<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000092380-18-000115.txt : 20180926
<SEC-HEADER>0000092380-18-000115.hdr.sgml : 20180926
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20180808121321
<PRIVATE-TO-PUBLIC>
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000092380-18-000115
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	CORRESP
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
FILED AS OF DATE:		20180808

FILER:

	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

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		CORRESP

	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>CORRESP
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>filename1.htm
<TEXT>
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<div><a name="sC88B36D3A2845BDEBAD23E713A990066"></a></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Securities and Exchange Commission</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">August 8, 2018</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Page </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">1</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><div><br></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">August 8, 2018</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;">Via Edgar</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Division of Corporation Finance</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">100 F Street, NE</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Washington, D.C. 20549-3561</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Attention:  Theresa Brillant</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;text-indent:48px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"></font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">RE: </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">Southwest Airlines Co.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;text-indent:96px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"></font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2018</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;text-indent:96px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"></font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">Filed on May 1, 2018</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;text-indent:96px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"></font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">File No. 001-07259</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Dear Ms. Brillant:</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">On behalf of Southwest Airlines Co. (the &#8220;Company&#8221;), set forth below is the Company&#8217;s response to the comment of the staff (the &#8220;Staff&#8221;) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#8220;Commission&#8221;) in its letter dated July 25, 2018, with respect to the Company&#8217;s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2018 (the &#8220;Form 10-Q&#8221;).  For ease of reference, we have reproduced below the full text of the Staff&#8217;s comment, which is followed by the Company&#8217;s response.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;">Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2018</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;">Note 5: Revenue, page 19</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:48px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:12pt;padding-left:24px;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">1.</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">It appears you have elected the transition provision pursuant to ASC 606-10-65-1(f)(4) in regard to the aggregate effect of historical modifications to the co-branded credit card agreement with Chase Bank USA, N.A. In so doing, ASC 606-10-65-1(g)(2) states that to the extent reasonably possible a qualitative assessment of the estimated effect of applying this expedient is required to be disclosed, but this disclosure is not apparent. Please advise.</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:48px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;text-indent:48px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"></font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;">Response</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">:</font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;padding-left:48px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">In making the election of the transition provision pursuant to ASC 606, the Company did not believe it was reasonably possible to provide a qualitative assessment of applying the contract modification transition practical expedient without performing a complete quantitative analysis of each modification. To perform a complete quantitative analysis, the Company would require the assistance of an independent third party to perform a historical valuation and attempt to re-create valid assumptions many years after the fact, which would have been costly and time consuming. Without knowing the movement in each assumption in the valuation, the Company does not believe it is reasonably possible to estimate the impact of applying this practical expedient.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;padding-left:48px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">In order to address the Staff&#8217;s request to provide a qualitative assessment, the Company modified its disclosures in the most recent Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2018, that was filed on August 1, 2018.  After filing such Form 10-Q, the Company is proposing further relatively minor modifications that it would make in future filings to further clarify its disclosures and address the </font></div><div><br></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Securities and Exchange Commission</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">August 8, 2018</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Page </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">2</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><div><br></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;padding-left:48px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Staff&#8217;s comment.  Please advise whether the staff believes the comment has been adequately addressed in the following, which would replace the existing two paragraphs in Note 5 of the Notes to Condensed Financial Statements (unaudited) on pages 22 and 23 of the Form 10-Q in future filings:</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;padding-left:72px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">ASC 606 requires the Company to allocate consideration received to performance obligations based on relative fair value of those obligations. The Company has a co-branded credit card agreement (&#8220;Agreement&#8221;) with Chase Bank USA, N.A. (&#8220;Chase&#8221;), through which the Company sells loyalty points and certain marketing components, which consist of use of Southwest Airlines&#8217; brand and access to Rapid Rewards Member lists, licensing and advertising elements, and use of the Company&#8217;s resource team.  The Company estimated the selling prices and volumes over the term of the Agreement in order to determine the allocation of proceeds to each of the two performance obligations identified in the agreement-which have been characterized as a transportation component and a marketing component. The allocations utilized are reviewed to determine if adjustment is necessary any time there is a modification to the Agreement. The Company records Passenger revenue related to loyalty point redemptions for air travel when the travel is delivered. The marketing elements are recognized as Other revenue when earned following the sales-based royalty method, as intellectual property was determined to be the predominate component of this performance obligation in the Agreement.  </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;padding-left:72px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;padding-left:72px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">The Company has elected the transition provision within ASC 606 to reflect the aggregate effect of historical modifications to the Agreement on January 1, 2018, when (i) identifying the satisfied and unsatisfied performance obligations, (ii) determining the transaction price, and (iii) allocating the transaction price to the satisfied and unsatisfied performance obligation. When applying the full retrospective adoption provisions of ASC 606, the Company determined the transaction price for all satisfied and unsatisfied performance obligations in the Agreement and performed a single allocation of the transaction price to those performance obligations, based on the relative selling prices on January 1, 2016.  In applying this transition provision, the Company evaluated the historical modifications of the contract and did not identify any new performance obligations throughout the periods prior to adoption of the new standard.  The Company did not believe it was reasonably possible to quantitatively estimate the impact of applying this transition provision to contract modifications prior to January 1, 2016.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">****</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;text-indent:48px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Thank you for your assistance.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at (214) 792-3022.&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;padding-left:288px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:288px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Sincerely,</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:240px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:288px;text-indent:48px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"></font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;text-decoration:underline;">/s/ Tammy Romo</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;padding-left:336px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Tammy Romo</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;padding-left:336px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Executive Vice President &amp; Chief Financial Officer</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;padding-left:48px;text-indent:48px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;padding-left:48px;text-indent:48px;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;"><br></font></div><div><br></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Securities and Exchange Commission</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">August 8, 2018</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">Page </font><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">3</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><div><br></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;width:92.98245614035088%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="2"></td></tr><tr><td style="width:10%;"></td><td style="width:90%;"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Copy to:</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">John T. Montford (Chairman, Audit Committee)</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Gary C. Kelly</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Leah Koontz</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Mark R. Shaw</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:12pt;">Brandon Rowland (Ernst &amp; Young LLP)</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><div><br></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div>	</body>
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