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Herb Kelleher

31 statements across 4 episodes · 11 bullish · 0 bearish · 3 people on the record · first statement Nov 21, 2016 by Herb Kelleher · said 33 times in 7 episodes since 2017 · across every show →

On the record as a speaker too: Herb Kelleher's record, appearances and statements → this page counts the times other people say the name.

Mentions by year

brought up most by David Neeleman (21), Guy Raz (7)

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0122017201820192020202120222023202420252026episodes it came up in
001012022017201820192020202120222023202420252026episodesmentions per episode
2026 3 mentions in 1 episode
2024 6 mentions in 2 episodes 3 per episode
2023 2 mentions in 1 episode
2019 20 mentions in 1 episode
2018 1 mention in 1 episode
2017 1 mention in 1 episode

every mention, scene by scene, with the transcript →

Everything said about Herb Kelleher, oldest first

Nov 21, 2016 positive
Insight
Zero airline experience qualified Kelleher to disrupt the industry
“Well, I knew nothing about airlines, which I think made me eminently qualified to start one, because what we tried to do at Southwest was get away from the traditional way that airlines had done business. So I started with the tabula rasa blank slate, and I th…”
Herb Kelleher Nov 21, 2016 ▶ 3:26 Southwest Airlines: Herb Kelleher
Nov 21, 2016
Disclosure
Kelleher consistently declined cash raises, accepting stock options to set an example
“I always turn down pay increases, bonus increases, to set a good example, I thought, for all of our people. Of course, the stock that I got rose enormously in value, but that was in lieu of cash compensation.”
Herb Kelleher Nov 21, 2016 ▶ 26:58 Southwest Airlines: Herb Kelleher
Nov 21, 2016 positive
Assertion Supported
Kelleher resolved a Southwest trademark dispute via a public arm wrestling match
“Herb Kelleher once resolved a trademark dispute with a rival airline. They were both using the slogan, plane smart. He resolved this not in court, but by challenging the other CEO to a public arm wrestling match, which Herb Kelleher lost.”
Guy Raz Nov 21, 2016 ▶ 30:22 Southwest Airlines: Herb Kelleher
Nov 21, 2016
Assertion Supported
Southwest pioneered 10-minute gate turnarounds to maximize aircraft utilization
“10 minute turns at the gate. We bring that airplane in, and 10 minutes after it stopped at the gate, you know, It would be pushing back again.”
Herb Kelleher Nov 21, 2016 ▶ 12:52 Southwest Airlines: Herb Kelleher
Nov 21, 2016
Disclosure
Southwest sold a plane for payroll but kept its four-plane schedule
“We had to get rid of one airplane in order to meet our payroll right after Southwest started flying, and so we decided that we would fly a four airplane schedule with three airplanes.”
Herb Kelleher Nov 21, 2016 ▶ 12:39 Southwest Airlines: Herb Kelleher
Nov 21, 2016
Assertion Supported
Kelleher offered to litigate for free and pay Southwest's court costs
“And during that time, the company ran out of money, and in 1969, the board of directors had a meeting and talked about shutting the airline down, shutting the company down. And I said, well, how about if I litigate for nothing and pay all the court costs out o…”
Herb Kelleher Nov 21, 2016 ▶ 6:55 Southwest Airlines: Herb Kelleher
Nov 21, 2016
Assertion Supported
Early Southwest fares were roughly 45% lower than competing legacy carriers
“Well, on some flights, we had fares as low as 10 dollars. On others, we had fares as low as 15 or 20 dollars. We were about 45% lower Than the other carriers.”
Herb Kelleher Nov 21, 2016 ▶ 12:07 Southwest Airlines: Herb Kelleher
Sep 25, 2017
Disclosure
Kelleher: Personally invested $10,000 to help start Southwest Airlines
“I invested 10,000 dollars.”
Herb Kelleher Sep 25, 2017 ▶ 27:07 Southwest Airlines: Herb Kelleher (2016)
Sep 25, 2017 positive
Insight
Kelleher: Having zero airline experience was an advantage in founding Southwest
“Well, I knew nothing about airlines, which I think made me eminently qualified to start one, because what we tried to do at Southwest was get away from the traditional way that airlines had done business. So I started with the tabula rasa blank slate, and I th…”
Herb Kelleher Sep 25, 2017 ▶ 3:49 Southwest Airlines: Herb Kelleher (2016)
Sep 25, 2017
Disclosure
Kelleher: Consistently rejected cash compensation increases in favor of stock options
“I always turn down pay increases, bonus increases, to set a good example, I thought, for all of our people. Of course, the stock that I got rose enormously in value, but that was in lieu of cash compensation.”
Herb Kelleher Sep 25, 2017 ▶ 27:22 Southwest Airlines: Herb Kelleher (2016)
Sep 25, 2017 positive
Insight
Kelleher: Companies that think small grow bigger; companies that think big shrink
“Think small and act small and we'll get bigger. Think big and act big, and we'll get smaller.”
Herb Kelleher Sep 25, 2017 ▶ 28:44 Southwest Airlines: Herb Kelleher (2016)
Sep 25, 2017
Assertion Supported
Kelleher: Personally funded Southwest's litigation costs out of pocket in 1969
“And during that time, the company ran out of money, and in 1969, the board of directors had a meeting and talked about shutting the airline down, shutting the company down. And I said, well, how about if I litigate for nothing and pay all the court costs out o…”
Herb Kelleher Sep 25, 2017 ▶ 7:19 Southwest Airlines: Herb Kelleher (2016)
Sep 25, 2017
Assertion Supported
Kelleher: Southwest took four and a half years to first flight
“Well, between the time when I started working on forming Southwest and the time we flew our first flight It was four and a half years.”
Herb Kelleher Sep 25, 2017 ▶ 7:07 Southwest Airlines: Herb Kelleher (2016)
Jan 4, 2019 positive
Disclosure
Kelleher: Turned down pay and bonus raises to lead Southwest by example
“I always turn down pay increases, bonus increases, to set a good example, I thought, for all of our people.”
Herb Kelleher Jan 4, 2019 ▶ 27:36 Remembering Herb Kelleher
Jan 4, 2019 positive
Assertion Supported
Guy Raz: Herb Kelleher resolved a trademark dispute via public arm wrestling
“Herb Kelleher once resolved a trademark dispute with a rival airline. They were both using the slogan, plain smart. He resolved this not in court, but by challenging the other CEO to a public arm wrestling match, which Herb Kelleher lost.”
Guy Raz Jan 4, 2019 ▶ 31:00 Remembering Herb Kelleher
Jan 4, 2019
Assertion Supported
Kelleher: Southwest achieved 10-minute gate turns to run planes 12 hours daily
“10 minute turns at the gate. We bring that airplane in, and 10 minutes after it stopped at the gate, you know, It would be pushing back again. And we had airplanes that, ah, you know, were operating 12 hours a day sometimes, so each one of those additional fli…”
Herb Kelleher Jan 4, 2019 ▶ 13:32 Remembering Herb Kelleher
Jan 4, 2019 positive
Insight
Kelleher: Having Zero Airline Experience Qualified Him to Build Southwest
“Well, I knew nothing about airlines, which I think made me eminently qualified to start one, because what we tried to do at Southwest was get away from the traditional way that airlines had done business. So I started with the tabula rasa blank slate, And I th…”
Herb Kelleher Jan 4, 2019 ▶ 4:06 Remembering Herb Kelleher
Jan 4, 2019
Assertion Supported
Kelleher: Texas Supreme Court cleared Southwest 19 hours before first flight
“It went through the United States Supreme Court and through the Texas Supreme Court twice before we could fly. And the Texas Supreme Court handed down an order, 19 hours prior to our first flight.”
Herb Kelleher Jan 4, 2019 ▶ 10:50 Remembering Herb Kelleher
Jan 4, 2019
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Kelleher: CAB fare increases drove up legacy airline ticket prices
“And during that time, if they had a little financial problem the CAB would just give them a fare increase, and so that's how their fares got so high as compared to what we were doing since we weren't regulated by the CAB.”
Herb Kelleher Jan 4, 2019 ▶ 14:31 Remembering Herb Kelleher
Jan 4, 2019
Opinion
Kelleher: 99.9% of Texans believed Southwest Airlines would fail initially
“If you had taken a poll in the state of Texas after we filed our application, I can assure you that 99.9% Of the population of the state of Texas would say, this thing will never come to anything.”
Herb Kelleher Jan 4, 2019 ▶ 8:54 Remembering Herb Kelleher
Jan 4, 2019
Assertion Supported
Kelleher: Southwest flew a four-plane schedule with three planes after cash crunch
“We had to get rid of one airplane in order to meet our payroll right after Southwest started flying, and so we decided that we would fly a four airplane schedule with three airplanes.”
Herb Kelleher Jan 4, 2019 ▶ 13:19 Remembering Herb Kelleher
Jan 4, 2019 positive
Insight
Kelleher: Blocking Southwest signaled a failure of the free enterprise system
“Well, first of all, I was idealistic about it, because I figured if they can prevent Southwest Airlines from introducing what Southwest Airlines proposes to provide to the consumer, Then that is a sign that the free enterprise system is failing, and one of the…”
Herb Kelleher Jan 4, 2019 ▶ 8:08 Remembering Herb Kelleher
Jan 4, 2019
Disclosure
Kelleher: Initial personal investment in Southwest was $10,000
“I invested 10,000 dollars.”
Herb Kelleher Jan 4, 2019 ▶ 27:22 Remembering Herb Kelleher
Jan 4, 2019 positive
Assertion Partly supported
Kelleher: Southwest slashed existing airfares by 60% entering Baltimore
“And I said, yeah, it's so competitive that when we start out here, we're reducing your existing fares by 60%.”
Herb Kelleher Jan 4, 2019 ▶ 19:14 Remembering Herb Kelleher
Jan 4, 2019 positive
Assertion Partly supported
Kelleher: Southwest cut fares by $400 on long routes instead of serving meals
“And I said, no, we're not. We're gonna charge you 400 dollars less per trip, right? And I understand you can get a pretty good sandwich at Chasin's for 400 dollars.”
Herb Kelleher Jan 4, 2019 ▶ 19:56 Remembering Herb Kelleher
Jan 4, 2019
Assertion Supported
Kelleher: Early Southwest fares were 45% lower than competitors
“Well, on some flights, we had fares as low as 10 dollars. On others, we had fares as low as 15 or 20 dollars. We were about 45% lower. Than the other carriers.”
Herb Kelleher Jan 4, 2019 ▶ 12:47 Remembering Herb Kelleher
Jan 4, 2019
Assertion Supported
Kelleher: Southwest took four and a half years to launch its first flight
“Well, between the time when I started working on forming Southwest and the time we flew our first flight, It was four and a half years.”
Herb Kelleher Jan 4, 2019 ▶ 7:24 Remembering Herb Kelleher
Jan 4, 2019
Assertion Supported
Kelleher: Kept Southwest alive in 1969 by litigating for free and paying court costs
“And during that time, the company ran out of money, and in 1969, the board of directors had a meeting and talked about shutting the airline down, shutting the company down. And I said, well, how about if I litigate for nothing and pay all the court costs out o…”
Herb Kelleher Jan 4, 2019 ▶ 7:35 Remembering Herb Kelleher
Jan 4, 2019 positive
Insight
Kelleher: Passionate joy prevents burnout even during 100-hour workweeks
“It's easy when you have a passionate joy in what you're doing. You don't burn out.”
Herb Kelleher Jan 4, 2019 ▶ 30:36 Remembering Herb Kelleher
Feb 4, 2019
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Southwest CEO Herb Kelleher vowed to fiercely enforce Neeleman's non-compete agreement
“About halfway through the non-compete, I called, or a couple, maybe a year and a half into it, I called Herb, and I said, hey, Herb, you know, I've consulted, you know, legal counsel. This thing is not really enforceable. I mean, I didn't get any consideration…”
David Neeleman Feb 4, 2019 ▶ 36:04 JetBlue Airways: David Neeleman
Feb 4, 2019
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Neeleman: Kelleher suggested Neeleman could eventually succeed him at Southwest
“I mean, he kind of led me to believe that if I just minded my P's and Q's that I would be a successor one day, you know, that I could, you know, follow in his footsteps”
David Neeleman Feb 4, 2019 ▶ 32:19 JetBlue Airways: David Neeleman
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