Senators Slam Southwest, Demand Compensation For 'Ruined' Holidays

Sens. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) launched a joint assertion Tuesday slamming Southwest Airways for “failing” prospects and demanding compensation for many who had vacation plans “ruined” by the airline’s woes.

Citing the flight-tracking web site FlightAware, the AP reported that 2,900 Southwest flights have been canceled Monday. Mass cancellations left some passengers stranded and separated from their baggage for days, with some resorting to driving to their desired locations.

Passengers wait in line to test in for his or her flights at Southwest Airways service desk at LaGuardia Airport, Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, in New York.

through Related Press

Markey and Blumenthal, each members of the Senate Commerce Committee, referred to as for the corporate to “pretty” compensate passengers not only for issues like canceled flights, inns, meals and transportation but additionally for “disruption to their vacation plans.”

“As a substitute of a vacation spent celebrating with household and associates, passengers are sleeping in airports or desperately making an attempt to achieve customer support brokers,” the senators mentioned. “For these vacationers whose holidays have been ruined, there isn't a possible way for Southwest to make this proper.”

The senators argued a nationwide extreme winter storm shouldn't function a purpose for Southwest to not repay passengers.

“The historic storm was an act of nature, however customers deserve main cures for acts of large mismanagement — air journey malpractice,” Blumenthal mentioned in a tweet accompanying the assertion.

Vacationers wait for his or her baggage at Delta baggage declare Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, at Salt Lake Metropolis Worldwide Airport, in Salt Lake Metropolis. Many airways have been pressured to cancel flights as a result of climate, however Southwest was by far probably the most affected.

through Related Press

Southwest CEO Bob Jordan advised the Wall Avenue Journal Monday the mass cancellation scenario is “the largest-scale occasion that I’ve ever seen.” The WSJ reported Southwest’s crew-scheduling system was partly responsible for the problems, noting it was overwhelmed by modifications attributable to the widespread extreme climate.

U.S. Division of Transportation tweeted Monday it was “involved by Southwest’s unacceptable charge of cancellations and delays & studies of lack of immediate customer support,” and mentioned it could look into the scenario. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg additionally tweeted that he’s monitoring the scenario.