In this photo provided by Nintendo of America, passengers arriving at Los Angeles International Airport are greeted by Mario as they disembark their Southwest Airlines flight from Dallas Love Field on Wednesday, Dec. 14. Pictured, from left to right, are Marley H. of Fort Worth, Texas, and Morgan H. of Fort Worth, Texas. In the air, passengers received New Nintendo 3DS XL systems and a voucher to download Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS from Nintendo eShop. From Dec. 16, 2016 through Jan. 14, 2017, everyone can get in on the fun and enter the Say Yes to Nintendo 3DS sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip to NYC and Nintendo prize packages. (Photo: Business Wire)

In this photo provided by Nintendo of America, Nintendo surprises passengers on a Southwest Airlines flight from Dallas Love Field to Los Angeles International Airport on Wednesday, Dec. 14. In the air, actress and YouTube celebrity iJustine and Morgan H. and Marley H. of Fort Worth, Texas, play Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS. Passengers received New Nintendo 3DS XL systems and a voucher to download Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS from Nintendo eShop. From Dec. 16, 2016 through Jan. 14, 2017, everyone can get in on the fun and enter the Say Yes to Nintendo 3DS sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip to NYC and Nintendo prize packages. (Photo: Business Wire)

In this photo provided by Nintendo of America, Nintendo surprises passengers on a Southwest Airlines flight from Dallas Love Field to Los Angeles International Airport on Wednesday, Dec. 14. In the air, actress and YouTube celebrity iJustine gifted passengers with a New Nintendo 3DS XL system and a voucher to download Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS from Nintendo eShop. From Dec. 16, 2016 through Jan. 14, 2017, everyone can get in on the fun and enter the Say Yes to Nintendo 3DS sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip to NYC with air travel from Southwest and Nintendo prize packages. (Photo: Business Wire)

In this photo provided by Nintendo of America, Nintendo surprises passengers on a Southwest Airlines flight from Dallas Love Field to Los Angeles International Airport on Wednesday, Dec. 14. In the air, actress and YouTube celebrity iJustine helped passengers play and create Super Mario levels using Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS. Passengers received a New Nintendo 3DS XL system and a voucher to download Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS from Nintendo eShop. From Dec. 16, 2016 through Jan. 14, 2017, everyone can get in on the fun and enter the Say Yes to Nintendo 3DS sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip to NYC and Nintendo prize packages. (Photo: Business Wire)

In this photo provided by Nintendo of America, Nintendo surprises passengers on a Southwest Airlines flight from Dallas Love Field to Los Angeles International Airport on Wednesday, Dec. 14. In the air, actress and YouTube celebrity iJustine helped passengers play and create Super Mario levels using Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS. Passengers received a New Nintendo 3DS XL system and a voucher to download Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS from Nintendo eShop. From Dec. 16, 2016 through Jan. 14, 2017, everyone can get in on the fun and enter the Say Yes to Nintendo 3DS sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip to NYC and Nintendo prize packages. (Photo: Business Wire)

REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--It began as just another typical flight, but minutes after takeoff, the passengers on Southwest® flight #2482 on Wednesday, Dec. 14, found themselves immersed in the world of Mario. As they cruised past 10,000 feet in the air, the voice of Nintendo’s iconic Mario announced a big early-holiday surprise for all the passengers. Quickly all were presented with a free New Nintendo 3DS XL system to take home, along with a voucher to download the recently launched Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS game for free from Nintendo eShop.

Nintendo reps helped the passengers play and create side-scrolling 2D Mario courses on the portable system, which make great travel companions during the busy holiday travel season. Among those lucky passengers offering in-flight game tips was iJustine, a Nintendo fan and YouTube celebrity whose followers measure in the millions. And once the flight landed in Los Angeles, Mario himself was waiting to welcome them at the gate.

“With Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS, everyone can enjoy a nearly limitless supply of side-scrolling 2D Mario courses anytime, anywhere,” said Doug Bowser, Nintendo of America’s Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “You’re not only playing a game – you’re helping design it. Nintendo 3DS owners are getting to experience Mario play in an entirely new way.”

“At Southwest, we’re passionate about making connections and taking part in some of the most important moments in our customers’ lives,” says Linda Rutherford, Vice President, Chief Communication Officer for Southwest Airlines. “Bringing this fun Nintendo activation onboard our flight is a great way to kick off the season of giving and celebrate those moments with friends and family.”

Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS features 100 built-in courses, and also allows entry to recommended courses from the Super Mario Maker game on the Wii U console. In addition, courses designed on Nintendo 3DS can be shared with other players via the system’s StreetPass feature and local wireless. Nintendo 3DS systems provide a fun escape for travelers on the go – adults and kids can play games to stay entertained during long flights or layovers. The systems are always ready to go anywhere travelers want to go.

The flight was the first leg of a Say Yes to Nintendo 3DS promotion with Southwest Airlines that runs from Dec. 16 through Jan. 14, and is open to U.S. residents who are at least 14 years old. Just in time for the holidays, prizes will include Nintendo 3DS hardware and games. While dozens of entrants will receive prizes, one lucky Grand Prize winner will be awarded a trip to New York for up to four people, roundtrip air travel on Southwest for four, a four-night hotel stay, plus a personal shopping spree at the Nintendo NY store.

To enter the sweepstakes, visit http://www.sayyessweepstakes.com during the promotion period and follow the links and instructions to submit the registration form*.

Remember that Nintendo 3DS features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. Nintendo 3DS players who register a Nintendo Network ID (NNID) get access to free-to-start games, including Pokémon games; the ability to download and play variety of free game demos from Nintendo eShop; and exclusive offers and the latest news directly from Nintendo. For more information about other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/3ds.

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. OPEN TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE 48 CONTIGUOUS UNITED STATES AND DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (EXCLUDING FL, NY AND RI) AGE 19 YEARS OR OLDER. Void in AK, FL, HI, NY, PR, RI and where prohibited. Sweepstakes ends 1/15/17. For Official Rules, prize descriptions and odds disclosure, visit www.sayyessweepstakes.com. Sponsor: Southwest Airlines Co., 2702 Love Field Drive, Dallas, TX 75235.

About Nintendo: The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii U™ and Wii™ home consoles, and Nintendo 3DS™ and Nintendo DS™ families of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System™, Nintendo has sold more than 4.4 billion video games and more than 696 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii U, Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo 3DS XL, as well as the Game Boy™, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi™ and Nintendo DSi XL™, Super NES™, Nintendo 64™, Nintendo GameCube™ and Wii systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as Mario™, Donkey Kong™, Metroid™, Zelda™ and Pokémon™. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo’s operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company’s website at http://www.nintendo.com.

Note to editors: Nintendo press materials are available at http://press.nintendo.com, a password-protected site. To obtain a login, please register on the site.

ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.

In its 46th year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other air carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by more than 53,000 Employees to more than 100 million Customers annually. Southwest operates more than 3,900 departures a day during peak travel season across a network of 99 destinations in the United States and eight additional countries with additional Cuba service to Havana, Cuba, beginning Dec. 12, 2016, and Santa Clara beginning Dec. 15, 2016.

Based on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s most recent data, Southwest Airlines is the nation's largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded. The Company operates the largest fleet of Boeing aircraft in the world, the majority of which are equipped with satellite-based WiFi providing gate-to-gate connectivity. That connectivity enables Customers to use their personal devices to view video on-demand movies and television shows, as well as nearly 20 channels of free, live TV compliments of our valued Partners. Southwest created Transfarency®, a philosophy which treats Customers honestly and fairly, and in which low fares actually stay low. Southwest is the only major U.S. airline to offer bags fly free® to everyone (first and second checked pieces of luggage, size and weight limits apply, some airlines may allow free checked bags on select routes or for qualified circumstances), and there are no change fees, though fare differences might apply. The airline proudly unveiled a bold new look: Heart. A new logo, aircraft livery, interior design featuring a new seat and Flight Attendant galley, Employee-designed uniforms, and an updated airport experience all showcase the dedication of Southwest Employees who connect Customers with what’s important in their lives.