Softpayman

What’s going on in Den? No rampers? Is this still going on? Saw a memo posted from management threatening termination for those not staying for extra shifts or not coming in with a Dr’s note (no telemedicine.)

Otterbox

Southwest Airlines ruined Christmas… because management is too cheap to pay their staff appropriately.

WHACKMASTER

What a complete disaster. This airline cannot continue down this path and expect to survive. Talk about gross mismanagement!

spottedcow

Getting to experience it from a pax perspective this year as my wife and I bought tickets to avoid the non-rev nightmare. First flight on the 23rd to go spend Christmas with my parents in 2 years canceled 12 hours ahead of departure, I was auto-rebooked on a flight departing on the 26th.

I did my own frantic rebooking at 0500 because even on the 23rd the Southwest customer service lines were starting to melt down, busy signals, dropped calls, etc. managed to find a nonstop on Christmas Eve, landing at 2300 local, but hey at least I get there.

Arrive to the airport yesterday to check in and find the flight cancelled on the board, still showing on time on the Southwest app. Check in line at a standstill, hundreds of people, maybe 2 total agents working the counter.

App finally shows it as cancelled about 30 minutes later. Tells me to re-book but won’t allow me to do anything, just throws an error code. We said “f it” and drove home. Finally got text notification that my flight had been cancelled 2 hours after scheduled departure, 4 hours after the flight had actually cancelled. Notification included the helpful “rebook on the app!” which still does not work.

Helpfully I cannot get a refund to my credit card without talking to an agent (of which there are none). Currently just letting this ride as I can float the expense, but I can imagine the frustration for a family that spent $2-4k on round trip tickets, hotels, rental cars, etc. now being stuck somewhere on the road with expenses they can’t really absorb.

At this point I’m going on 48 hours since my first flight was cancelled. I’ve received a total of two texts from southwest and I’ve talked to exactly zero human beings. If I wasn’t in the industry I would be completely lost.

The other company I had to deal with as a result of this was Hertz…a rental car company that went bankrupt 2 years ago. Incredibly fast resolution through the chat function in their app. Immediate refund, even threw enough points at me for a free day of rental. Walked away from that experience going “yeah, I’ll be back.”

BoJo

I have worked here for 18 years and I have never seen a level of ineptitude as this. 1300 cancellations Friday, 1307 cancellations yesterday , 480 so far today on Christmas. It’s not just DEN ops who threatened to FIRE all the ramp if they didn’t come to work. That letter has been posted elsewhere. SAD way to end the year at Southwest but I don’t see any changes coming any time soon. I bet Bob Jordon will his the news and BLAME Jacksonville ATC like last time.

hoover

You have two weeks from the date of the flight to ask for a refund. Gotta call.

I was in the same boat this summer with a cancelled flight that I had tickets for. Exact same scenario and it wasnt even a complete melt down. Couldnt get me out till after I was supposed to fly back. Bought tickets on United and went on vacation.
I cant reccomend anyone buy tickets on SW anymore.

trip

Ditto, bought tickets on United. Wife was practically in tears over the young families camped out in the terminal quickly running out of necessary items and food, without means to plunk down another round of airfare to get out. She actually called the redcross to see if anything could be done to help these families.
I hate seeing good operations melt down, triple time for everyone until operations are restored. Money can solve a lot of problems, quickly.

WHACKMASTER

There needs to be some serious heads rolling for this meltdown. I’ve never seen anything like it in 24 years and four airlines. Severe mismanagement is the only way to put it.

Smooth at FL450

Severe mismanagement resulting in a loss of operational control.

Mozam

That’s your opinion, keep it to yourself. Mgt much rather use Flogging and threaten to terminate vs paying a little extra and throw in some nice winter gifts .


By the way they are asking for your help if you could pick up a trip . All hands on the deck please .