Form: 4

Statement of changes in beneficial ownership of securities

September 17, 2004

SEC Form 4
FORM 4 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP


Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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OMB Number: 3235-0287
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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person*
Wright Laura

(Last) (First) (Middle)
2702 LOVE FIELD DRIVE
P.O. BOX 36611

(Street)
DALLAS TX 75235-1611

(City) (State) (Zip)
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO [ LUV ]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
Director 10% Owner
X Officer (give title below) Other (specify below)
Vice Pres. - Finance and CFO
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
09/16/2004
4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line)
X Form filed by One Reporting Person
Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year) 7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Option (Right to Buy) $14.75 09/01/2004(1) A 144 09/01/2005 09/01/2014 Common Stock 144 $14.75 144 D
Option (Right to Buy) $14.75 09/01/2004(1) A 192 09/01/2006 09/01/2014 Common Stock 192 $14.75 192 D
Option (Right to Buy) $14.75 09/01/2004(1) A 96 09/01/2004 09/01/2014 Common Stock 96 $14.75 96 D
Option (Right to Buy) $14.75 09/01/2004(1) A 240 09/01/2007 09/01/2014 Common Stock 240 $14.75 240 D
Option (Right to Buy) $14.75 09/01/2004(1) A 288 09/01/2008 09/01/2014 Common Stock 288 $14.75 288 D
Option (Right to Buy) $14.75 09/01/2004(1) A 336 09/01/2009 09/01/2014 Common Stock 336 $14.75 336 D
Option (Right to Buy) $14.75 09/01/2004(1) A 384 09/01/2010 09/01/2014 Common Stock 384 $14.75 384 D
Option (Right to Buy) $14.75 09/01/2004(1) A 432 09/01/2011 09/01/2014 Common Stock 432 $14.75 432 D
Option (Right to Buy) $14.75 09/01/2004(1) A 480 09/01/2012 09/01/2014 Common Stock 480 $14.75 480 D
Option (Right to Buy) $14.75 09/01/2004(1) A 528 09/01/2013 09/01/2014 Common Stock 528 $14.75 528 D
Explanation of Responses:
1. The option grant date was September 1, 2004, subject to approval by a committee of Southwest's board of directors on September 16, 2004. Options are granted pursuant to the Company's 1996 Incentive Stock Option Plan and 1996 Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan.
On behalf of and attorney-in-fact for Laura Wright /s/ Deborah Ackerman 09/17/2004
** Signature of Reporting Person Date

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).

** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.

Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB Number.