Southwest Airlines pilot: 'Worst disruption in 16 years'

The U.S. Department of Transportation said it will look into flight cancellations by Southwest Airlines that have left travelers stranded at airports across the country amid an intense winter storm that has killed dozens of people.

Many airlines were forced to cancel flights due to the weather, but Southwest was the most affected. About 4,000 domestic U.S. flights were canceled Monday, according to the tracking website FlightAware, and 2,900 of those were Southwest's. Nearly 2,500 more flights had already been canceled as of 5 a.m. Tuesday and problems are likely to continue at least into Wednesday.

[sabola]

A customer who is understanding towards a customer service employee's suffering and lack of power? This woman is a rare gem.

[deeanna]

The CEO's apology is BS. I can't believe he apologized "on behalf of everyone". It isn't "everyone's" fault. Crews are at airports with planes begging to fly, but the scheduling system won't allow them to. They warned of this issue for years. Customer service agents, who are bearing the brunt of the customers' understandable anger, didn't cause this.

[KN-koez]

It’s kinda difficult to claim weather when all the other airlines aren’t having weather-related cancellations.

[a.ghostwriter]

Spirit is no longer the industry laughing stock. Quite an accomplishment, Southwest.

[brendangalios]

This debacle has cost our family thousands to get on alternative flights from carriers who have this sh** together. Southwest owes us. They've lost an entire family of customers after this garbage.

[susanshew]

So where's the pilot's interview?

[Keliiyamashita]

She dropped climate change… holy shit she blamed this meltdown on climate change when the whole piece was about outdated software.

[ricobuttonpusher]

I flew frontier to and from Denver this Christmas with zero cancellations and delays. I count my lucky stars

[fineamerican]

Never once happened when Herb was in-charge

[bgood]

This is definitely a systems issue and it keeps happening. This happened to me in June 2021 and April of this and now this. They've lost me as a customer and will go bankrupt if they continue to have these issues every time there's a storm

[SPEAKEASYAZ]

There computer system is out dated, they need to spend the money and get the update at once instead of holding their billions in profits., shame on swa.

[pamelawing]

I have been a loyal Southwest flyer for years, I can't even count them all. For almost all my domestic flights I never considered another airline.

In the last few years there have been changes that IMHO have not been in the interest of Southwest's customers (even as the airline says that they are improving customer experience), and this is a culmination.

There have been system failures too many times in the last couple of years and I think Southwest would do well to think a little bit less about their stock holders and executive compensation and more about the people that make them the money they so crave and that would be their employees and their customers. They WERE the best at one time and again, spend your money on your business. I don't trust Southwest anymore.

[johnleget]

Climate Change my ass, it’s poor management. Why does the media tend to bring up climate change when all the other airline managed this storm.

I’m so over poor reporting.

I truly wish the passengers and airline crews get home soon.

[Daren-kglz]

I haven't flown since 1997! I have ZERO desire to ever fly again! I love to take the train! Even with delays, Amtrak treats you so very well! I have taken the train across the USA many times! So much more relaxing !

[obiwan]

Give it a week. Disruptions will abate, and Southwest will still be the reason ordinary Americans can fly at a reasonable price.

[fueymanchoo]

SouthWest should hire that kid that got kicked off twitter. He seems to know where the planes are.

[elysiyah]

This isn't a "one off" SWA literally had thousands of people stranded from delayed and cancelled flights last summer (2021) 🙄😒

[e.rivera]

""The best people renounce all for one goal, the eternal fame of mortals; but most people stuff themselves like cattle."" RESPECT YOURSELF, DO NOT TRAVEL WITH THEM.

[norbertomontijo]

Had same issue w jet blue. Holiday family trip ruined and the worst week off for the kids school holiday with everything booked up everywhere. Couldn’t do anything. Unacceptable.

[stephenorona]

Climate change, where were you megan 1 million years ago.