• by Tanya Gazdik , November 23, 2010

Southwest and Microsoft Windows 7 have partnered to make the winter holiday travel experience jollier with "Holiday Photos on the Fly."

(Not to skip over Thanksgiving, Southwest employees are currently wearing buttons that say "Only turkeys charge for bags." The airline will offer a free adult beverage to customers flying on Thanksgiving Day.)

Beginning Dec. 2 and continuing every weekend until Christmas, Southwest Airlines and Windows will offer free holiday photos to people at 26 airports nationwide. Customers can stop by one of Santa's workshops in select Southwest Airlines airports to have their photo taken with Santa or in a holiday-themed backdrop.

Once a photo is taken, a Windows 7 elf will show customers how to edit, share and store their photos. Families will be able to print a copy of their photo at the airport, or visit www.freeholidayphotos.com to retrieve and share their photos online.

"Our employees love to celebrate the holidays, and we feel this program will make our customers' travel experience an even more positive one," says Andy Allmann, Southwest's director of promotions and sports marketing.

"Holiday Photos on the Fly" will be available in the following airports: Albuquerque, Austin, Baltimore/Washington, Boston Logan, Chicago Midway, Dallas Love, Denver, El Paso, Fort Lauderdale, Houston Hobby, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Nashville, New Orleans, Oakland, Ontario, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, San Diego, San Jose, San Antonio, St Louis, Seattle Tacoma, and Tampa Bay.

In addition to the photos, the promotion includes a holiday sweepstakes with daily prizes. Prizes include $500 cash, Windows Ultimate and Southwest roundtrip tickets.

The promotion will move out of the airport to New York City's Bryant Park this week, where visitors can get their picture taken, experience Windows Live, play with Kinect and check out PCs and Windows phones, some of which are not yet available in stores.