[NoMo50]

Southwest Airlines has cancelled about 3,000 flights during the post-Christmas travel rush. This included a Thursday flight family members were on leaving out of Orlando. A check of the SWA website showed ZERO flights leaving Orlando until Saturday, December 31st. Of all airline cancellations, Southwest is accounting for nearly 75% of the total.

Calls to Southwest "customer service" number were met with either busy signals, or immediate disconnection. We could not even get the privilege of being placed on hold for hours. Fortunately, we were able to book our family members on an American Airlines flight before the inevitable price gouging kicked in. The same flight we booked our kids on 3 hours ago is now showing fares SIX TIMES what we booked for.

Southwest has made press comments with a wide variety of excuses for these mass cancellations. However, I have not seen "bad management" mentioned a single time by the airline. I feel bad for the thousands of travelers stuck around the country who are trying to get home. Southwest Airlines truly is the Grinch who stole Christmas.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by NoMo50

Southwest Airlines has cancelled about 3,000 flights during the post-Christmas travel rush. This included a Thursday flight family members were on leaving out of Orlando. A check of the SWA website showed ZERO flights leaving Orlando until Saturday, December 31st. Of all airline cancellations, Southwest is accounting for nearly 75% of the total.

Calls to Southwest "customer service" number were met with either busy signals, or immediate disconnection. We could not even get the privilege of being placed on hold for hours. Fortunately, we were able to book our family members on an American Airlines flight before the inevitable price gouging kicked in. The same flight we booked our kids on 3 hours ago is now showing fares SIX TIMES what we booked for.

Southwest has made press comments with a wide variety of excuses for these mass cancellations. However, I have not seen "bad management" mentioned a single time by the airline. I feel bad for the thousands of travelers stuck around the country who are trying to get home. Southwest Airlines truly is the Grinch who stole Christmas.

While management of communications is a big problem they need to fix, I have heard "reasons" rather than "excuses."

Logistics is a huge deal.

In order for planes to leave out of Orlando, there has to be planes IN Orlando. Those planes were coming from the north - where airports have been shut down. No planes = no flights out. Some planes went out of Orlando, but some were supposed to go to airports that were shut down due to the "climate change that doesn't exist" - not existing again in the north. So those planes couldn't leave Orlando.

You have planes NOT coming from shut-down airports, and planes NOT going to shut-down airports, and you have an entire airline that is blocked from travel.

[NoMo50]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

In order for planes to leave out of Orlando, there has to be planes IN Orlando. Those planes were coming from the north - where airports have been shut down. No planes = no flights out.

At some level, your logic might be sound. But...why is it only affecting Southwest? Flights were available from American, Delta, etc. They have planes coming from the north, as well. The Southwest website was, as of this morning, showing NO flights out of Orlando for the next FOUR days. ZERO flights. SWA seems to be the only airline affected to this extreme.

[Aces4]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

While management of communications is a big problem they need to fix, I have heard "reasons" rather than "excuses."

Logistics is a huge deal.

In order for planes to leave out of Orlando, there has to be planes IN Orlando. Those planes were coming from the north - where airports have been shut down. No planes = no flights out. Some planes went out of Orlando, but some were supposed to go to airports that were shut down due to the "climate change that doesn't exist" - not existing again in the north. So those planes couldn't leave Orlando.

You have planes NOT coming from shut-down airports, and planes NOT going to shut-down airports, and you have an entire airline that is blocked from travel.

Precisely. This was a mass storm in areas primarily served by Southwest and then you have John Q Public, who is well aware of the mess, going to the airports regardlessly and thinking their’s will be the flight that magically will happen. Air carriers offered to allow people to change their tickets to another time because of the severe weather for a reason. If you don’t live near family and are subject to possible blizzards around Christmas, common sense should tell you that some years your travel won’t happen. We love Southwest but do wish seats were assigned when booking.

[Battlebasset]

Don't fly around Thanksgiving or Christmas/New Years. If you can't drive it, tell the kids you will see them before/after. Turkey tastes the same regardless of the day.

[Babubhat]

At least they are reimbursing expenses. The hazard of holiday travel

[keepsake]

Last time I checked Southwest was the only airline to give its travelers two free pieces of luggage. Could this be their undoing.
When you use another airline you downsize to maybe take one checked (paid for) piece of luggage. Or shove stuff in a carry on.

It seems ironic the airlines that charge an arm and a leg for baggage, don’t have the luggage issue from all the weather delays?

[Whitley]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

While management of communications is a big problem they need to fix, I have heard "reasons" rather than "excuses."

Logistics is a huge deal.

In order for planes to leave out of Orlando, there has to be planes IN Orlando. Those planes were coming from the north - where airports have been shut down. No planes = no flights out. Some planes went out of Orlando, but some were supposed to go to airports that were shut down due to the "climate change that doesn't exist" - not existing again in the north. So those planes couldn't leave Orlando.

You have planes NOT coming from shut-down airports, and planes NOT going to shut-down airports, and you have an entire airline that is blocked from travel.

Does SW have a hub in Chicago? I had thought SW did not have a central hub, saying their system avoided a chain effect of cancellations when bad weather hit a hub.
Why was SW effected more than other carriers OR does SW account for 75% of flight leaving Orlando? Have have not done any statistical analysis, but if they made up 75% of flight cancellations from Orlando it would appear they have a flaw in their operations (assuming their % of cancelled flights does not coincide with their total % of departing flights.

[retiredguy123]

I would never fly on Southwest because they won't give me an assigned seat. I want an assigned seat, and once I sit down, I'm not moving, except to first class. I don't care who wants to sit next to someone else. So, there!

[tvbound]

We "Luv" Southwest, but I believe this is mostly a self-inflicted wound. Yes, the combinations of the horrible weather and that they don't operate a Hub/Spoke system (crews typically back to one location), are probably partly to blame. However, it's their antiquated reservation system that can't keep up with all of the currently spread out crews and planes - that is most likely the primary culprit.

I really hope they get their issues squared away soon, as I much prefer to use them when not going too far. On long flights however, nothing beats...sitting way up front. lol

[Caymus]

At least from the Northeast to Orlando, Southwest seems to operate magical medical flights. People board from wheelchairs but somehow, they are "healed" during the flight and are the first to run off on their own power. It couldn't have anything to do with jumping the boarding line, could it?

[Babubhat]

Airlines are at capacity. This shall pass regardless of emotions. And it will occur in the future.

Swa has bulk of Mco flights. Few alternatives

[retiredguy123]

I hate to say it, but I think the airlines have become too efficient at filling every seat. Maybe the Federal Government should require airlines to leave 10 percent of the seats empty to allow some flexibility for cancelled flights, etc. Also, I think all bags should be checked. No carry-on luggage in overhead bins.

[GpaVader]

I love flying SW. I get two checked bags for free, but you still get the idiots that have to try and carry on everything. I don't get a seat assignment, but I get to pick whatever open seat is there once I board. If you want to improve your odds of getting a better seat, pay a few dollars more for Early Bird. Most of the other carriers will only give you a middle seat unless you pay for a window or isle seat. I am also not nickeled and dimed to death for a carry on if I have one. Most carriers are charging $30 for your first checked bag, add that to the price of your ticket when comparing.

Actually, SW has a spoke and hub system. They are based out of Dallas, they have hubs all over the place in Phoenix, Chicago Midway, DC I think but they are all around the country. I only know this because of where I can get direct flights...

So while no airline is perfect, and they all show their Worts from time to time, they tend to have great people working the flights. That's just been my experience.

[Babubhat]

A list and the companion pass make them special