Funviralpark Denver International Airport staff said only about 1,000 passengers were stranded at the DIA as flights were canceled Monday night. passengers were stranded over the weekend.
But for many Southwestern passengers, things don’t seem to be getting much better.
“I’m very pissed off,” said Nate Krogel, a New York to Southwest customer. I did.”
Some passengers are facing so many flight cancellations and are considering driving across the country instead.
“My flight was canceled two days before Christmas,” said Quang Huynh of New Orleans.
On Tuesday afternoon, Huynh was trying to decide whether to take the rebooked flight Wednesday morning, hope it didn’t get cancelled, or rent a car and drive the 20 hours south.
Patrick Johnson of New York is also considering driving. He’s worried he won’t be able to attend his sister’s wedding in San Diego this Friday.
Meanwhile, he’s stranded in Denver, paying for hotels out of his own pocket, and Southwest continues to cancel flights he’s rebooked.
“We’ve been in this line for probably 12 hours over the last two days, and the best they can do is get them to rebook the canceled flights,” Johnson said. It cost us near the ground.It was very difficult.”
He feels the Southwest should be more transparent about the reasons behind all the delays.
“At first they said it was because of the weather, but now we hear about systems, different systems, or crews and pilots and everyone else,” Johnson said. “For all this reason, it’s kind of a different story.”
Even those who live in the Denver area aren’t doing so well.
“It was a nightmare,” said a local woman who wanted to give herself only her first name – Rocky. “I arrived yesterday morning at 7:30am and got home at 6pm last night. I was late 7 times and it was finally cancelled. Then I was in line for 5 hours waiting to be rescheduled.”
She says she’s never seen a mess this bad in the Southwest.
“It’s just crazy,” said Rocky. “I’ve been flying Southwest Airlines for a long time and have never had a problem, so this is really frustrating for me.”
She is going to Columbus, Ohio to see her first grandchild.
“They said my luggage would arrive in Columbus at 4 o’clock today.” There are no planes to take you.”
She also wonders what is really going on.
“They keep saying it’s because of the weather, but I don’t think it’s because of the weather. Too many flights to San Diego have been canceled,” Rocky said.
All of these passengers would like to receive a full refund for their canceled flights, but according to the U.S. Department of Transportation website, a law requiring airlines to refund passengers on canceled flights there is no.
The only exception is when a passenger is booked from an overbooked flight.
Meanwhile, the DOT is investigating all Southwest cancellations.
Airport staff say they are working with Southwest to ensure stranded passengers have access to snacks and water. They also say the airport shops are working long hours to help those who are stranded.
In a statement, an airline spokesperson said, “We will work hard to make things right for those we let down, including our employees.”
Kati Weiss
