricted stock units pursuant to the Southwest Airlines Co. Amended and Restated 2007 Equity Incentive Plan.   The restricted stock units will vest with respect to one-third of the shares covered thereby annually, beginning on February 21, 2019, and will entitle the reporting person to one share of common stock for each restricted stock unit that vests.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Holdings reflect exempt transactions under the Issuer's ProfitSharing Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Tim Whisler, on behalf of and as attorney-in-fact for Robert E. Jordan</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-02-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
