What are the chances of flying on one of Southwest Special livery?

Real World Aviation
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Southwest flies lot’s of Special liveries. Some are just minor decals, while others are painted on the entire fuselage of the airplane.

Last year, I flew on WN to Ohio, and I am thinking of doing it again this year, as my cousin (Who we are very close, like brothers), lives in Ohio.
I am looking at August, but my main question is: How rare is it to fly on one of their special liveries?

Manchester Airport in New Hampshire is a big station for Southwest (Behind Providence in terms of Destinations). Of course, we will on occasion get one of their special liveries.

If I was to fly on Southwest, what is the probability of me flying on one of their special liveries? Which liveries are more common on the East Coast?

I know this is like a silly question, but I am curious :)

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Florida One seen landing in Manchester, NH from Baltimore, MD (My Picture)

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Well, Southwest has a Livery for about every southern state. As well as two retros and the Shamu livery. In total they all equal out to about 18 specials. You would have about a very slim chance to fly on one, compared to the rest of the fleet.

However, a few of them are on now decommissioned planes, so it is about a 15th of a chance.

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I’d say slim if timed right. It depends on the number of special liveries (35) in a ratio to the number of 737-700s in Southwest’s fleet. Hope you’re lucky! :)

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Florida One is my favorite 😭♥️

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They don’t have Shamu anymore.

I think they have three retro 737’s

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Do your research on to special liveries flying out from your airport the day of your flight. Then plan your flights accordingly.

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They removed one and repainted it

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Please note I did update it.

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We are getting Colorado One tonight as well.

I’m hoping to fly on a special livery. Not sure how I can track all liveries at once though. MHT does get some a couple of times during the year

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You can always check flightradar two days before and then book your flight but it may be full or the aircraft could get changed

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Why book in two days? I usually book two to three months in advanced. Minimum is Three Weeks at most.

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KPDX, (Portland) gets a Southwest Special about every two days. We get them so frequently. I have even been spotting when a special departed, and was still spotting when the same livery returned the same day.

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There are a total of 35 active special liveries among Southwest’s 754 aircraft.

35/754= ~0.464807437% chance on flying on one.

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There is the in a nutshell version.

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Yes, I would not suggest this. I only suggested it because FR24 shows an aircrafts flights for the next two days

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However, if you want to book the same day. You can plan accordingly. However you would have a better chance of taking a Horizon special livery out of KPDX then getting on a Southwest Special anywhere.

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I live in Manchester though lol

Wow you guys are lucky. Every day? Wow

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Scratch that, about every 20 hours.

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One taxied right by me one hour ago as my plane lined up for takeoff at KSAN.

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I would say we get 1-4 a day in Atlanta. One day we had seven arrive within 10-15 minutes of each other. I had school though 😒😭

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