On the news last night I heard airlines were cancelling flights left and right. I called SW and they told me they aren't cancelling flights just the other carriers. So, I asked them with the flights being cancelled won't they get more bookings.and they said yes. That being said I'm guessing that flights will be full and especially to the vacation destinations.
SWA is cancelling flights. You may mean that SWA is not cancelling routes. There is a difference. Many of these routes being cancel are to very small airports. American Airlines is cancelling their route from Toledo Ohio, they only flew to Chicago. Guess what they and Allegiant were the only airlines that fly into Toledo. I am guessing the other 2 cities that America stop flying to Ithaca & Islip NY are also not very big. It could also make flights less full because now a pilot/crew can be moved from a small town and plane to a bigger route and plane.
I'm glad I've already booked our direct flights to Vegas in December. My guess is prices will move higher. Just to note, the cost was the same we paid in May. Damn, that seems so long ago.
I heard on the news last night that Southwest is expected to cancel approximately 20,000 flights between June 1st and Labor Day
The pilot shortage is out of control. https://nypost.com/2022/06/20/american-airline-drops-some-ny-flights-due-to-pilot-shortage/
Calling Ithaca an "airport" is a little optimistic (well, unless they made a whole lot of changes since it's been about 20 years for me). Looks like they have a grand total of 5 commercial flights scheduled for tomorrow.
SW is having the same issues as every other airline. They all trimmed their staff down to the minimum during the worst of Covid at the start of the pandemic. Now demand is close to 2019 levels again, employees continue to go out with Covid during every surge, and they have no excess staff to make up for those absences or other delay issues. Operating on a razors edge, and getting burned left and right. Unfortunately the pilot shortage is going to take a very long time to fix given the training needs. FAs can be ready to go within a few months so that should be able to get cleared up quickly. Problem is a lot of airlines are likely playing it safe with hiring in fear of the possible recession ahead. Too late to fix anything for peak summer travel, so is it worth the risk of being over staffed if the bottom falls out in Q4?
I am flying SW tomorrow to NOLA and have my fingers crossed that the flight doesn’t cancel. I need my gambling fix,
The SW rep told me that SW was not cancelling flights. I'm not surprised that the information was not fully correct. I'm sure she likes her job.
Yeah she flat-out lied to you. SW 86'd my flight home from Vegas with about an hour's notice - luckily I was able to grab the literal last ticket for the late flight that night. They cancelled my friend's flight just yesterday after he'd shown up to the airport. I dont think SW is any worse than any of the others but they are certainly not any better. SW's pilot's union even issued a statement that the airline did not do enough to address travel issues and cited the large number of cancellations by the airline. It seems like things are (slowly) improving, but definitely wise to have a contingency plan in the back of your mind.
Literally, 30 seconds ago, CBSNews just announced canceled flights - of which SW will have 20,000 through summer. All airlines are canceling.
This could be contributing to the Southwest shortage/cancellations https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/southwest-airlines-pilots-picket-dallas-better-working-conditions-amid-pilot-shortage
Our neighbor is a retired Delta pilot. They offered early retirement packages, expecting maybe 3-400 to take it and 2,000 pilots took it. He said they can't get them trained fast enough.
We flew home from sin city last Friday and I’ve never in 30 years seen the LV airport so packed and chaotic. Our 2 hour layover flight home was delayed 1 hr and 40 mins so my 2 hr layover in Detroit turned into 20 mins. I fully expected to spend the night in Detroit but figured I got on a plane in Vegas which was better than a lot of other people were doing. Lady Luck was with me… I landed in Detroit and our flight to VA was delayed 40 minutes so we made it home. Not sure I’d fly again this summer until this gets ironed out. It’s a mess out there folks. Edited to add: If you’ve never flown thru Detroit, it’s one of the best laid out and most beautiful airports I’ve ever been in. Who knew?
leaving here and heading to Vegas tomorrow...be safe, its supposed to be extremely hot this week. 99-100 but the humidity makes it much worse
To cancel flights is one thing. I kinda get it but it still upsets me. What’s worse is canceling day of flight. I live in Bismarck,ND. Not a lot of flight options from here. If my flight is canceled day of my entire trip is canceled.
I'd say have a plan B...not to rain on your parade but our recent experience was they cancel or delay within 24 hours of your departure...usually less than 24 hours. Probably because they're still scrambling up to the last minute to make things work with pilots, flight, crew, ground crew, etc...
