OPINION/CONSENT OF DEBORAH ACKERMAN

EXHIBIT 5.2

October 30, 2002


Southwest Airlines Co.
P. O. Box 36611
Dallas, TX 75235

Dear Sirs:

I have represented Southwest Airlines Co., a Texas corporation (the
"Company"), in connection with the proposed offering, issuance and sale of up to
$1,000,000,000.00 principal amount of Debt Securities (the "Securities") to be
issued from time to time under an Indenture (the "Indenture") to be entered into
between the Company and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as Trustee (the "Trustee"), such
Securities to bear interest at such rates and to be payable at such times, to
mature at such times and otherwise to have such terms as contemplated by the
Prospectus included as part of the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the
"Registration Statement") with respect to the Securities which is being filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 and
Rule 415 thereunder.

For the purposes of this opinion, I have examined such corporate
records and other documents and have reviewed such questions of law as I
considered necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion.

Based on such examination and review, I hereby advise you that, in my
opinion, the execution and delivery by the Company of the Indenture has been
duly authorized by the Company. Further, when the Indenture has been duly
executed and delivered by the Company and the Trustee, the Registration
Statement has become effective under the Securities Act of 1933, and all
necessary proceedings have been taken by the Board of Directors or the Executive
Committee of such Board of Directors of the Company in connection with the
authorization, issuance and sale of the Securities of a particular series and
related matters, the Securities, when each certificate representing the same has
been duly executed on behalf of the Company and authenticated by the Trustee and
when issued and delivered pursuant to the Indenture against payment to the
Company of the authorized consideration therefor, will be duly authorized and
validly issued and constitute binding obligations of the Company except as may
be limited by (a) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization
or other similar laws affecting enforcement of creditors' rights generally and
(b) general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is
considered in a proceeding at law or in equity).

I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to me under the caption "Validity of
the Debt Securities" in the Prospectus relating to the Securities forming a part
of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, I do not thereby admit
that I am within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section
7 of the



Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations of the Securities and
Exchange Commission thereunder.

Sincerely,



/s/ Deborah Ackerman