Southwest Airlines Cancels More Flights, Gay Couple Documents Journey Back to NYC

For a third straight day, Southwest Airlines canceled more flights stranding thousands of passengers during the holiday week. In fact, 2,507 flights were canceled for today (Wednesday) and 2,348 flights have already been canceled for Thursday. 

Part of the issue is that Southwest’s major hubs in Denver and Chicago were both in the direct path of the epic snowstorm. And in addition to canceled flights, around the country, there is a growing number of unclaimed luggage at airports despite Southwest CEO Bob Jordan’s apology for the travel nightmare that has grounded two-thirds of the airline’s planes. 

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg echoed the frustration of thousands of passengers telling NBC News, “This has clearly crossed the line from what is an uncontrollable weather situation to something that is the airline’s direct responsibility.”

Buttigieg said the DOT will determine if passengers are entitled to reimbursement for hotel and meal expenses while stranded. But the Southwest Pilots Union claims that it’s the airline’s antiquated employee scheduling system that is at the root of the cancellations and delays. 

“It is outdated processes from the 90s they can’t keep up with our network today,” said Captain Casey Murry, president of the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association.

If you’re flying out of Los Angeles, prepare for more travel inconveniences. Southwest has abruptly canceled all departing flights from LA until Dec. 3l, including departures from San Diego, according to the Los Angeles Blade. The airline’s website lists all departures out of LAX, Hollywood Burbank Airport, Ontario International Airport, and the John Wayne Airport as “unavailable” until New Year’s Eve. 

NBC News correspondent Steven Roma documented his 36-hour journey, with his husband and TV reporter Stephen Morgan, back to New York City from St. Louis, Missouri.

The newlyweds booked a United Airlines flight departing from Louisville, Kentucky, but the problem for them was trying to find a rental car. However, they managed to snag a car due to a glitch in the rental company’s system, allowing them to make their flight from Louisville to New York City.

So what do you do if you’re stranded? Travel experts are urging passengers to book on another airline as soon as possible if they can. Delta and American Airlines have stepped up to cap their airfare in the areas hit hardest by all of these cancellations. Passengers can also call one of Southwest’s international helplines but without those massive wait times, passengers may experience on the US helplines.