The Friendly Skies

Dallas travel giants fly high on elite list of world's best

Southwest and Love Field charm travelers all over the country.

Southwest Airlines

Arguably the least enjoyable part about traveling is the actual traveling part. But Dallas Love Field and Dallas-based Southwest Airlines have worked hard to make getting from point A to B a little more pleasant, and Travel + Leisure has taken notice.

The magazine named both in its coveted World's Best Awards, which are voted on by T+L readers to reveal top travel destinations and companies in the U.S. and around the world. The categories range from best cities and islands to best cruise lines, airlines, hotels, and more.

"Domestic hubs such as Dallas Love Field and Tampa International have gone to great lengths to disprove the notion that airports are little more than holding cells for travelers in limbo," the magazine states before naming Love No. 6 on its list of best domestic airports.

About Southwest Airlines, which ranks as the No. 5 best domestic airline, T+L says, "The domestic carriers that do this best are continuing to perfect their formula. After all, Southwest Airlines has charmed frequent fliers with its generosity (two free checked bags, no fees for changed or canceled flights) and a killer rewards program."

Southwest's much-lauded Companion Pass, which is good during the year it's earned plus the next, is also touted.

The Lone Star State shows up strong at this year's awards, racking up three mentions for Austin — the best U.S. cities, best U.S. destination spa (Lake Austin Spa Resort), and best domestic airport (Austin-Bergstrom) — and two for San Antonio, which lands on best U.S. cities list and best city hotel for Mokara Hotel & Spa.

vacation awards

DART News

DART launches scooter parking pilot program at 4 Dallas rail stations

DART

Scooter parking for DART

In a new pilot program, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is making room for scooters: According to a release, four DART stations will now have dedicated parking zones for scooters.

DART will unveil six designated scooter parking zones at four of its highest-traffic stations. Each of the zones will be specifically marked and provide a controlled space for users to park scooters, leaving them clear of walkways, platforms and rail or bus paths, where they can disrupt train and bus service.

The designated scooter parking zones can be found at:

CBD West Transit Center – just east and behind the bus shelter
Victory Station – next to tap and go pay stations along the walkway to the American Airlines Center and next to the southernmost crossing at the rail platform
EBJ/Union Station – on the sidewalk near the north and south entrances to Union Station
SMU/Mockingbird Station – next to bike racks along the walkway from station platform

The pilot program is expected to run a few months beginning in December.

DART will collaborate with the City of Dallas to process the data to scooter rental companies to ensure that the scooters are equipped with geofencing technology allowing the marking of their locations.

With motorized scooters becoming a common mode of "micro transit" for commuters, DART hopes to clear clutter and walking hazards for rail and bus customers, while also provide those who use scooters a quick and reliable way to access or park them.

“Whether people like them or not, scooters have become a popular form of transportation across our service area,” says DART VP of capital design and construction Trey Walker. “We’re acknowledging this fact while attempting to get ahead of scooter clutter at our stations with this pilot program. We want to ensure that our transit stations remain safe, and we continue to maximize efficiency with our train and bus operations.”

Scooter companies, Lime and Bird, are also partnering with DART to incorporate scooter locations near transit stations on the GoPass app, making it easier for riders to find scooters to utilize and complete their journey. DART staff will also monitor the usage of the scooter parking zones and gather public feedback regarding their effectiveness during the pilot.