According to Southwest Airlines, the travel nightmare that has inconvenienced thousands of its customers and employees during the holidays may finally end on Friday.
This brings to an end a miserable week that apparently saw the airlines cancel 15,700 flights starting on December 22, Gizmodo writes.
The Airlines Was Affected By Severe Winter Storm During The Holidays
Numerous passengers were left stranded far from their destinations, complaining that their luggage was transferred somewhere unknown during the chaos.
In addition to this, Southwest employees reportedly suffered frostbite from working arduous shifts in the chilly temperatures as well.
The airline canceled 2,510, or 61%, of its scheduled flights on Thursday, but it says that it is committed to resuming operations as quickly as possible with minimal disruption.
Customers had already received an apology from the airline, with its CEO giving one on Tuesday and its top commercial officer promising to win back their trust on Wednesday.
However, even as other airlines caught up after the travel interruptions, the largest carrier in the US struggled to resume a regular flight schedule after the extreme weather ravaged the nation.
According to the BBC, more than 10,000 flights have been canceled by the carrier since a winter storm hit the US last week.
Read More: Airlines Cancel Over 3,000 Flights on Christmas Morning Due to Severe Winter Weather
Southwest Airlines Is Making Steps To Make Up To Customers
Customers around the US were left stranded at airports, searching for alternate means of transportation, or losing their luggage due to the week's worth of inconveniences.
Meanwhile, others complained on social media that they had to pay for expensive new flights or find other forms of transportation.
For customers delayed between December 24 and January 2, Southwest has stated that it will honor "reasonable requests" for reimbursement for meals, lodging, and alternative transportation.
The airlines added that they will provide customers the option to modify their travel plans online, and a dedicated page on its website for all customer's concerns.
The portal offers information to assist travelers with finding their bags through an online form, requesting a refund for an unused ticket, and reserving new flights in addition to expense reimbursement.
However, Southwest advises clients with canceled flights to send the compensation form by email because it is not there on the page itself, the BBC details.
Southwest's debacle has reverberated across the nation, sparking responses from Capitol Hill politicians and Biden administration officials.
Pete Buttigieg, the secretary of transportation, slammed the business earlier this week and vowed that his department will hold it accountable for its obligations to customers.
This includes offering dinner and lodging coupons as well as cash returns to those who chose not to travel.
It can be remembered that due to the flight cancellations and the scheduling system's technical issues, Southwest was unable to trace the whereabouts of its pilots and crew members.
Its unusual "point-to-point" route plan, which promotes flying directly to smaller cities and areas without pausing at a big hub airport, made its problems worse, Gizmodo details.
Related Article: Southwest Airlines Flight Attendant Suffers Broken Back During a Hard Landing
