Disappointed with Southwest

[Corinne]

We have been flying with SW for years, and have been happy, their fares and customer service have always been great. Last Friday our flight to Orlando was delayed 3 hours. They kept changing the departure time. We were not the only flight affected. In fairness, I do believe it was weather related. However, this past Friday, we were scheduled to depart MCO @ 6:05. We arrived at the airport around 4:15 and saw on the board that the flight was delayed FOUR HOURS. The person at check in did not mention this to us, and when I asked at the gate what the issue was, I was told it was weather related. Then, another agent told my husband it was air traffic control issues in New York. Well, every other airline flying to or through New York had no delays. We have a friend who is a flight attendant for another airline and she told us about this~which I am certain is the real reason for the delays.http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/082609dnbussouthwest.3f36534.html

 

[DebbieB]

Wasn't there heavy rain on Friday along the east coast due to Tropical Storm/Hurricane Danny?

 

[Tozzie]

We have been flying with SW for years, and have been happy, their fares and customer service have always been great. Last Friday our flight to Orlando was delayed 3 hours. They kept changing the departure time. We were not the only flight affected. In fairness, I do believe it was weather related. However, this past Friday, we were scheduled to depart MCO @ 6:05. We arrived at the airport around 4:15 and saw on the board that the flight was delayed FOUR HOURS. The person at check in did not mention this to us, and when I asked at the gate what the issue was, I was told it was weather related. Then, another agent told my husband it was air traffic control issues in New York. Well, every other airline flying to or through New York had no delays. We have a friend who is a flight attendant for another airline and she told us about this~which I am certain is the real reason for the delays.http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/082609dnbussouthwest.3f36534.html

There were heavy rain storms here in NY on Friday. The issue was probably weather related. Now why were other airlines flying through NY and your couldn't well probably because the plane you were supposed to take, not the flight but the plane that was flying in to take you home was stuck somewhere and it was delayed they can't just roll out another plane. 2 weeks ago my flight was delayayed by 2:30 minutes, Delta however did notify me 6 hours in advance, when I got to the airport there were many flights that were headed to NY that were on time or close to on time, there were however horrible storms in NY that day and while there were flights comming and going the plane we were taking was delayed by weather. Delta notified me first when the delay was 1 hour and then again when it went to 2 hours. I was taking DME and couldn't change my time, well maybe I could have but I remember reading an experienced traveler posting that their delayed flight returned to a normal departure time and in that event I wanted to be at the airport, at least I was prepared to wait.

 

[tjmw2727]

Before you jump ship - the entire north east was feeling the affects of hurricane Danny on Friday - we had serious lightning and crazy hail here in DE.

Give them a chance, we once had a long delay on a flight out of Philly, finally left and had a great vacation. I sort of forgot about the dealy until we received an unsolicited note of apology and vouchers from SWA. Not necessary, weather happens but very nice!!

Glad you made it home safely and had a nice trip.

TJ

 

[2infinityandbeyond]

I'm not sure what SWA could have done about the weather.

 

[kaytieeldr]

A couple of years ago, I was trying to get from Boston to Las Vegas between two December snowstorms. The day I left was gorgeous. Planes were flying in and out of Logan, no problem. EXCEPT, at least with JetBlue, planes coming from New York or Philadelphia were delayed several hours because the departure airports were so backed up from the day before - something like six hours at some points.

Point? Even if the weather's great where you are, or where you're going, it doesn't mean there's no delay at the airport FROM which your plane is coming.

 

[Corinne]

I do not believe it was weather related, SW was forced to ground NUMEROUS planes for FAA violations, and this impacted their ability to maintain their flight schedule. No other airlines were experiencing delays due to weather that day. On the 21st, yes, I understand that was an issue, on the 28th they were simply using weather as an excuse.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Except that both the article you cite, and this one http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/ are dated August 25. Odds are, groundings the previous Saturday did not affect or carry over to flights on August 28. THOSE would have been weather-related.

 

[swabikedude]

Corinne...I apologize for the inconvenience the delays have caused you and your traveling companions. I encourage you to either contact Southwest Airlines Customer Relations at 214-792-4223 or send an email response through https://www.southwest.com/cgi-bin/feedbackEntry

Either way - we would like to research and provide an accurate response as to what happened with your delay.

Wish I could do more...but we just need some specifics and trust me, we will do the right thing!

Thanks - James

 

[simpilotswife]

I do not believe it was weather related, SW was forced to ground NUMEROUS planes for FAA violations, and this impacted their ability to maintain their flight schedule. No other airlines were experiencing delays due to weather that day. On the 21st, yes, I understand that was an issue, on the 28th they were simply using weather as an excuse.

No but the fact that you were flying into ISP and NOT JFK or LGA might have been. The airport is further east, smaller and may have had flooding issues that the other airports did not.

 

[DebbieB]

I do not believe it was weather related, SW was forced to ground NUMEROUS planes for FAA violations, and this impacted their ability to maintain their flight schedule. No other airlines were experiencing delays due to weather that day. On the 21st, yes, I understand that was an issue, on the 28th they were simply using weather as an excuse.

It could have been a combination of both. But from traveling alot on business, anytime it rains in the east it messes up all the northeast airports. One time I was flying MSP-PHL. It was a beautiful day at MSP but we were held for 3 hours due to rain in PHL. When it rains and there is low visability, ATC spaces the planes farther apart and lowers the number of landings per hour. So that they don't have planes circling, they hold them at their departure airport until they get a landing time. I can't believe with a tropical storm passing on Friday that there were no weather delays in the northeast.

 

[MarkinNM]

I do not believe it was weather related, SW was forced to ground NUMEROUS planes for FAA violations, and this impacted their ability to maintain their flight schedule. No other airlines were experiencing delays due to weather that day. On the 21st, yes, I understand that was an issue, on the 28th they were simply using weather as an excuse.

Totally unrelated………..


Weather as an excuse, how about SAFETY………………….

Amazing on how some jump to conclusions, how do you know weather was not the cause, state your facts? SWA has an outstanding safety track record, while its unfortunate it does happen. I waited in Portland OR while flying USAir for over 3 hours for a plane coming in from Salt Lake, cause weather, HUGE snow storm with fog, bad weather in one city will cause delays all over the country that fast.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Weather delays don't necessarily happen at the airport where you're departing, or even the airport from which your arriving aircraft is departing. A weather delay or ground stop ordered by the FAA can happen anywhere your assigned aircraft is flying into or out of that day. One delay can back up the entire schedule.

I doubt SWA's unsupervised farmed-out maintenance had anything to do with your delay that day.

 

[Lewisc]

SWA has an outstanding safety track record,

SW just got finished paying a record 7.5 million fine for maintenance violations. They've been caught using unauthorized parts on many of their planes. SW has "outsourced" much of their maintenance. According to reports some of the companies further outsource work to other companies.

SW has as a poor recent track record of complying with manufactures and government standards regarding plane repair and maintenance.

The OPs delay was probably due to weather issues somewhere in the system.

 

[MarkinNM]

SW just got finished paying a record 7.5 million fine for maintenance violations. They've been caught using unauthorized parts on many of their planes. SW has "outsourced" much of their maintenance. According to reports some of the companies further outsource work to other companies.

SW has as a poor recent track record of complying with manufactures and government standards regarding plane repair and maintenance.

The OPs delay was probably due to weather issues somewhere in the system.

Talking SAFETY not maintenance(I know they go hand in hand), this is a practice many airlines are doing now, now lets talk safety, what is their record..........

Trust me I have flown MANY, MANY upon many times over the years and have seen it all from MANY airlines, I have seen some odd practices with Delta, USAIR, American just by watching them out the window and while sitting in the plane............SWA is not unusal in this....

 

[Lewisc]

You acknowlege safety and maintenance go "hand in hand".

Other airlines outsource. Other airlines have issues.

BUT

SW received a record 7.5 million dollar fine.
82 planes (almost 10% of their fleet) used unapproved parts.

Talking SAFETY not maintenance(I know they go hand in hand), this is a practice many airlines are doing now, now lets talk safety, what is their record..........

Trust me I have flown MANY, MANY upon many times over the years and have seen it all from MANY airlines, I have seen some odd practices with Delta, USAIR, American just by watching them out the window and while sitting in the plane............SWA is not unusal in this....

 

[MarkinNM]

You acknowlege safety and maintenance go "hand in hand".

Other airlines outsource. Other airlines have issues.

BUT

SW received a record 7.5 million dollar fine.
82 planes (almost 10% of their fleet) used unapproved parts.

Ok..............................

 

[andymattmom]

Sorry that you were inconvinenced. It is tough when it is the end of your trip and you just want to get home. Look at it from this perspective would you rather sit for 4 hours and arrive home safely OR take a chance flying in bad weather or on a plane that should be flying or being flown by a crew that hasn't had the appropriate layover time. I would rather sit in the airport for 4 hours. At least you were in the airport and NOT sitting on the runway on the plane. Yes, it is a hassle and pain but I honestly would be thankful I had a trip to Disney..glad we made it home safely and leave it at that.

 

[Corinne]

No but the fact that you were flying into ISP and NOT JFK or LGA might have been. The airport is further east, smaller and may have had flooding issues that the other airports did not.

Actually, we were flying into Manchester (New Hampshire).

I understand the weather where you are flying to-or from may not necessarily be the problem. Thank you for all of your responses, but I have the right to my opinion.

 

[mousey]

I know how you feel Corinne. We flew out of MCO on 8/21 on Jet Blue. We were suppose to board at 3:45 and nobody was even at the desk at that time even though the line was 30 people long for seat assignments. Turns out a flt. attendant who showed up for duty was sick and they couldn't board the plane until a replacement showed up--that explains the 1st hr delay--board the plane and now the runway is closed for lightening. We ended up being 2 hrs late. Very frustrating!