As of Monday night, about 2,600 U.S. flights scheduled for Tuesday were canceled, including 60% percent of all Southwest flights.
As of Monday night, about 2,600 U.S. flights scheduled for Tuesday were canceled, including 60% percent of all Southwest flights.
A traveler in tears told WRAL News that she would miss her mother’s 90th birthday.
Another described being stranded for four days.
Those with reservations had to make the tough decision whether to wait it out – sometimes for hours – on the phone or online with customer service or to head to the airport in hopes of speaking to a human.
Kimberly Guidry said she was told she could not be re-booked for another week.
Rex Sladek said he was forced to spend an extra day in Texas and missed Christmas with his family. By Tuesday, he was back in Raleigh but his luggage was not.
“There were thousands of people stuck in the airports,” he said. “I couldn’t make any flights because they were all full for the next three days. My luggage is stuck someplace else. It’s just a whole mess.”
Travelers stymied by canceled flights turned to other airlines or rental cars and found frustration there as well.
Bob McEewen said, “Tickets were $2,200, $2,300 just to get to Atlanta one way. It’s just ridiculous.”
For the first time since the onslaught of cancelations began, Southwest CEO Bob Jordan released a statement. In a video released on Twitter, he explained what went wrong, apologized and described how the airline planned to correct the issues.
