![]() Southwest’s meltdown reached the Oval Office, with President Biden writing on Twitter that airlines would be held responsible and directing aggrieved travelers to the Department of Transportation’s website to determine whether they’re entitled to compensation. Markey (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), members of the Senate Commerce Committee, said Southwest should not be able to claim flight cancellations were caused by recent winter storms, which would allow the airline to avoid reimbursing travelers.Ĭompensation should include not only rebooked flights, refunds, hotel rooms, meals and transportation, but also “significant monetary compensation for the disruption to their holiday plans,” the two senators said in a statement. “While we all understand that you can’t control the weather, this has clearly crossed the line from what’s an uncontrollable weather situation to something that is the airline’s direct responsibility,” he told reporters. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said weather was not the only factor that led to the Southwest Airlines meltdown. We recognize falling short and sincerely apologize.”īut U.S. Southwest Airlines blamed a catastrophic winter storm that swept across the northern half of the country over the holiday weekend for the cancellations, adding in a statement that “our heartfelt apologies for this are just beginning. “It isn’t ideal,” said Roger Truesdale, 77, “but we have to get back home and hopefully we’ll find a good substitute.” They were looking at other air carriers, they said, noting that renting a car or taking a bus wasn’t an option. John Wayne Airport in Orange County had 51 outbound Southwest flights canceled and seven delayed Tuesday morning, while San Diego saw some of the biggest disruptions, with 89 departing Southwest flights canceled and 28 delayed, according to FlightAware.ĭespite paying $60 for an early check-in, Roger and Jane Truesdale were among the hundreds of passengers at Burbank on Tuesday whose flights were canceled and were told the earliest they could fly out was Saturday.īut the Estes Park, Colo., couple, in town to visit their son for the holidays, did not pack enough medicine to last through the week. “I’m in flip-flops.”Įlsewhere in Southern California, 18 outbound Southwest flights - or two-thirds of its services - were canceled at Hollywood Burbank Airport on Tuesday, according to the mobile flight tracker Flightview. I’m in California,” said Robinson, whose relative suggested they drive to Denver. with his family to watch the Denver Broncos play the Rams at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on Christmas Day, managed to snag a flight home on Thursday, but it is getting jostled by cancellations and other delays. If your travel was impacted, explore self-service options here: /mLWndYMned- Southwest Airlines December 28, 2022Īndy Robinson waited in line at the Southwest terminal for a hotel voucher after his flight home to Denver was canceled. We know this is unacceptable & sincerely apologize. ![]() ![]() On the heels of wide-scale disruptions, we're working diligently to Safely recover our operation & accommodate displaced Customers & Crews. ![]()
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