The Southwest Airlines scheduling systems meltdown continues into Wednesday as the airline struggles to recover its operations canceling more than 2,500 flights today. The travel nightmare began leading into Christmas weekend with airlines delaying 8,425 and canceling 5,200 across the country even at airports far away from heavy winter storms and continues the week leading into New Year’s Eve.
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Travelers in Miami International Airport
(AP)
Thousands of flights canceled and delayed across U.S. airports
Brutal below freezing temps, high winds, rain and snow pounding the midwest, eastern seaboard, and as far west as Washington state. FlightAware’s MiseryMap is lit up like a Christmas tree with massive delays at major hubs throughout the entire U.S. still and largely centered on Southwest Airlines.
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES ISSUES SECOND APOLOGY, ANNOUNCES RESOURCES FOR CANCELLATIONS, REIMBURSEMENTS, LOST LUGGAGE
Stop thinking an overwhelmed airline is going to help you – take matters into your own hands
I helped a friend by tapping into American award miles and using these tools to get him home from El Paso, Texas. He reported lines of people hundreds deep at the Southwest ticket counter and waiting on hold for hours without his call answered by a human being.
That’s when I turned to these tools below to get him out within a few hours of distress. He is already back home after booking a couple of flights through Phoenix airport (PHX) and landing at a nearby airport about another 30-45 minute drive from his home airport.
TYRUS BLASTS BIDEN ADMIN’S RESPONSE TO SOUTHWEST AIRLINES DEBACLE: NO HELP WHEN AMERICANS ARE IN TROUBLE
Rental cars sold out
Passengers in some airports continue to remain stranded as rental car options and alternative transportation methods began to sell out. No matter which airline you book, arming yourself with these essential tools before heading to the airport will help if your flight gets delayed or canceled.
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES FLIGHT DIVERTED TO MILWAUKEE DUE TO ‘POTENTIAL MECHANICAL ISSUE’ AMID CANCELLATION CHAOS
5 Essential Travel Tools to use if your flight is canceled
Canceled flight? These tools can help get you on the next flight while others wait in line going nowhere.
FlightsFrom.com mobile site
Screenshot of flightsfrom.com to help you if your flight gets canceled.
(Credit: flightsfrom.com)
Bookmark this flightsfrom.com site on your phone to see all routes and scheduled flights from every airport. Knowing this can help with rebooking when airline ticket counter agents see limited options. It seems counterintuitive to consider flying further away from your desired destination especially when airline and ticketing sites don’t present routes that are far out of the way.
Backtracking to cities can offer an open seat on a flight journey that zigzags to a more distant airport and still get you where you want to go faster than waiting for traditional routes to open. Being able to piece together information on an unconventional route …….