As of 10:00 AM Central Time, Southwest's schedule is now open through January 9. This extension precisely fits the pattern of recent years and predictions both here and in our Official Schedule Extension Prediction Thread:
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=527240
The next extension, covering Christmas, has from September 19 to September 26, so I expect the extension on Thursday September 21, with travel through approximately March 1.
Ding announced this schedule extension 20 minutes after it occurred.
Other items:
As of right now, the online reservations system is not allowing anything to be booked, and the phone lines are completely busy with LONG hold times. I don't believe there's any risk of losing your seats if you wait for the online system to come back.
You are running out of time to bag 8 to 10 free credits on a Choice credit card offer. Apply by August 31st. See
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=564971