HEBRON, Ky. -- Southwest Airlines wasn't alone in celebrating a first at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport on Sunday.
Ragan Wilson was taking her first-ever flight -- on Southwest's first-ever flight out of CVG, headed for Chicago-Midway.
She also was the first to check in Sunday morning.
Wilson said her uncle called her Saturday and asked if she wanted to go to California.
"I'm a little nervous about taking off, but I think I'm ready," she said.
Wish Ragan Wilson luck as she takes her FIRST FLIGHT EVER on the inaugural Southwest flight out of CVG. @WCPO pic.twitter.com/MmShfb96Sx
— Kristen Swilley (@KristenSwilley) June 4, 2017
Southwest is starting with eight flights every day: five to Chicago and three to Baltimore/Washington. Fifty employees were on hand for the first day of service Sunday.
CVG officials said Southwest is a game-changer for a lot of travelers.
"It opens up the Southwest network to all the Cincinnati passengers, where as they used to drive to Louisville, Lexington, Indy or Dayton to get lower fares," Director of Air Service Development Adam Kressler said.
Southwest travelers can bring two bags without paying an extra fee. They also have a reward program that the company says has no blackout dates or seat restrictions.
Kressler said there's a good chance the addition of Southwest will mean cheaper fares on other airlines out of CVG. On average, passengers are paying $178 dollars less than they were two years ago to fly out of the airport.
"Competition drives the ticket prices down, so we expect to see the ticket prices to decrease," he said.
WCPO's Ashley Zilka contributed to this report.
