'From what I can tell, Southwest is unable to locate even where their own crews are, let alone their own passengers, let alone baggage,' US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said.
Southwest has canceled more than 15,700 flights since winter weather began disrupting air travel on December 22Relief is still a few days away for passengers booked with Southwest Airlines this week, as the beleaguered airline continues to grapple with what US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has referred to as a complete meltdown of the system.
Southwest plans to fly a reduced schedule over the next few days to reposition crew and planes, airline CEO Bob Jordan said in a video released by the airline late Tuesday. "We're optimistic to be back on track before next week," Jordan said. Passenger Trisha Jones told CNN at the airport in Atlanta that she and her partner had been traveling for five days, trying to get home to Wichita, Kansas, after disembarking from a cruise at Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The secretary said he told CEO Jordan that he expects Southwest to proactively offer refunds and expense reimbursement to affected passengers without them having to ask. He said with large numbers of airplanes and flight crews "out of position" in dozens of cities, the airline decided to "significantly reduce our flying to catch up."
"Travelers in the thick of this should be sure to save all their receipts: other flights, a rental car, nights at the hotel, meals, anything," Potter said.
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