Wine flies free: Southwest offers a bold new perk for oenophiles

Great news for wine lovers who are willing to travel for a buttery chardonnay or full-bodied cabernet sauvignon, as Southwest Airlines is expanding its service to California wine country.

The travel provider is launching its 14th route to the Golden State, this time to Santa Rosa’s Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport with connecting flights from San Diego, Las Vegas, Denver, and Burbank. Additionally, it’s launching its first-ever sip and ship program on April 24, which lets customers check one case of wine at no cost from select West Coast locations, allowing wine lovers to bring back some of their favorite vintages without a hefty shipping fee. A case is defined as a single box or specialized wine suitcase containing up to twelve bottles and weighing no more than fifty pounds.

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Passengers must be 21 or older to participate, and wine must be in the original unopened container with the manufacturer’s label and securely packaged in a leak-proof bag with adequate professional packaging designed to fit the proportions of the bottle to prevent breakage. For those planning to partake, make sure that your wine bottles are placed in a standard wine shipping box or wine suitcase that meets the airline’s checked bag requirements.

“We’re excited to open the door to more of California’s incredible destinations, especially the stunning wine region of Sonoma County, as we add our 14th airport to our already best-in-industry intra-California service,” said Andrew Watterson, Chief Operating Officer at Southwest Airlines, in a statement shared with Parade. “By adding service to Sonoma County Airport and launching Sip and Ship, we’re offering our Customers even more convenience and an opportunity to [continue] sipping and savoring their time in wine country.”

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