OPINION/CONSENT OF DEBORAH ACKERMAN

EXHIBIT 5

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.

Deborah Ackerman
Vice President - General Counsel

P.O. Box 36611
Dallas, Texas 75235-1611
(214) 792-4000
Facsimile: (214) 792-6200








March 28, 2003



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 registration with the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 of the shares of the common stock,
$1 par value of the Company ("Common Stock") to be issued by the Company from
time to time upon the exercise of stock options pursuant to the Southwest
Airlines Co. 2002 Ramp, Operations, Provisioning and Freight Non-Qualified Stock
Option Plan and the Southwest Airlines Co. 2002 Customer Service/Reservations
Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan (together, as amended to date, the "Plans").

In this connection, I have examined originals, or copies certified or
otherwise identified to my satisfaction, of such documents, corporate and other
records, certificates and other papers as I deemed it necessary to examine for
the purpose of this opinion, including the Registration Statement of the Company
for the registration of the Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the Plans on
Form S-8 under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Registration Statement").

Based on such examination, it is my opinion that the shares of Common
Stock registered under the Registration Statement when issued pursuant to the
terms of the Plans will, upon the payment of the consideration therefor required
by the terms of the Plans, be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

I consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to 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, as amended, or the rules and regulation thereunder.

Sincerely,



Deborah Ackerman