Does Southwest ever cancel flights

[ottawamom]

My planning is going along so well I kind of get the feeling something will go wrong somewhere along the way. I've never flown Southwest before. We are booked to fly out of Albany NY on a Wednesday mid-day in May. I'm growing concerned that the flight may not be popular and therefore may be canceled. Does anyone out there have any experience with this or am I beginning to worry unnecessarily.

 

[debster812]

My planning is going along so well I kind of get the feeling something will go wrong somewhere along the way. I've never flown Southwest before. We are booked to fly out of Albany NY on a Wednesday mid-day in May. I'm growing concerned that the flight may not be popular and therefore may be canceled. Does anyone out there have any experience with this or am I beginning to worry unnecessarily.

Conventional wisdom is, and has been, that once SWA publishes a schedule, it's pretty much written in stone. Does that mean there's a 100% guarantee that your flight won't be cancelled? NO. But the chances are pretty slim, barring weather or faulty equipment delays, that you will fly.

Even if your flight is fairly light, the actual plane has somewhere else to be, so they have to fly it there anyway.

I once flew on a Saturday night flight from PVD to MCO on Southwest. There were a grand total of 18 passengers on the plane. We flew anyway.

 

[Lewisc]

Right after 9-11, when the other airlines where slashing their schedules, SW canceled almost no flights. SW delayed delivery of new aircraft and had to cancel some flights to compensate.

Once SW releases their schedule they rarely make changes, other than weather or equipment related.

 

[ducklite]

I've seen them seriously delay flights due to weather, and I"m sure from time to tiem they ahve to cancel them, but SW seems to be one of the best at trying to keep their fleet in the air and on time, regardless of passenger load.

Anne (Who was once on a US Airways 737 with three other passengers--one was a deadheading FA!)

 

[beccasmom]

My mom is not a SWA fan (she dislikes their no seat assignment policy), but flew with them in June to MCO. Her flight was scheduled to leave PHL at 7:00 pm, but was delayed by thunderstorms until 11:45 pm. There were only 20 folks on the plane, but it was not cancelled.

She was not so lucky when the same situation occurred in Dallas w/USAirways; the airline sprang for hotel accommodations that time. Cancellations are tricky and have a domino effect w/the current hub system. Please do not be unduly concerned...you can't control the weather.

 

[ottawamom]

Thanks so much for sharing. You have all put my fears to rest! We are going to have a great trip!

Anne-Marie