-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 LIEvx1CCEagk2NTKA1X0WyrStHsMZ8gJnTPLDoiDLuh0JTmHNFdLf5JYvaCqBcgu
 v0zWJtCC9rN0bd92w9wkgQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001027716-08-000008.txt : 20080912
<SEC-HEADER>0001027716-08-000008.hdr.sgml : 20080912
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080912102257
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001027716-08-000008
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080909
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080912
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080912

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KELLY GARY C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001027716

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07259
		FILM NUMBER:		081068414

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO
		STREET 2:		2702 LOVE FIELD DRIVE
		CITY:			DALLAS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75235-1611
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2147924000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 36611
		CITY:			DALLAS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75235
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-09-09</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001027716</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KELLY GARY C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2702 LOVE FIELD DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DALLAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>75235-1611</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>COB, Pres., &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-09-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2100</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>146019</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Gary C. Kelly</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-09-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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