Southwest Airlines in a nationwide meltdown

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you travel often enough, you learn that when they are cancellations you need to pivot and pivot quickly before your best options disappear. People are wasting too much time Hoping for a convenient nonstop flight home. Move on from that dream.

This!

Oh but dahling…that only leaves you exposed to more cancellations, over booked flights, time outs.

The best option is to get on the app and rebook as soon as you know you’re going to miss your connection.

I’m stuck in Dallas and I’m jumping from one flight to the next. You can only get on one standby at a time.

Did you know Einstein Bagels are not good when they’re stale?

I would just rebook for several days into the future and go chill at a hotel. How long do you plan to torture yourself at the airport?

How lovely that you can are willing to spend a few days in a filthy dump of an airport hotel.

Some people are not lazy and have a life.

Some people are flexible under suboptimal conditions and are not spoiled princesses like you are.

When I was 25 and single I could be “flexible.”

Now? With a toddler and pregnant wife who can’t stand for long periods of time, my life is different and a lot less flexible.

Older individuals and those with disabilities have limited “flexibility.” Lower income people who rarely fly to see beloved family members can’t afford to be “flexible” when they get stranded by an airline.

Southwest has a serious responsibility: to honor their promises and to do so safely. They failed and there should be consequences, the first of which should be the replacement of the executive team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you travel often enough, you learn that when they are cancellations you need to pivot and pivot quickly before your best options disappear. People are wasting too much time Hoping for a convenient nonstop flight home. Move on from that dream.

This!

Oh but dahling…that only leaves you exposed to more cancellations, over booked flights, time outs.

The best option is to get on the app and rebook as soon as you know you’re going to miss your connection.

I’m stuck in Dallas and I’m jumping from one flight to the next. You can only get on one standby at a time.

Did you know Einstein Bagels are not good when they’re stale?

I would just rebook for several days into the future and go chill at a hotel. How long do you plan to torture yourself at the airport?

How lovely that you can are willing to spend a few days in a filthy dump of an airport hotel.

Some people are not lazy and have a life.

Some people are flexible under suboptimal conditions and are not spoiled princesses like you are.

When I was 25 and single I could be “flexible.”

Now? With a toddler and pregnant wife who can’t stand for long periods of time, my life is different and a lot less flexible.

Older individuals and those with disabilities have limited “flexibility.” Lower income people who rarely fly to see beloved family members can’t afford to be “flexible” when they get stranded by an airline.

Southwest has a serious responsibility: to honor their promises and to do so safely. They failed and there should be consequences, the first of which should be the replacement of the executive team.

What promise did they make? Pretty much every airline has disclaimer about anything related to on time arrivals and departure (outside of what FAA mandates in certain situations).

I understand that low income people don’t have the flexibility when something like this happens. But part of budgeting for travel, especially flying is having an emergency fund or a reliable way to access funds in an emergency.

And again, the storm was not a surprise unless you were literally living under a rock.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of these posts are just so classic DCUM. It's YOUR fault you are suffering and stranded in an airport due to an unprecedented confluence of circumstances during one of the busiest times of the year. You totally should have planned better.

And if you had the nerve to travel to see family at Christmas without an extra $5000 (again, at Christmas) to easily dump on backup travel arrangements, well, that’s what you get for thinking you had any right to travel on a budget!

Ha! I’m actually surprised no one has posted this as serious feedback. Especially the energetics who will stay at the airport no matter how long they have to wait for another flight.

Someone did. It was a few pages back as an “unpopular opinion”.

And they’re correct.

+1. Air travel is not for low income people, and this is why. Obviously this is large scale, but things like this happens on a smaller scale in air travel all the time. If you can’t afford a few extra days meals and hotels, you are definitely cutting things too close to be flying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you travel often enough, you learn that when they are cancellations you need to pivot and pivot quickly before your best options disappear. People are wasting too much time Hoping for a convenient nonstop flight home. Move on from that dream.

This!

Oh but dahling…that only leaves you exposed to more cancellations, over booked flights, time outs.

The best option is to get on the app and rebook as soon as you know you’re going to miss your connection.

I’m stuck in Dallas and I’m jumping from one flight to the next. You can only get on one standby at a time.

Did you know Einstein Bagels are not good when they’re stale?

I would just rebook for several days into the future and go chill at a hotel. How long do you plan to torture yourself at the airport?

Who is this obtuse poster?!

The storm was days and says ago. SW is the only airline still canceling flights- half if not more. Stop claiming the freaking weather

How lovely that you can are willing to spend a few days in a filthy dump of an airport hotel.

Some people are not lazy and have a life.

Some people are flexible under suboptimal conditions and are not spoiled princesses like you are.

When I was 25 and single I could be “flexible.”

Now? With a toddler and pregnant wife who can’t stand for long periods of time, my life is different and a lot less flexible.

Older individuals and those with disabilities have limited “flexibility.” Lower income people who rarely fly to see beloved family members can’t afford to be “flexible” when they get stranded by an airline.

Southwest has a serious responsibility: to honor their promises and to do so safely. They failed and there should be consequences, the first of which should be the replacement of the executive team.

What promise did they make? Pretty much every airline has disclaimer about anything related to on time arrivals and departure (outside of what FAA mandates in certain situations).

I understand that low income people don’t have the flexibility when something like this happens. But part of budgeting for travel, especially flying is having an emergency fund or a reliable way to access funds in an emergency.

And again, the storm was not a surprise unless you were literally living under a rock.

[Anonymous]

Worse is the people who undertook a new trip starting the 24th or later, when this was already a known big problem. I don’t feel sorry for them.

[Anonymous]

What is with the posts basically blaming travelers for not planning to budget an extra 5+ days of vacation time and money?

Southwest's issues have gone far past the storm and far past any other airline.

I was stranded in CR for a day because of delays and the storm--ONE day. Not several.

I made contingency plans before we left for our pets etc, but I would not have been able to afford or manage days on end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Worse is the people who undertook a new trip starting the 24th or later, when this was already a known big problem. I don’t feel sorry for them.

By the 24th, most airlines had their mess cleaned up. If you were flying out of Chicago, new York, or other snowbound cities...yeah. You weren't getting anywhere since the airports were basically closed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Worse is the people who undertook a new trip starting the 24th or later, when this was already a known big problem. I don’t feel sorry for them.

By the 24th, most airlines had their mess cleaned up. If you were flying out of Chicago, new York, or other snowbound cities...yeah. You weren't getting anywhere since the airports were basically closed.

PP here. We flew home on the 24th. Southwest had already been in the news for days at that point and we were very nervous about our flight being cancelled. When we got to the airport 2/3 of the departure board was cancelled or delayed. Our flight thankfully took off but we were going home. No way I would have undertaken a new trip at that point. When we arrived at DCA, the line to check bags was all the ways outside and delays were rampant. As we walked out I heard them announce a flight cancellation and tell those people to just go home. It was foolish to embark on a new trip at that point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Worse is the people who undertook a new trip starting the 24th or later, when this was already a known big problem. I don’t feel sorry for them.

By the 24th, most airlines had their mess cleaned up. If you were flying out of Chicago, new York, or other snowbound cities...yeah. You weren't getting anywhere since the airports were basically closed.

PP here. We flew home on the 24th. Southwest had already been in the news for days at that point and we were very nervous about our flight being cancelled. When we got to the airport 2/3 of the departure board was cancelled or delayed. Our flight thankfully took off but we were going home. No way I would have undertaken a new trip at that point. When we arrived at DCA, the line to check bags was all the ways outside and delays were rampant. As we walked out I heard them announce a flight cancellation and tell those people to just go home. It was foolish to embark on a new trip at that point.

I also flew home on the 24th and into DCA, and maybe it was because it was later, but I did not see those delays at all. But also, the 24th is a very busy travel day under normal circumstances.

Also, SW was a problem, yes. But other airlines were mostly fine. Air Canada an exception. Why would you not try to leave on the 24th on another airline if you are going to be gone several days after all this clears up.

At any rate, this is just shifting the issue--SW is effing p royally, not travelers who are stranded in Mexico or wherever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you travel often enough, you learn that when they are cancellations you need to pivot and pivot quickly before your best options disappear. People are wasting too much time Hoping for a convenient nonstop flight home. Move on from that dream.

This!

Oh but dahling…that only leaves you exposed to more cancellations, over booked flights, time outs.

The best option is to get on the app and rebook as soon as you know you’re going to miss your connection.

I’m stuck in Dallas and I’m jumping from one flight to the next. You can only get on one standby at a time.

Did you know Einstein Bagels are not good when they’re stale?

I would just rebook for several days into the future and go chill at a hotel. How long do you plan to torture yourself at the airport?

How lovely that you can are willing to spend a few days in a filthy dump of an airport hotel.

Some people are not lazy and have a life.

Some people are flexible under suboptimal conditions and are not spoiled princesses like you are.

When I was 25 and single I could be “flexible.”

Now? With a toddler and pregnant wife who can’t stand for long periods of time, my life is different and a lot less flexible.

Older individuals and those with disabilities have limited “flexibility.” Lower income people who rarely fly to see beloved family members can’t afford to be “flexible” when they get stranded by an airline.

Southwest has a serious responsibility: to honor their promises and to do so safely. They failed and there should be consequences, the first of which should be the replacement of the executive team.

Me too. So when i was no longer 25 and had babies I stopped traveling at the holidays. If people wanted to see is they came to is because they coild be flexible with the inevitable delays that happen. You learned the hard way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Worse is the people who undertook a new trip starting the 24th or later, when this was already a known big problem. I don’t feel sorry for them.

By the 24th, most airlines had their mess cleaned up. If you were flying out of Chicago, new York, or other snowbound cities...yeah. You weren't getting anywhere since the airports were basically closed.

Do you have airline industry works do you really think they have an individual plane at each departure city for every flight

And both of those cities or major hubs for a couple airlines.

[Anonymous]

SW had a smaller meltdown over a year ago (Oct 2021). Weather delay, but then it took days to recover. Not sure where the issues are but SW needs to address them. Usually they are fine and they are the only airline flying direct to the cities where we usually travel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Worse is the people who undertook a new trip starting the 24th or later, when this was already a known big problem. I don’t feel sorry for them.

By the 24th, most airlines had their mess cleaned up. If you were flying out of Chicago, new York, or other snowbound cities...yeah. You weren't getting anywhere since the airports were basically closed.

PP here. We flew home on the 24th. Southwest had already been in the news for days at that point and we were very nervous about our flight being cancelled. When we got to the airport 2/3 of the departure board was cancelled or delayed. Our flight thankfully took off but we were going home. No way I would have undertaken a new trip at that point. When we arrived at DCA, the line to check bags was all the ways outside and delays were rampant. As we walked out I heard them announce a flight cancellation and tell those people to just go home. It was foolish to embark on a new trip at that point.

I also flew home on the 24th and into DCA, and maybe it was because it was later, but I did not see those delays at all. But also, the 24th is a very busy travel day under normal circumstances.

Also, SW was a problem, yes. But other airlines were mostly fine. Air Canada an exception. Why would you not try to leave on the 24th on another airline if you are going to be gone several days after all this clears up.

At any rate, this is just shifting the issue--SW is effing p royally, not travelers who are stranded in Mexico or wherever.

Yes, I probably would have flown another airline, but not SW at that point. I still can’t believe we and our bags made it home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you travel often enough, you learn that when they are cancellations you need to pivot and pivot quickly before your best options disappear. People are wasting too much time Hoping for a convenient nonstop flight home. Move on from that dream.

This!

Oh but dahling…that only leaves you exposed to more cancellations, over booked flights, time outs.

The best option is to get on the app and rebook as soon as you know you’re going to miss your connection.

I’m stuck in Dallas and I’m jumping from one flight to the next. You can only get on one standby at a time.

Did you know Einstein Bagels are not good when they’re stale?

I would just rebook for several days into the future and go chill at a hotel. How long do you plan to torture yourself at the airport?

How lovely that you can are willing to spend a few days in a filthy dump of an airport hotel.

Some people are not lazy and have a life.

Some people are flexible under suboptimal conditions and are not spoiled princesses like you are.

When I was 25 and single I could be “flexible.”

Now? With a toddler and pregnant wife who can’t stand for long periods of time, my life is different and a lot less flexible.

Older individuals and those with disabilities have limited “flexibility.” Lower income people who rarely fly to see beloved family members can’t afford to be “flexible” when they get stranded by an airline.

Southwest has a serious responsibility: to honor their promises and to do so safely. They failed and there should be consequences, the first of which should be the replacement of the executive team.

Me too. So when i was no longer 25 and had babies I stopped traveling at the holidays. If people wanted to see is they came to is because they coild be flexible with the inevitable delays that happen. You learned the hard way.

You really think what is happening with Southwest is inevitable and expected? Maybe insomuch as pilots and employees have seen this coming, but it is not normal AT ALL. The DoT is going to investigate, nompother airline has 5 days of delays.

Why on earth are people here blaming travelers for SW's systemic, internal failures?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Worse is the people who undertook a new trip starting the 24th or later, when this was already a known big problem. I don’t feel sorry for them.

By the 24th, most airlines had their mess cleaned up. If you were flying out of Chicago, new York, or other snowbound cities...yeah. You weren't getting anywhere since the airports were basically closed.

PP here. We flew home on the 24th. Southwest had already been in the news for days at that point and we were very nervous about our flight being cancelled. When we got to the airport 2/3 of the departure board was cancelled or delayed. Our flight thankfully took off but we were going home. No way I would have undertaken a new trip at that point. When we arrived at DCA, the line to check bags was all the ways outside and delays were rampant. As we walked out I heard them announce a flight cancellation and tell those people to just go home. It was foolish to embark on a new trip at that point.

I also flew home on the 24th and into DCA, and maybe it was because it was later, but I did not see those delays at all. But also, the 24th is a very busy travel day under normal circumstances.

Also, SW was a problem, yes. But other airlines were mostly fine. Air Canada an exception. Why would you not try to leave on the 24th on another airline if you are going to be gone several days after all this clears up.

At any rate, this is just shifting the issue--SW is effing p royally, not travelers who are stranded in Mexico or wherever.

Huh? We flew that day and it was a mess. Our flight was cancelled and it took 6 hours to rebook. My cousin’s flight yesterday was cancelled and she ended up completely canceling her trip to see family. Neither were SW.

Go look at flight aware. There have been MANY delays, even after Xmas.

Southwest’s system breakdown was even worse, but flights were a mess even before that.