It started with an ‘On-time Departure’ memo 24 hours before my flight back to Houston, Texas from Cleveland, Ohio.
I checked in, packed my bag, and prepared for my return flight.
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On the day of my scheduled travel, I noticed my Southwest Airlines app had begun making swift changes and updates to my itinerary.
In the blink of an eye, I saw the status of the flight go from on-time to delayed and eventually... CANCELED.
Last year, I, along with more than 2 million travelers, found ourselves in the middle of a massive meltdown within the Southwest Airlines system.
Each one of us left our cities of residence to embark upon some out-of-town holiday festivities.
When we departed, we had a return date but when we got to our destination, we were all, flat-out STUCK.
If I remember correctly, I had to stay in Cleveland for 12 extra days in total. (Cheers to more, unsolicited, family time😅)
The airline company stated that thanks to their out-of-date computer system, and severe weather across the country, they were forced to cancel more than a thousand flights in Dec. 2022.
Although many travelers were compensated in points that could be used towards flights, the airline company was still ordered to pay a $35 million fine as part of a $140 million settlement to resolve the federal investigation into the debacle.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said the settlement demonstrates his agency’s resolve to make airlines take care of their passengers.
“This penalty should put all airlines on notice to take every step possible to ensure that a meltdown like this never happens again,” he said.
Southwest said it was “grateful to have reached a consumer-friendly settlement” that gives the airline credit for compensation it already provided to customers. The airline said it has “learned from the event, and now can shift its entire focus to the future.”
So how confident are you flying Southwest after last year’s holiday meltdown? Share your answer with us below.
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