It’s a really rough travel period in the United States at the moment. Not only are we seeing record numbers of travelers around the holidays, but we’re also witnessing some of the worst winter storms we’ve seen in a long time. While thousands of flights have been canceled, nothing seems to be going quite as bad as Southwest Airlines’ situation in Denver.
In this post:
Southwest declares “state of operational emergency”
As first reported by aviation watchdog @xJonNYC, Southwest Airlines has declared a state of operational emergency at Denver International Airport (DEN). This started late on December 21, and applies until further notice. Long story short, the airline doesn’t have nearly enough rampers at the moment, which is causing huge issues.
In a memo to employees, the airline reports receiving “an unusually high number of absences.” The airline states it has an obligation to customers and to fellow employees to safely and efficiently run the operation, so the airline has declared a state of operational emergency.
What does this entail?
- Employees alleging illness will be required to provide a doctor’s note on the first day they return to work, indicating when the doctor was seen, and confirming that the employee was unable to work on the days of the claimed illness; telemedicine appointments don’t qualify, and failure to comply with these requirements will be considered insubordination, and will lead to termination
- The company is denying any requests for personal absence, and ramp employees will be required to work their usual shifts; failure to comply will also result in termination
- The company will apply mandatory overtime, regardless of an employee’s status; if an employee refuses to work overtime, they’ll also be terminated
Just how bad is Southwest’s operational performance?
Southwest is performing horribly operationally at the moment. For example, on Friday, December 23, 2022, the airline canceled 32% of its flights and delayed 52% of its flights. So only 16% of flights operated on-time. Ouch. Things didn’t look much better the day before, and still aren’t looking good today (though they don’t look as bad as yesterday).
As also noted by @xJonNYC, the situation got so bad that on December 22 that a Tampa to Denver flight returned to Tampa because there wouldn’t be sufficient ground staff to assist with the flight. The airline ended up operating a nearly four hour flight to nowhere. Ouch.
My take on Southwest’s operational challenges
Obviously weather is horrible in many parts of the country, so it’s interesting how Southwest seems to specifically be struggling in Denver more than elsewhere. It makes you wonder what’s going on in Denver specifically that’s causing this, and not other stations.
While I can appreciate that Southwest needs to run a reliable operation, this memo comes across as borderline cruel. That’s especially true for an airline that always talks about how its biggest asset is its employees. Southwest executives have long said that the strategy is to take care of employees, and then in turn have them take care of customers.
Specific to this situation:
- If someone just has a common cold, there’s not really a need to go to a doctor, so to force someone to go to a doctor’s office to get a note is ridiculous, especially when telemedicine is excluded (trying to discredit telemedicine seems like a bizarre move)
- The pandemic should have taught us that we should stay home if we’re not feeling well, to help protect others; Southwest is encouraging sick people to come to work here
- Threatening to terminate anyone who requires a last minute personal absence is awful; so if you have a family members who is suddenly ill or dying, you’ll have to decide between spending time with them and keeping your job
Bottom line
While airlines around the country are having operational challenges, nothing is quite as bad as Southwest Airlines’ situation in Denver. The airline has declared a state of emergency, and is threatening to terminate ramp employees for any of a number of reasons. This includes if they call in sick but don’t get a doctor’s note from an in-person visit, or even if they need to take a personal absence.
What do you make of Southwest Airlines’ Denver situation? Are any OMAAT readers caught up in this mess?
It sounds to me like executives and employee representatives need to sit down and have a conversation! Yes, the memo sent could come across harsh, especially given the potential scenarios this article mentions. However, the widespread number of employees not showing up to work in Denver is deplorable and there should be serious consequences for their irresponsible, selfish behavior!! All because they were angry with a memo, they selfishly, and probably collectively, decided to screw...
It sounds to me like executives and employee representatives need to sit down and have a conversation! Yes, the memo sent could come across harsh, especially given the potential scenarios this article mentions. However, the widespread number of employees not showing up to work in Denver is deplorable and there should be serious consequences for their irresponsible, selfish behavior!! All because they were angry with a memo, they selfishly, and probably collectively, decided to screw over 1000s of innocent customers!! That is so incredibly self-centered and cruel! There should be an investigation on all employees who failed to show up to work AFTER the storm passed on 12/24, so they can't use that excuse, and there should be criminal charges and serious consequences enforced to all those lacking justifiable reasons for abandoning work!!
It’s not like southwest management didn’t know an artic blast was headed south thru the country. This is a management failure of epic proportion and to threaten employees with termination for sickness just shows their total lack of emergency preparedness.
Airlines like Southwest need to wake up
And stop threatening their employees !
There’s a problem with upper management if employees don’t want to work ! If you threaten your employees they will just give you the middle finger and walk ! Life is to short
To work in these conditions ! Who ever wrote this threatening letter should be
Fired ! South West Airline had a little class but something...
Airlines like Southwest need to wake up
And stop threatening their employees !
There’s a problem with upper management if employees don’t want to work ! If you threaten your employees they will just give you the middle finger and walk ! Life is to short
To work in these conditions ! Who ever wrote this threatening letter should be
Fired ! South West Airline had a little class but something in upper management has changed for the worst
It’s generally some greedy people in upper management with no people skills ! I’ve seen it happen with Continental, United , TWA ,American , ECT. Upper Management with no people skills and don’t understand the sensitive nature of aviation and the airline industry ! Forget about the money and put safety first ! You shouldn’t be in the airline industry for the money ! Your in the airline industry because yo love it ! If not we don’t want you there ! Safety First ,True Safety Is No Accident
Keep in mind that SW employees are unionized. They pick an otherwise strong financial company to bully. This is a common practice in unionland. News stories are stacking up blaming SW IT system for the problems. Really? These systems seemed to work good enough until last week. We are being played yet again by the progressives.
I’m sorry ~ I truly wish it were that simple, but Southwest’s antiquated IT systems may have “seemed to work good enough until last week” as you stated, but have actually proven worse over time, as they have experienced similar meltdowns in the past, yet not on such a massive scale as to make headlines. It was only because those issues in the past were never properly addressed…the greedy powers that be apparently decided that...
I’m sorry ~ I truly wish it were that simple, but Southwest’s antiquated IT systems may have “seemed to work good enough until last week” as you stated, but have actually proven worse over time, as they have experienced similar meltdowns in the past, yet not on such a massive scale as to make headlines. It was only because those issues in the past were never properly addressed…the greedy powers that be apparently decided that buying back shares was more important than updating technology and, unfortunately this latest debacle really took the cake! The customers unfortunately suffered the brunt of it, for sure, and Southwest has some major digging out to do on its part.
You missed the part where 120 rampers quit because of the memo from hell. One wonders if this executive will keep his job???
With a memo like that it’s going to be really hard getting people to work for a company that is treating their workers like that. Southwest needs a new public relations person or manager( whoever wrote that memo) so as they are looking for new ramp agents or whatever their title is I would consider hiring a someone with some compassion for their employees.
They are unionized and thats how you get them to work.
Dear Southwest: Elon wrecking Twitter wasn't a 'How To' manual!
I think they have an employee issue and not a weather issue or a crew issue. Obviously the employees are sending management a message that they need more staffing as well as better working conditions and possibly more communication
This is part of a pattern I've noticed since the pandemic shutdown across other industries as well. This storm was not a surprise.... everyone knew it was coming for a week and had plenty of time to prepare for contingencies. My part of the country was hit hard but not as bad as Denver, Chicago or western NY state.
Starting early last week everyone from the Governor to local police precincts were begging people...
This is part of a pattern I've noticed since the pandemic shutdown across other industries as well. This storm was not a surprise.... everyone knew it was coming for a week and had plenty of time to prepare for contingencies. My part of the country was hit hard but not as bad as Denver, Chicago or western NY state.
Starting early last week everyone from the Governor to local police precincts were begging people to stay off the roads as the sub-zero wind chills negated effective road treatment. Government offices, professional services & even CHURCHES closed. Who didn't?
Big box stores like Costco & Sam's and retailers like Target, Walmart, etc. So while there was a travel ban people were lured out for last minute gifts. Employees were expected to be on shift despite the hazardous driving conditions and suspension of public transportation for 48 hours. Local TV station interviewed retail employees on Christmas Eve and most of them were on the verge of tears due to the crush of customers and 50 plus % absenteeism because people simply could not get to work.
I completely understand that the timing of this sucked. After years of being cloistered people looking forward to connecting with loved ones. But in rare events like this the only people who need to be out are first responders, medical professionals and infrastructure workers.
Period.
For those who think that employees of Southwest Airlines are special yes they are great people, who ever leaving me and my family without a way home from Dallas on the 26th December 2022, we live 12 hrs away, I have been on the hold for an 46 minute so far, If you don’t like the job don’t punish the customers like you did!!!! Selfish!! all about your pay your time etc…. You signed up for it, I would replace all of you as well☹️☹️
So, you could blame the employees - or you could look at where the problems trickle down from. The top.
https://www.reddit.com/r/SouthwestAirlines/comments/zwutrc/message_from_a_southwest_first_officer/
Ben - check the Southwest Airlines reddit. This is not a weather issue.
Southwest knows that this debacle is going to tank their revenue going forward so this policy provides the added benefit of giving them an excuse for a reduction in force once things are back on schedule.
A happy employee is a productive employee and apparently Southwest Airlines is not doing a good job att treating there employees with respect
Unfortunately DIA is my airport and needless to say SW ruined our Christmas, two family members flights cancelled on the 23rd, one had his luggage sent to DIA, who knows where the luggage really is, but he remained in Vegas. My son’s flight is cancelled for tomorrow, no flights available until after new years, (unless he can come up with 3 grand to fly United) so having to drive him home from Denver to San Jose this week. So beyond mad.
Original flight was modified and pushed out 3 days, my new flight that I was waiting on I went to check as it is at the crack of dawn and wanted to ensure enough time at the airport and leave at 3am to find parking…is now canceled. No notification from app or email. Canceled. Reading other articles about SW looking like a class action lawsuit is on the horizon. Getting a hold of anyone at...
Original flight was modified and pushed out 3 days, my new flight that I was waiting on I went to check as it is at the crack of dawn and wanted to ensure enough time at the airport and leave at 3am to find parking…is now canceled. No notification from app or email. Canceled. Reading other articles about SW looking like a class action lawsuit is on the horizon. Getting a hold of anyone at SW is impossible. As stated in these other comments all is true: hangups, insane hold times with ending in someone hanging up, I have Never seen it like this. It’s not just Denver, this seems very coordinated across the company. I hope someone is looking into this as it is not weather and people need to be compensated.
This isn't happening in just Denver. Only a few SW flights got off the ground yesterday in LAX's Terminal 1. Over 25 were canceled on Saturday. I was rebooked 3x Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and never made my destination. I could have rented a car had I known. The SW app, and the phones - are all down. All the text updates were too late and useless. Spent 10 hours on Christmas Eve at...
This isn't happening in just Denver. Only a few SW flights got off the ground yesterday in LAX's Terminal 1. Over 25 were canceled on Saturday. I was rebooked 3x Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and never made my destination. I could have rented a car had I known. The SW app, and the phones - are all down. All the text updates were too late and useless. Spent 10 hours on Christmas Eve at the airport until 1 a.m. when we were told the pilot was on his way. When he got there a flight attendant bailed so we couldn't fly. I've flown this airline for 30 years and have never seen it this bad.
Our flight was modified, pushed out 3 days, we checked in and upgraded boarding, charged us $80, the new flight I went to check in and same confirmation #, didn’t carry over. Tried calling SW the last 2 days, today non stop hangups, hold time 90min plus and they just hang up call back busy or again Hang up. There is no weather delay as I had to rebook on United and they flew us...
Our flight was modified, pushed out 3 days, we checked in and upgraded boarding, charged us $80, the new flight I went to check in and same confirmation #, didn’t carry over. Tried calling SW the last 2 days, today non stop hangups, hold time 90min plus and they just hang up call back busy or again Hang up. There is no weather delay as I had to rebook on United and they flew us out no problem. This blaming whether when it is due to no staff really needs to be investigated and management definitely has been put in the spotlight. I hope the news and lawyers get involved. This is ridiculous and unacceptable. SW needs to be held to accountability. A lot of folks have had to spend thousands of dollars in there mess up.
Southwest has two options now:
Either
A. Give in to employee demands and literally give them WHATEVER they want to get the airline back to they way it was.
Or
B. File Chapter 13 and Close its Doors forever.
Sadly they likely wont do either but we may have just witnessed the beginning of a slow and painful death caused by corporate greed, mismanagement, lazy/entitled employees and a screwed up economy thanks to the fake plandemic.
Is being brain dead a requirement now for attaining Senior Mgt status...............were were they on the days of issues?--at home enjoying their families? I don't condone improper use of sick leave, but I also don't condone systematic abuse of employees..........and they think threat of termination will increase the work force? Dumb, dumber, and dumbest
Employees alleging illness will be required to provide a doctor’s note on the first day they return to work, indicating when...
Is being brain dead a requirement now for attaining Senior Mgt status...............were were they on the days of issues?--at home enjoying their families? I don't condone improper use of sick leave, but I also don't condone systematic abuse of employees..........and they think threat of termination will increase the work force? Dumb, dumber, and dumbest
Employees alleging illness will be required to provide a doctor’s note on the first day they return to work, indicating when the doctor was seen, and confirming that the employee was unable to work on the days of the claimed illness; telemedicine appointments don’t qualify, and failure to comply with these requirements will be considered insubordination, and will lead to termination
The company is denying any requests for personal absence, and ramp employees will be required to work their usual shifts; failure to comply will also result in termination
The company will apply mandatory overtime, regardless of an employee’s status; if an employee refuses to work overtime, they’ll also be terminated
Well then United and Delta will hire them! They are short staffed as well. Terminate the employee then have less employees??? Makes absolutely no sense to me.
Is their union contract up like the rest of Ours? As the airlines talk about how much they have profited this year , they haven’t given any raises in many years. CEO’s have given themselves raises. These are facts not assumptions!
Currently stranded in Cancún, have been since the 24th. Traveling with individual with severe medical needs, all disclosed, zero communication from southwest. We just want to get home to Denver
Sounds like Southwest management has gone to US Postsl Service management seminars in regards to sick leave policy.
Our family’s flight cancellation after 6 hours at the airport and one hour on the plane really ruined a family reunion which had been ticketed since August. Southwest better come up with the legally required vouchers or credits. God only knows when the luggage will be found.
Our flight on 12/23 from Denver to Dallas eventually made it but was missing more than 3/4 of all passenger luggage. Causing even more problems at destination airport. Still no word on our luggage as of 12/26 and no SW airlines agents have answered the phone line. What a cluster $&@!
I interviewed at SWA once and didn’t take the job after being told some of these conditions are always an expectation. Mandatory overtime - to the point some employees sleep in their cars as there’s no time to go back home before having to return. I was considering a ticket agent position and I knew giving up life balance wasn’t worth it. The company needs to learn the difference between commitment and compliance then adjust...
I interviewed at SWA once and didn’t take the job after being told some of these conditions are always an expectation. Mandatory overtime - to the point some employees sleep in their cars as there’s no time to go back home before having to return. I was considering a ticket agent position and I knew giving up life balance wasn’t worth it. The company needs to learn the difference between commitment and compliance then adjust accordingly. Compliance gets high turn over and lands a company in the very circumstance SWA is in today.
Supposed to fly out of DEN on last flight to LAX on Friday night. After hours of limited communication & ongoing delays, the flight was finally cancelled around 2:00am but not before taking our luggage & not explaining when it might be returned. Three days later, still no status updates in the system saying where our bags are let alone when they might be forwarded to us. And of course, the contact centers all just...
Supposed to fly out of DEN on last flight to LAX on Friday night. After hours of limited communication & ongoing delays, the flight was finally cancelled around 2:00am but not before taking our luggage & not explaining when it might be returned. Three days later, still no status updates in the system saying where our bags are let alone when they might be forwarded to us. And of course, the contact centers all just ring busy… Can’t believe how poorly they’re handling this!
Southwest is not telling the whole story. Alot of the ramp agents in Denver were temp from other stations. They were allowed to work there on temp assignments but were not given winter gear nor equipped for the weather. Southwest had a total meltdown in just about every city. Not only were passengers stranded because of flight cancellations so we're entire flight crews. Not all cancellations were due to weather nor were they the fault...
Southwest is not telling the whole story. Alot of the ramp agents in Denver were temp from other stations. They were allowed to work there on temp assignments but were not given winter gear nor equipped for the weather. Southwest had a total meltdown in just about every city. Not only were passengers stranded because of flight cancellations so we're entire flight crews. Not all cancellations were due to weather nor were they the fault of employees. They are primarily due to poor operating systems and failure of upper management to plan ahead and anticipate weather issues which happen every single year. There are other airlines who operate just fine in inclement weather because they have upgraded equipment and are fully prepared.
My mother was stuck in Denver for no pilot and only 3 flight attendants on board flight. They sure have no problem hitting credit card for charge but no way for customer to get out of Denver
It's horrible! Tried to get back to Portland last night and they will not even cancel a flight until its been delayed for hours or your stuck in the airport in these 3-5 hour lines. We cannot even get back home now until Thursday. We were FORCED to but ticket on another airlines and had to wait till Thursday to be able to afford the upswing in the immediate price hikes. We have no clothing,...
It's horrible! Tried to get back to Portland last night and they will not even cancel a flight until its been delayed for hours or your stuck in the airport in these 3-5 hour lines. We cannot even get back home now until Thursday. We were FORCED to but ticket on another airlines and had to wait till Thursday to be able to afford the upswing in the immediate price hikes. We have no clothing, no medications because they cannot even look for or bags because of the employee issues. They claim do to weather but every other airlines has been making it in and out of Denver just fine. No word to describe how Southwest is handling this except just plain CRUEL. I know I wont get my money back, probably not our luggage either(a couple of thousands $$$$). They will try and give me flight credit but I will NEVER fly them again!!
I have limited sympathy for SW employees. I’ve had two flights cancelled by SW this year the result of alleged weather affecting DIA. It’s cost me a lot of extra money and time.
You have a job. Get to it or get fired. It may be a crap job, but if you work hard eventually you’ll have a job that’s not a crap job.
Sounds like the limited staff that’s there is dreadfully overworked—even before the holiday mayhem. That’s the management’s problem, not the staff’s.
I like when you spend fifty dollars for an upgrade and then wait while fifty pre boarders go ahead of you why upgrade?
Terminitations are warranted! Attendance reviews. These cancellations are not caused by Jesus.
My daughter was flying from Sacramento to Phoenix her ights were canceled 3 times she was devastated I am not doing we she wanted to come home for Christmas .There where over 200 people stranded at the airport One man passes out due to standing in line thank you southwest for ruining Christmas
They should staff better during the holidays and peak season by having crews on standby in common cities. We lost over 10k in non refundable vacations expenses because of them yesterday. Our flight was cancelled 10min before take off.
The problem is people don’t want to work! It’s in any line of employment, which is a sad situation.
People absolutely want to work, as evidenced by unemployment rates near historic lows. The problem is that many employers are failing to recognize that they are in a seller’s labor market, and are not offering competitive compensation and/or terms.
There low because of a lack of new job and a shrinking economy it'll take 20 years to fix what the Biden administration have purposely destroyed if the president is suppose to be the commander and chief. Ours is a dictator and thief!
Try working at a job where there is mandatory overtime so you can't get home to sleep or have a life!!! I suggest that you take a job at SWEST and see how you like sweat house labor rules!!! Although my flight was cancelled I am flying another airline and wondering if I will ever fly SWEST again!!!
These words like 'meltdown' and 'imploded' ate thrown around so liberally now. If you look at Webster's, 'meltdown' does not really apply here and the use of 'imploded' really stretches the definition!
Tired of seeing this hyperbole in everyday life (and certainly amongst frequent flyers). Someone didn't get their baggage, so the airport must have had a baggage 'meltdown'. So silly. I've not received my baggage more than once and I deal with it. I've...
These words like 'meltdown' and 'imploded' ate thrown around so liberally now. If you look at Webster's, 'meltdown' does not really apply here and the use of 'imploded' really stretches the definition!
Tired of seeing this hyperbole in everyday life (and certainly amongst frequent flyers). Someone didn't get their baggage, so the airport must have had a baggage 'meltdown'. So silly. I've not received my baggage more than once and I deal with it. I've had delayed and canceled flights before and I deal with it. Generally blaming an entire airline or airport isn't going to change anything.
(That said, I feel badly for the many travelers affected by the recent weather. For many, it may be the first time they've seen their family and friends in a couple of years.)
90 year old dad who is diabetic and had a heart valve replacement last month stuck in airport from 6am Christmas Day until his first flight finally took off at 6 pm the next day! 36 hours of no communication, no way to reach anyone, endless lines that he couldn’t stay in, no voucher for meals or hotels, no sleep, and he won’t reach his final destination for 6.5 DAYS after his journey began as...
90 year old dad who is diabetic and had a heart valve replacement last month stuck in airport from 6am Christmas Day until his first flight finally took off at 6 pm the next day! 36 hours of no communication, no way to reach anyone, endless lines that he couldn’t stay in, no voucher for meals or hotels, no sleep, and he won’t reach his final destination for 6.5 DAYS after his journey began as his connecting flight is out of BWI. Implosion/meltdown most definitely applies. The business is dead after this. Nothing can make this right.
While many complain about weather delays and wine.too many have forgotten the air Florida crash in the icy Potomac River that winter day.i bet everyone on that jet even the pilots wish they sat on the ground for another day.shame to the oeople in cars killed by jet hitting the bridge.as a private pilot there are days I won't fly I live for another day. U THINK HARD BEFORE U GO MESS WITH WEATHER
Great point. If you dig around a bit, you can find the emergency services radio traffic from that day. One of the positive outcomes from that event is the integrated emergency radio communications between the jurisdictions bordering WDC.
This is nothing new for southwest operations.back in 2004 I worked bwi hub and we had certain people call out every time bad weather or use fma excuse.the union helps keep the bad employees lazy ones in the job.while good ones get mandatory over timed and u get worn thin.i about fell asleep driving home after16hrs I just missed hitting snow plow.I quited because fellow rampers wouldn't come help load the planes.me and station Manger...
This is nothing new for southwest operations.back in 2004 I worked bwi hub and we had certain people call out every time bad weather or use fma excuse.the union helps keep the bad employees lazy ones in the job.while good ones get mandatory over timed and u get worn thin.i about fell asleep driving home after16hrs I just missed hitting snow plow.I quited because fellow rampers wouldn't come help load the planes.me and station Manger loaded more then once.its hard with 2 people doing I hurt my back.if If I had stayed I been injured for life.im glad I left.i did like my job and the good dependable folks.just needed better Management and note supervisor aren't in the union they really get screwed in bad times.even the best ones got abused working them to death.i see and feel you all at Denver. winter time is killer time on rampers.this is nothing new.
Can't be worse than Las Vegas! They just told everyone in line to they are done for the night ,per supervisors order, and Southwest will book your flight for you and send you an email confirmation or a text how pathetic is that....
In addition to Southwest's ongoing operational problems, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that an internal survey of FAA inspectors shows that 3/4 of those inspectors do not believe there have been improvements in the culture of the FAA's oversight of Southwest which was deemed to be unsatisfactorily lax from findings by the DOT's inspector general that were found before covid. The FAA fired three senior officials in the Dallas office that oversees Southwest but...
In addition to Southwest's ongoing operational problems, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that an internal survey of FAA inspectors shows that 3/4 of those inspectors do not believe there have been improvements in the culture of the FAA's oversight of Southwest which was deemed to be unsatisfactorily lax from findings by the DOT's inspector general that were found before covid. The FAA fired three senior officials in the Dallas office that oversees Southwest but a retiring FAA inspector cited the survey in an email that he sent to a senior FAA official in Washington DC and circulated the email and survey throughout the FAA. Several FAA inspectors said that senior leadership in the FAA's Dallas office does not listen to inspectors that raise concerns and are more focused on pleasing the airline.
It’s an emergency. It’s not business as usual. Too many people ate abusing their PTO. This is why PTO is a stupid idea for a lot of people. It gets abused. Then, when everything is haywire, the norms can no longer apply.
Someone said it’s a leadership problem - I agree. That leader is Gov Polis with his shortsighted PTO / sick call policy. Companies snd business owners warned of this exact scenario.
By all accounts they aren’t even staffed properly for regular, “business as usual” operations. That’s a leadership failure, and it shouldn’t solely be solely the rank and file’s obligation to cover for poor management.
The State of Colorado does not own Southwest so Gov Polis has nothing to do with staffing issues at a public- traded, multi-billion dollar corporation Interesting that you don’t hold the management of SWA accountable for their operational failures. a family and member and I flew United into Denver this week and, despite a weather -related cancellation and delay, still made it. Family members flew American this week and made their destination.
Well I just experienced the fallout...the leg of my flight from Denver to San Francisco was cancelled today...dec 25...with little to no notice...It was cancelled around two...I finally got a text notice at 6pm...with a notice that my flight had been rebooked, but I need call SW to find out the details....the line has been giving a busy signal all day.
The worst part is my bag went to San Francisco without me...I tried...
Well I just experienced the fallout...the leg of my flight from Denver to San Francisco was cancelled today...dec 25...with little to no notice...It was cancelled around two...I finally got a text notice at 6pm...with a notice that my flight had been rebooked, but I need call SW to find out the details....the line has been giving a busy signal all day.
The worst part is my bag went to San Francisco without me...I tried waiting in the baggage claim line for awhile to have a women tell me she had stood in the line for four hours to be told they could do nothing for her because her bag went through to her end destination...she thinks...so I left...I am lucky...I have a sister in the Denver area so I am able to stay with her...most of the people I spoke with...who had way worse stories than me
,...hadn't been so lucky.
Bottom line there were thousands if not tens of thousands of people whose trips were majorly disrupted and thousands of bags that will go unclaimed in destinations all over the US....just from today.
I can't see how they are going to recover from this.
Just hoping that someday I get my bag back.
Can someone from SW answer the phone. I need a refund nor just “credits”
If someone has a common cold there is no need for them to take a sick day. I find it odd that the flight had to return to Tampa if they couldn't land at DEN. There were no other airports they could have diverted to? Seems like a waste. I assume we will start to see this with more airlines soon and this year's winter weather does not help.
Your 110 percent right on.thats how I saw it at bwi hub 2001thru2004.you got hurt your a throw away employee.but lazy ones high up pole kept there jobs even after hitting planes engine with a tug.
This may not make a difference but at lease it will be off my chest. On Dec 21st I was scheduled to fly from Denver to Tulsa to spend Christmas with my 5 grandloves and my daughter. My flight was delayed, delayed again and then canceled.
It was tacky how they delayed serval times and then canceled the flight as we were in line preparing to board. I was stuck at DIA for several...
This may not make a difference but at lease it will be off my chest. On Dec 21st I was scheduled to fly from Denver to Tulsa to spend Christmas with my 5 grandloves and my daughter. My flight was delayed, delayed again and then canceled.
It was tacky how they delayed serval times and then canceled the flight as we were in line preparing to board. I was stuck at DIA for several hours due to the weather. SW booked another flight the next day at 10:00am. That flight was delayed and then canceled. I then waited to fly stand by at 4:15 pm (22nd). You guessed it that flight was too canceled. I decided to go home. NO LUGGUGE
I was rebooked to leave for Tulsa on Saturday, Dec 24th at 7:15pm. The weather was nice. 45 in at DIA. Flight was delayed. But scheduled to leave. I go to the DIA then flight delayed again, Then flight moved up to depart sooner. The flight canceled. This is not for weather. Tulsa and CO had decent weather.
I ended up spending CHRISTmas Day home alone. My grandloves are 8,6,4,3 and 1. These ages and excitement can not be rescheduled. I work for a college and this was the perfect time for spending time with my family.
Again WEATHER did not cause this delay and cancel of the flight. This was a SW issue. I hope you all will make this issue good with your customers. Please reach out to me. I still haven't booked my flight and I won't until I see that SW has been consistent with flights from DIA to TUL.
We live in a society where the worker thinks that they should get to come and go as they please. Any little sniffle, them, their kids, their neighbors kids…and they can’t come to work. The problem with that is the public thinks that they have the right to kick and throw a fit about not having good customer service but you can’t have good service without employees and American employees do not have the desire...
We live in a society where the worker thinks that they should get to come and go as they please. Any little sniffle, them, their kids, their neighbors kids…and they can’t come to work. The problem with that is the public thinks that they have the right to kick and throw a fit about not having good customer service but you can’t have good service without employees and American employees do not have the desire to work anymore. Whether it’s a big business or a little business, it is a lose lose situation in the workforce right now for an employer.
that’s capitalism. employees have something employers want: labor. if employers aren’t paying well enough or taking care of the employees, then employees aren’t going out of their way to do good work. go ahead and threaten to fire people. you’ll just end up short staffed. again, it’s capitalism. it’s just workers are now realizing their value. shame on employers for not doing the right thing for employees when it matters most—every day.
It amazes me how people think they are worth more than they really are. Work hard and be paid what you’re worth. The work ethic in this country sucks!
Californians thought they were able to make $20 an hour at a certain McDonald’s. That McDonald’s has now gone automated. No workers in the front of the store at all so they were replaced by machines. Much less expensive than paying an employee who thinks...
It amazes me how people think they are worth more than they really are. Work hard and be paid what you’re worth. The work ethic in this country sucks!
Californians thought they were able to make $20 an hour at a certain McDonald’s. That McDonald’s has now gone automated. No workers in the front of the store at all so they were replaced by machines. Much less expensive than paying an employee who thinks they’re worth more than they are. This is going to happen in many more places in the future with people not wanting to work.
All that automation and fast food restaurants STILL can’t fully staff up. The law of supply and demand would dictate that they aren’t offering sufficient compensation for the jobs.
Our flight from Denver to Tampa (home) was canceled on the 21st. We were held in the plane on the tarmac for 4 hours with no water or food because they didn’t have the staff to load the bags, only for the storm to hit two hours into the 4 and be told then that the flight was canceled due to weather therefore they didn’t have to give us vouchers or help with anything. We...
Our flight from Denver to Tampa (home) was canceled on the 21st. We were held in the plane on the tarmac for 4 hours with no water or food because they didn’t have the staff to load the bags, only for the storm to hit two hours into the 4 and be told then that the flight was canceled due to weather therefore they didn’t have to give us vouchers or help with anything. We stood in line for a total of 6 hours to rebook and try and claim our luggage in the middle of the night, only to be told we wouldn’t be getting it back. Then had to sleep on floor in the cold airport for hours until a hotel room could open up. No blankets, no pillows, no I’m sorry from any of the Southwest staff, just rude, condescending remarks and smirks that they got to go home and we didn’t. Worst experience of my life! We were stranded in Denver in negative degree temps with no clothes except what we had on our backs (Florida clothes) We didn’t get to spend christmas with our family because we weren’t able to fly back in time, and it cost an extra $618 in buying thrift store clothes, food, a hotel room, and 4 extra days of parking. Inexcusable! My sons luggage is still missing. A little empathy would have went a long way in this situation.
Termination will not help the problem, then there will be no one at all. Obviously SWA just sucks now worse than it previously did to their employees or the would come to work
They also speak highly of the way they treat their customers, strangely the times I’ve needed to speak to customer service I’ve experienced just the opposite.
After having one of my checked bags run over a couple weeks ago by the airline and it’s contents damaged, southwest told me they are “not liable for things like this.” Even the ramp manager admitted the bag had been run over.
On another occasion I requested...
They also speak highly of the way they treat their customers, strangely the times I’ve needed to speak to customer service I’ve experienced just the opposite.
After having one of my checked bags run over a couple weeks ago by the airline and it’s contents damaged, southwest told me they are “not liable for things like this.” Even the ramp manager admitted the bag had been run over.
On another occasion I requested an extension of a flight credit that my minor child was unable to use within the allotted time period (one year from original purchase date to fly) because of a year round school schedule. Customer service informed me that the only thing I could do was wait until it expires and call customer service to reissue a voucher however, I’d lose $100 of the value (30%) in order to receive 6 more months.
They fail at treating both employees and customers properly.
I "was" a loyal southwest customer but no more. I was canceled Saturday morning in Denver for a flight to visit family for Christmas. There was no option to rebook until Monday and based on what's going on I'm guessing that will be cancelled too. I used to work for a 24/7 operation that worked over the holidays. They never had an issue staffing as they offered many carrots to work, going way beyond just overtime pay with additional bonuses and extra days off etc.
It just smells a lot of corporate greed
We were stranded in Denver on December 23rd. Terrible situation. Southwest (SW) canceled 71% of their flights at Denver. They were deplorable to deal with. A little decency would have gone a long way. SW would not return our bags; said they would be rerouted. Left the next day on a United Airlines flight at a very reasonable price in terrible weather, with fantastic, kind crew. Still don’t have our bags but are home safe...
We were stranded in Denver on December 23rd. Terrible situation. Southwest (SW) canceled 71% of their flights at Denver. They were deplorable to deal with. A little decency would have gone a long way. SW would not return our bags; said they would be rerouted. Left the next day on a United Airlines flight at a very reasonable price in terrible weather, with fantastic, kind crew. Still don’t have our bags but are home safe and are happy. I pray we get our bags back ASAP. A long time SW customer, I will never fly with them again.
My daughters flight from Denver to Mikwaukee was cancelled on Wednesday. We booked her on a different airline. They did not release her luggage and said it would be on next flight to Milwaukee. Nope, still no luggage and no accountability from SW as to if/when we will see it!! Never booking with SW again.
I am currently a Southwest customer. I was supposed to have flown out of Colorado Springs December 22nd, but my flight was delayed. So I rebooked to the first flight out today, December 25th, and Southwest rebooked me to leave December 27th. I was flying to California to see my mom for Christmas. I was super disappointed that my flight out of Colorado Springs was canceled. It wasn't even going thru Denver. Now I'm starting...
I am currently a Southwest customer. I was supposed to have flown out of Colorado Springs December 22nd, but my flight was delayed. So I rebooked to the first flight out today, December 25th, and Southwest rebooked me to leave December 27th. I was flying to California to see my mom for Christmas. I was super disappointed that my flight out of Colorado Springs was canceled. It wasn't even going thru Denver. Now I'm starting to think I won't be able to get out to California at all. This has been a very disappointing Christmas!
I worked for SWA, and they treat their employees horribly. The amount of times I had to go to work sick was disgusting. As well as being herded like cows, treated like 5 year old humans, additional fees for a union who doesn’t have your back, pay for parking, and for $14 an hour. I was a backpacking guide for 20 years and I never had an injury. Was there for 8 months and was...
I worked for SWA, and they treat their employees horribly. The amount of times I had to go to work sick was disgusting. As well as being herded like cows, treated like 5 year old humans, additional fees for a union who doesn’t have your back, pay for parking, and for $14 an hour. I was a backpacking guide for 20 years and I never had an injury. Was there for 8 months and was injured. It took 7 months for surgery through their workman’s comp program. I was never given a restricted position, and I could just go find another job because of my torn tendon in my writing elbow. The Union, I paid out the ass for each month didn’t do a thing for me. There was no support from management and the feeling of SWA being a family next existed. It’s super sad.
Your 110 percent right on.thats how I saw it at bwi hub 2001thru2004.you got hurt your a throw away employee.but lazy ones high up pole kept there jobs even after hitting planes engine with a tug.
My family got on its plane in Denver this morning and then no flight crew showed up, so it was canceled. SW said there are no other flights for the rest of the day
Yeah… these “sick” employees were hitting the slopes for fresh pow. Locals and southwest know the trend…. If they are faking, they should be fired. I’m sick of prices going through the roof for everything while we get so much less in return. I hope they don’t get government assistance if they get fired. It’s time to do your part and WORK!!!
As I sit alone Christmas Day same as all the other comments here!! From Providence RI every flight was canceled to Florida on December 24 about ten minutes before flights were scheduled to leave. As people were literally pulled off plane to make room for quote a family by a pilot??? Thank you Southwest for not allowing me to spend Christmas with my family!! And yes been flying with you for twenty years!! At this...
As I sit alone Christmas Day same as all the other comments here!! From Providence RI every flight was canceled to Florida on December 24 about ten minutes before flights were scheduled to leave. As people were literally pulled off plane to make room for quote a family by a pilot??? Thank you Southwest for not allowing me to spend Christmas with my family!! And yes been flying with you for twenty years!! At this point only chose you because there are no other choices!! Because frankly you are useless!
It seems employers have forgot that a shortage in a market is a shortage at a given price level. They can always raise wages to induce a greater supply of labor.
Why didn’t they go to their shareholders months ago when they already were already stretching their operation? Fail to plan, plan to fail.
Looks like upper management needs replaced. Along with the union
I spent 3.months at SWA, worst job I ever had. Daily reminders that you will be fired for anything. So over that. Best move was resigning
I was a part of the southwest Denver mess on the 23rd, what do you recommend we should do to complain to southwest. We landed at 3am when it was supposed to be 7pm and sat on the plane for 2 hours in Dallas when we landed.
Selfishly would love a flight credit or some type of compensation for what we went through and how we missed my own mothers birthday.
It's amazing how no one seems to mind how corporations abuse people until it affects them personally
You hit the nail on the head. You sound like you are or were a part of the workforce
This makes me not want to fly SW. The mental/emotional stress SW employees/ pilots are dealing with can lead to mistakes that can lead to accidents. Don't want to put my life in their hands right now
We purchased tickets for my daughter and granddaughter months ago from Colorado to Tampa. So looking forward to spending the holiday together for first time since Covid
First it was delayed and last minute canceled with no one offering any assistance. No rebooking nothing. Spent hours on hold and then disconnected. So now it’s Christmas Day alone again. (4K2EMU).
I'm sorry, but if a job is forcing you to work disregarding your well being, it's time for a new job.
If they’re sick, they can go get a doctor’s note. If they’re not sick, they call it abuse. Please spare me the victim liberal fake outcry
Try having low income medical insurance. It usually takes 2 months to get an appointment. Then try working for a corporation, you'll see what the workforce is complaining about.
Show up sick, infect your co-workers, who can then pass your illness along to the traveling public.
Lincoln freed the slaves in 1863, Michael.
People not showing up to do their jobs and the general lazy anti work ethic is the reason these situations happen. People need to grow up and suck it up.
Corporations also need to give their employees livable wages instead of giving the profits to their CEO's who delegate their own duties to other employees while they go play golf.
Not pleased with Southwest. Canceled flights line at the airport was out the door I ended up canceling my flight online hopefully I will get a refund. This is no way to run an airline. Missed Christmas with my family. I fly a lot and Southwest and Air Canada are by far the worst airlines I have used.
So terminating associates does what? After reading this who would ever wish to work for SW Airlines? They've not only angered their customers; they're alienating their most important customer: their associates.
This is where upper management needs to get their hands dirty and step down to help their employees. Now that would be a big headline.
Maybe they have more trouble in Colorado because of all the stoner employees!
That's just really hilarious
Nope …. Powder day!
Then why only Southwest and not any other airline? Nope, this is on management. If you treat your employees like crap, don't be surprised when they don't go the extra mile for you.
I was there. The weather I denver was dry and chilly but not cold with no wind. We arrived at the airport 4.5 hours before our flight to Cozumel. The south west app showed our flight was on time. We then discovered a line that we were told had 1000 people in it. We finally made it to the kiosk to check our bags but found out our flight was canceled. No one was there...
I was there. The weather I denver was dry and chilly but not cold with no wind. We arrived at the airport 4.5 hours before our flight to Cozumel. The south west app showed our flight was on time. We then discovered a line that we were told had 1000 people in it. We finally made it to the kiosk to check our bags but found out our flight was canceled. No one was there to direct us. Other passengers told us to go to the full service line. That line snaked around. We waited forever in that line. Finally we got to one of 6 agents who appeared to be working as slowly as possible. She indicated we could have our group fly out separately on the 27th to Houston then hope to get a flight to Cozumel. We selected to cancel and get a refund. She gave us receipts for a refund but so far there is no refund to my credit card. She blamed the weather but another employee told his customer that a bunch of employees walked out. Southwest should have prevented this disaster. I am beyond horrified with the whole debacle. I should’ve gotten an instant refund and some future credit for the nightmare.
Shameful way to treat employees.
My son’s flight(s) were cancelled one after the other. The last flight from Indianapolis was delayed at least 30-40 times before it was cancelled. In this day and age it is deplorable to not know where your pilots and crew are and whether they are going to be at a designated flight. To ask people to be at the airport for 8 hours just to then cancel the flight is utterly shameful. It is time...
My son’s flight(s) were cancelled one after the other. The last flight from Indianapolis was delayed at least 30-40 times before it was cancelled. In this day and age it is deplorable to not know where your pilots and crew are and whether they are going to be at a designated flight. To ask people to be at the airport for 8 hours just to then cancel the flight is utterly shameful. It is time for Southwest’s leadership to move on. You have dropped the ball too many times. Thanks for ruining our Christmas.
The situation at Southwest Airlines operation in Denver is clearly deplorable for all parties, customers, employees, and families and friends hoping to see loved ones arrive/depart.
Denver is experiencing extremely cold weather - but why are the operations at Southwest impacted more than the other carriers there, such as United. If it truly is just too cold for ramp workers to be outdoors for extended periods of time shouldn't this impact ALL the ramp...
The situation at Southwest Airlines operation in Denver is clearly deplorable for all parties, customers, employees, and families and friends hoping to see loved ones arrive/depart.
Denver is experiencing extremely cold weather - but why are the operations at Southwest impacted more than the other carriers there, such as United. If it truly is just too cold for ramp workers to be outdoors for extended periods of time shouldn't this impact ALL the ramp workers regardless of airline affiliation? But we are only hearing about the debacle at Southwest Airlines. I suspect there is more going on with union relations than is being reported. I feel for the people impacted by these difficult and trying cancellations and delays (employees and travelers).
My flight today is canceled, I can’t spend Christmas with my family this year. It’s so sad
All of these issues are spelled out in a clause in their union contract. Under specific scenarios, the company has the right to invoke emergency procedures and impose “extenuating circumstances” rules. Terminations require a formal hearing.
I am writing this as of Christmas Eve 2022. Our flight from Denver to Charlotte was delayed at least 5x times and we were told we were waiting for a pilot and then flight attendants. They finally secured the pilot but the flight attendants never showed. Then we were told that the flight was cancelled and we should collect our baggage at baggage claim and talk to the gate counter attendant about booking other options....
I am writing this as of Christmas Eve 2022. Our flight from Denver to Charlotte was delayed at least 5x times and we were told we were waiting for a pilot and then flight attendants. They finally secured the pilot but the flight attendants never showed. Then we were told that the flight was cancelled and we should collect our baggage at baggage claim and talk to the gate counter attendant about booking other options. The line for this became about a quarter of a mile long with travelers who had disabilities, elder travelers, and families with young children waiting in line for a total of 3 hours before an attendent told us that they were no longer taking questions at that gate so we should find another gate and stand in line there. The attendant also told us if there was any protesting she would have security come and take us away. This lead to another 2 hour wait in line in order to find out what our options were. At this time, there were lines around each open gate attendant with at least 50 people standing in line to speak to someone about getting a connection. in the meantime, there were constant announcements that gate changes were happening every 5 minutes. This in addition to announcements of cancellations or delays . We soon realized that we were in the midst of great chaos. The lines were everywhere at every Southwest counter. People were told they would not have a chance of getting to their destinations until the beginning of next week (maybe). My husband and I went around to the other airlines' ticket counters to check if we could secure a ticket with another airlines. We also went down to baggage claim where one lone baggage attendant tried his best to bring order to what looked like a war zone. Hundreds of bags were just either left on the carrels or just haphazardly piled on top of one another. The whole area was strewn with peoples' bags and created an obstacle course where weary travelers some in tears tried to claim their baggage. My husband and I were wandering around the airport observing the chaos and trying to get another flight. We ended up leaving the airport to find lodging as our only available flight would not be until the 26th and we would be put on two different flights one with a layover in Philadelphia and the other at Chicago O'Hare. No refunds for travel. Nothing. We ended up in a line for a shuttle to a hotel with another Southwest refugee. We were able to get a room for the night ( the last one). This whole experience was unbelievably bad for so many people. It is evident that Southwest is in a downward spiral and will cause its own demise. Treating your employees and customers as expendable will come back to haunt you and stop using the excuse for your failings as" because of the weather."
Hi Stephanie,
I am so sorry for the horrible experience you had yesterday with Southwest Airlines. Please make a complaint. I experienced a similar nightmare with Southwest yesterday. I am filing a complaint with the FAA, the DOT, and the ADA (my husband and I both have disabilities). Our flight was canceled due to staffing issues. Never made it to my destination but, apparently, my luggage is being sent there. We had to stand in...
Hi Stephanie,
I am so sorry for the horrible experience you had yesterday with Southwest Airlines. Please make a complaint. I experienced a similar nightmare with Southwest yesterday. I am filing a complaint with the FAA, the DOT, and the ADA (my husband and I both have disabilities). Our flight was canceled due to staffing issues. Never made it to my destination but, apparently, my luggage is being sent there. We had to stand in line for 5 1/2 hours to file a baggage claim to get our luggage back. Who knows if we will ever get it. Trying to get all of my money refunded. The outgoing fight was a Wanna Get Away Plus. Got airline credit. Never want to fly Southwest again so airline credit doesn’t work for me. There’s no excuse for what has happened over the last week. Weather was a contributing factor, but this was clearly primarily a massive management problem. The C suite needs to go.
Good luck with the complaint filing. All of these government agencies are as poorly run as Southwest. To be honest they don't give a damn as long as they are paid. As I said good luck,I really hope you get a response.
I don’t know what else to do. So I am trying to use what legal options are available. If you have other suggestions, I would be interested in hearing them.
Hi Anne,
Thanks for responding to my story and I am sorry to hear about yours. We will definitely be filing complaints and my son knows of a group that will advocate for the customers. As soon as I find out the name I will let you know via this conversation.
As a 50 yr recent retiree of another carrier let me tell you the majority of this problem is not most of the employees! It is management and corporate greed!
Most airlines have taken on more than they can fly. They schedule employees to their max acting like there are never delays or mechanicals. How many normal folks put in a 16-20 hour day and sometimes with no food available to them. During the...
As a 50 yr recent retiree of another carrier let me tell you the majority of this problem is not most of the employees! It is management and corporate greed!
Most airlines have taken on more than they can fly. They schedule employees to their max acting like there are never delays or mechanicals. How many normal folks put in a 16-20 hour day and sometimes with no food available to them. During the pandemic the airlines saw the opportunity to get rid of senior (higher paid employees) by offering them early outs paid for with the pandemic money. They figured they could hire 2 or 3 new hires for what they were paying the more senior employee. Unfortunately, because of this and the low pay new hires are not sticking around. Did you know that the new hire pay is so low that many qualify for food stamps and subsidized housing?
The biggest mistake ever was deregulation of the airlines. They have proven time and time again they are incapable of managing themselves.
Spot on. While I am a firm believer in capitalism, the greed shown here is appalling.
This sounds like management suspect that scheduled ground crew decided they don’t feel like to work and call in sick so they can spend their holidays with family. Obviously it’s hard to tell how many of them are really sick and how many of them are pretending to be sick. Reading comments on this article sounds like Denver ground crew has been understaffed, overworked, and morale is low. If I were the management team at...
This sounds like management suspect that scheduled ground crew decided they don’t feel like to work and call in sick so they can spend their holidays with family. Obviously it’s hard to tell how many of them are really sick and how many of them are pretending to be sick. Reading comments on this article sounds like Denver ground crew has been understaffed, overworked, and morale is low. If I were the management team at SW, I would hire a new management team at Denver to see if they can fix the operational problems or just close that hub all together. Why soil your reputation on one location? Sometimes problems are impossible to fix or too costly to fix. You gotta know when to walk. To me, this hub sounds like way too costly to deal with. Time to move on.
Not just cruel, Ben.
Devaluing employees, disrespecting them, too.
Underpaid and understaffed has its price. If the underpaid and understaffed workforce gets fed up, the understaffing plan turns into a death spiral for the company. Less staff saves money? No, actually!
Welcome to an MBA case study.
Unfortunately, Workers agree to a Union contract, and then complain about it? Get rid of the union because they do not care about their people, only the money they can secure from them. I have worked numerous holidays, but it is what it is. Can you live on UN-employment? I can't. I work the overtime, do get burned out, but love getting the extra money, especially at 2 1/2 times the pay, plus higher pay...
Unfortunately, Workers agree to a Union contract, and then complain about it? Get rid of the union because they do not care about their people, only the money they can secure from them. I have worked numerous holidays, but it is what it is. Can you live on UN-employment? I can't. I work the overtime, do get burned out, but love getting the extra money, especially at 2 1/2 times the pay, plus higher pay for 2nd and 3rd shift times. I know a lot of workers who abuse the system, and they do not care about the burden it puts on their fellow workers. They are all for themselves, do not work as a group or help each other out. I know a great deal who step far above and beyond to get the work done, each and everyday. My take is, you don't want to work, then leave and go screw up some other company. This includes the ticket agents as well. This is a customer based job. So all of the whiners take your case somewhere else. This is not so much corporate greed and they do not have the manpower to handle that kind of chaos with their staff. If they did, there would be a union issue with workers who are not union doing union jobs. The pandemic has caused people not to work because the government was bailing them out with high UN-employment money. I have seen people have or say they have COVID up to 4 times. So they did not realize that this is real, and refuse to protect themselves or their family? I have been in the workforce over 40 years, and my teachings were always work your best and help others. Today workforce is I got a cold, do not want to come in because I can take sick leave, my child is sick and I need to take care of them, can't get fired because I am a union person, don't care about how well I perform my job, take my time at my job, do not care about any customers, play on my cell phone, and if anyone doesn't like it, too bad. I also agree that upper management does need more involvement, but the union puts the brakes on about that. I work in one of these environments. I Have I had travel delays. More than I can count in 40 plus years. It happens. People who choose to fly on Holidays, are insane to think that there would be no delays and everything is honky dory. Want to put a squeeze on the airlines, fairly simple. See your families either well before or after the holidays, watch the weather reports, do not attempt travel in extreme cold, snow storms across the country. Flights delay in all states when a storm is moving. the airlines won't fly because no one will book under these conditions or dates. That will hit them hard in the pocket book for millions loss. When the gas prices went sky high, how did we retaliate? Drove less, so they did not sell gas, had an over abundance like they do now, and had to lower the prices to get people to buy off the excessive amount of gas they have now. The government has given the people the right to have a lot of extra causes not to work, without fear of termination. Corporations do not get a say in the new laws, and they must abide by them. I feel deeply for all of the people who had to suffer through this experience, but look at the big picture, not just a small thumbnail.
thanks for the christmas eve text. the flight is canceled, 8 hours before departure and rebooked for two days later. ???don't know waht to say.called no one answers the phone, or on hold tell they hang up on you.
What I don’t understand is emergency was declared 12.21.22 at ~13:45pm MST, we check in and 9hrs later we are rebooked 3 days out, miss Christmas and shortens the family trip to a couple days and no compensation, no voucher.. nothing. If this was a problem since 12.21.22 why and how has nothing changed for 3+ days? This is not weather, there should be accountability and compensation. They were bailed out and this is how...
What I don’t understand is emergency was declared 12.21.22 at ~13:45pm MST, we check in and 9hrs later we are rebooked 3 days out, miss Christmas and shortens the family trip to a couple days and no compensation, no voucher.. nothing. If this was a problem since 12.21.22 why and how has nothing changed for 3+ days? This is not weather, there should be accountability and compensation. They were bailed out and this is how we are treated. This is thousands of dollars of added expense now on me, and we will miss Christmas with family because SW can’t seem to manage. This sounds like a lawsuit in the making.
My kids and grandbaby were flying from Tucson to Denver today and the plane was there from Las Vegas and the pilots just walked off. So they had to cancel the flight with 10 minutes till boarding. No Southwest flights coming to Colorado until after Tuesday all are full. Kids crying and so disappointed- we drove in from Nebraska to hopefully celebrate Christmas in Steamboat. It sounds like a fake sick out- why aren’t other airlines having trouble.
It's not just Denver, either. Wife gets a flight to Reno yesterday. Delayed. Delayed again. Then cancelled. Rebooked for today. Delayed 2 hours. Then finally leaves for first leg to San Diego before going to Reno. Leg to Reno is cancelled. She's now stuck in San Diego. Something automatically rebooked her for a flight on Monday. So what's she going to do for two days, one of which is Christmas? I was supposed to go...
It's not just Denver, either. Wife gets a flight to Reno yesterday. Delayed. Delayed again. Then cancelled. Rebooked for today. Delayed 2 hours. Then finally leaves for first leg to San Diego before going to Reno. Leg to Reno is cancelled. She's now stuck in San Diego. Something automatically rebooked her for a flight on Monday. So what's she going to do for two days, one of which is Christmas? I was supposed to go to Denver today. Delayed an hour. Then 1.5 hours. Then cancelled. I think I heard that they couldn't get a 1st Officer to complete the crew. What a mess.
Next time I’m flying Delta. I may have to pay a few dollars more for my ticket but at least I’ll get there. They have a much better reliability record with their flights as well as with their employees.
Makes me so mad. I wanna know why my flight from dallas to lax was canceled 1.5 hrs before the flight was expected to take off at 805p. They had ample time to let ppl know before spending money on parking and ubers! I'm bout to report them to bbb
The reason a company threatens to fire you over an absences is because the employees are largely taking time off for no good reason and this hurts production. Therefore, the company warns the employee thereby giving them a chance to keep their job. If they call in too much then the employee is a liability and must be terminated. This makes sense to those who own and run businesses. It doesn't to others who just...
The reason a company threatens to fire you over an absences is because the employees are largely taking time off for no good reason and this hurts production. Therefore, the company warns the employee thereby giving them a chance to keep their job. If they call in too much then the employee is a liability and must be terminated. This makes sense to those who own and run businesses. It doesn't to others who just don't know what it takes to successfully run one. Most people think if a business is just nice and sweet all the time with all kinds of wonderful bonuses then employees will respond in kind. It's a fantasy to think that is a reality
FLY AMERICAN AIRLINES
Would not answer phone, grossly understaffed at Chicago Midway. I have been in line for 2 hrs, estimating 2 more. Have to stay in line because Southwest is not answering phones
My family stuck in Mexico and no near term hope getting home. I depend on the airlines to perform or not sell tickets!
It is what you get when a young workforce wants to do as they please, and an old school management style collide. Also a greedy business plan that probably includes operating at minimal staffing levels to insure maximum profits.
Threatening to fire staff to solve a lack of staff doesn't seem like the smartest move.
Also, by forcing an in person doctor's note, I wonder if this only exacerbates the problem because if it takes a week to get an appointment, and you have to have the note by the time you are back to work, you then have to stay on sick leave for a week rather than just a day if you just had a bit of a cold or were just unfit for work one particular day.
Because son (who just turned 20) is stuck at the airport because of this. They canceled his original flight. Then flew him all over the place from Miami to wind up in Sacramento which his final destination is Seattle. Miami to Denver to Vegas to Sacramento to nowhere!!Then wasting all day to find out they just canceled the flight. No explanation no assistance nothing but a lousy voucher to an airline I will never fly...
Because son (who just turned 20) is stuck at the airport because of this. They canceled his original flight. Then flew him all over the place from Miami to wind up in Sacramento which his final destination is Seattle. Miami to Denver to Vegas to Sacramento to nowhere!!Then wasting all day to find out they just canceled the flight. No explanation no assistance nothing but a lousy voucher to an airline I will never fly again. Been on hold for hours will customer service and still on hold. We would of booked a different airline out of Miami if they would of been honest and upfront. They have just been jerking him around and flying him to random airports for apparently no reason. Now telling him crap like we can get you there Tuesday. This is completely unacceptable! They should of contacted passengers on the 21st once they declared there state of emergency operations to see if they could rearrange they travel plans. He works remote and could of easily done that. However they said nothing and never contacted passengers. This is the worst customer service ever. I get people calling in sick and have no problem with that. However once they declared an operations emergency they should of contacted passengers. Plus at this point who knows where his luggage is.
Just mentioning, this happened a few year sago. I flew LX to EWR and we waited 2 hours for hold baggage to be unloaded. I too firmly asked what was taking so long and if that was appropriate, I was threatened with arrest by the LX employee in charge. She was in charge till the station manager heard from me, LOL.
It turns out LH group was having a contract issue with third party baggage handlers.
I haven't missed a day of work in 50 years. The new generation of workers are a bunch of wimps. Suck it up and go to work!
“I haven't missed a day of work in 50 years.”
Everyone was asking “How many days of work has DT missed in 50 years?”
And like Jesus Himself, you heard and answered.
Thank you.
I gave up on WN pre pandemic . The final straw was a simple BWI-MDW round trip. Great flights , terrific flight crews , on time then …… over 1 hour waits on both ends for baggage claim. I asked for managers at each location and got “supervisors” who told me the same thing- the company will not authorize the appropriate ramp headcount to handle the level of flight activity at both airports . Over 1 hour wait for bags on 1.5 hour flights just doesn’t work for me.
I worked for Envoy Air (formerly American Eagle) from May 2022-Oct 2022 @DFW) and this was standard protocol for them. I'm finding it hilarious that this policy seems new. We were told that we had to come in sick with COVID or strep or get a "point". 3 points and you are fired. When I questioned why we were knowingly getting our already low numbers of staff members sick, in addition to passengers, I was...
I worked for Envoy Air (formerly American Eagle) from May 2022-Oct 2022 @DFW) and this was standard protocol for them. I'm finding it hilarious that this policy seems new. We were told that we had to come in sick with COVID or strep or get a "point". 3 points and you are fired. When I questioned why we were knowingly getting our already low numbers of staff members sick, in addition to passengers, I was told, "You are not getting fired for getting sick, you are getting fired for adding to the last two points (Also for sick leave with a doctor's note) you already have. AA/Envoy has been pushing these shirts policies for quite a while. Further, out of the 100 people hired in May, only 4 remain. They had no one to train gate agents and we were instructed to just roam the terminals and beg another gate agent to have us "shadow" them. Since they got zero extra pay for this and the added burden of them getting a point for a late take off, they usually refused. Working for an airline now is a joke. I was screamed at and threatened a point for not being "uniform complient" (thank you, Corso) for not having my name badge on....only problem, they were on six months back-order and not yet arrived. Management a joke. No job is worth constant threat of losing your job. The worry is enough to give you cancer.
You would be surprised to see that most managers who are like that are actually dumbasses when you get to know them.
Sorry not just Denver. I am not buying any of it. When planes are delayed 3 and 4 hours, with so many different excuses for the same flight, finally boarded and then passengers sit on the plane for an hour with all kinds of airport lies only to cancel the flight, over and over again. The weather is not an issue at this point. Its just mismanagement and lack of customer concern. They need consequences.
Laying down limits in the face of mass absenteeism is not cruel it’s just business. This attitude that we all have the option to work each day is not sustainable. Something really wrong at Southwest.
Yeah, not paying livable wages. If the pay is high enough, you’ll have workers. Same as everywhere else.
A Southwest ramp agent makes about $20 an hour. While you won't get rich, the pay is more than you will make in retail or hospitality businesses.
Most of the threats made in the memo are illegal in Colorado. "Just business" may mean exploiting and abusing workers when you can get away with it, but that's another topic.
This has been going on ALL year! I drove Ltft and Uber in Denver with multiple passengers who I took back to DIA from hotels in Green Valley Tanch because they arrived at DIA later in the evening and there were no Southwest Airlines employees to get their luggage off the plane! There were misses connecting flights. Southwest needs to got it right.
My daughter’s flight from Den to Cos was cancelled and she was rebooked for three days later. We paid for a hotel, picked her up and now We are waiting in line three days later for her luggage. Been waiting 40 minutes already with all the people stranded. What a disaster. Two ticket agents for 50 people and they have to handle lost luggage too?
Southwest went from a great low-cost airline to a greedy insensitive one. Not surprising that they are blaming their employees for management issues The new policies have so many preboardeers that a-list and business select is almost worthless. And prices are way up. I have a companion pass for all of 2023 and may not even use it!
I can see the airline managements point, although getting same-day Dr. visits for a note probably requires an ER walk-in........this is obviously about the busiest travel day of the year and a major weather problem to boot so those that call in "sick", but aren't, are doing so only for themselves and not stepping up to the plate. Maybe they are all sick, but it sounds like there was a very unusual number of absences....
I can see the airline managements point, although getting same-day Dr. visits for a note probably requires an ER walk-in........this is obviously about the busiest travel day of the year and a major weather problem to boot so those that call in "sick", but aren't, are doing so only for themselves and not stepping up to the plate. Maybe they are all sick, but it sounds like there was a very unusual number of absences. I mean they were scheduled, right?? As an employer myself I do see a lacadaisical work ethic with increasing frequency, and you just cant run a business (especially a small one) without reliable employees.
That’s because crews are playing games and are not really sick. Someone with a true illness or family emergency would not have any problem providing proof.
I work for another airline. Our inflight people are doing the same thing. They’re Union so nothing will happen. Just screwing over the passengers and the people on the phone that have to talk to understandably angry people because of THEIR actions.
I was in the Denver airport this morning and saw much of the meltdown. While the line to head to the kiosk to check in a bag was only 30 minutes long (although many of the kiosks were down), the line to have an attendant take your checked bag snaked all the way through Southwest’s entire check in area (multiple times), the reports we heard from people were that they were waiting in the line...
I was in the Denver airport this morning and saw much of the meltdown. While the line to head to the kiosk to check in a bag was only 30 minutes long (although many of the kiosks were down), the line to have an attendant take your checked bag snaked all the way through Southwest’s entire check in area (multiple times), the reports we heard from people were that they were waiting in the line for 2 hrs (as of 7:30am). At the same time, the “full service” line and cancelled flights line also seemed to be weaving throughout the concourse, with nobody from Southwest directing or giving any sense of organization to the passengers. We headed to the outside sports equipment curb checking option on floor 6 since we had skis and that line was only 30 minutes. Flight was 2 hrs delayed largely due to a delayed/missing stew, but we also waited for 2 stews from other airlines (frontier and delta) to tag along. While it was hectic and chaotic, a do have to give props to many Denver passengers who just seemed to accept these horrid delays as part of holiday travel, witnessing no melt downs or screaming from the passengers. Last words: Strongly consider that if you need to check a bag (especially sports equipment) to use the outdoor checking option in Denver going forward.
Waited 6 hours only to have our flight cancelled. Now we can’t even get our luggage. At least we live here in Denver.
The one thing that I noticed missing in this article is that Southwest Upper Management, who is aware of the situation are not flying into Denver to replace the missing workers. I guess its easier to threaten your employees than it is to miss your holiday.
Been at DIA almost 8 hours, booked on an 8 am flight and hoping we get out.
If upper level management lost 10K from their bonus every time a flight was delayed I'll bet they would make better decisions. I am an owner of a company with employees around the country, I have stepped in many times when people called out sick. I also understand the woes of people calling in and faking after...
Been at DIA almost 8 hours, booked on an 8 am flight and hoping we get out.
If upper level management lost 10K from their bonus every time a flight was delayed I'll bet they would make better decisions. I am an owner of a company with employees around the country, I have stepped in many times when people called out sick. I also understand the woes of people calling in and faking after the plandemic but I blame the government for that. They gave employees the excuse and in Colorado you cannot legally fire an employee if they tell you they have covid. You also cannot legally ask for a doctor's note so unfortunately that's what that FMLA line in the email means. If an employee says they have covid, there is nothing Southwest or any other company in Colorado can do. That's thanks to our Idiots in the government. They also will get paid sick leave and if they are terminated they will likely get unemployment...also thanks to Our Idiot government but as long as people continue to vote for the democrats, this will only get worse. Just look at gas prices!!
And sorry to make this political but uts the truth. Too many people feel they are entitled to a job, entitled to overtime,, and for that matter entitled to employees automatically work without taking care of them. It's a two-way street, employers need to take care of their employees but employees also need to show up. We need to get the government out of our business and make it easier for businesses to run things logically, take away incentives for big business and sea level Executives one of business is failing, but none of that will happen until we get our political house in order.
The best thing everybody can do that was affected is send an email call and do everything you can to infatuate Southwest Airlines customer service so they are bombarded with complaints. Demand your money back and axditional compensation, and take to the public Airwaves like social media, emails text messages letters to the FAA, local news or and anything else you can do to make noise. And lastly take your money out of the stock market if you have it in southwest. I guarantee if the stocks went down on Monday by 80% the big vested Executives would notice!!
Just my two cents.
What happened to all the Covid relief money the airlines all got to prevent labor shortages by avoiding layoffs and terminations?
Stock buybacks to goose the share prices.
If enough quit or are terminated then the airline will be stuck for a long time rather than just a few days around Christmas. It seems that WN is going people choose to come back to work when really they don't have to. And isn't Colorado a right to work state anyway?
people are so disrespectful and have no dedication to performance, being reliable, pride in themselves. SW Airlines is asking nothing out of the ordinary. the pandemic taught us to be wimpy, selfish people and not care about the greater good. If there is a personal emergency and an employee hasn’t taken off 10 days in the last 2 months randomly, then I imagine the company would work with them. Usually there is a pattern. PRIDE
I don't see you going out and working as a ramper for WN. Lecture us some more, Karen.
Her name was Mary, not Karen.
Her name was Mary, but she's a Karen.
Shit must have hit the fan, and sorry to break it to you Ben but people will call out when it sucks outside. SWA treats its employees fairly and compensates them very good. Its one of those rare events where everyone needs to step up. The lazy unmotivated people that are able to work but don't want to get cold are the ones ruining it for everyone else. So if someone has to come to...
Shit must have hit the fan, and sorry to break it to you Ben but people will call out when it sucks outside. SWA treats its employees fairly and compensates them very good. Its one of those rare events where everyone needs to step up. The lazy unmotivated people that are able to work but don't want to get cold are the ones ruining it for everyone else. So if someone has to come to work instead of being with a loved one that needs them it is 100% on the unmotivated that don't want to work during a storm. I hate mandatory overtime but sometimes its necessary.
So maybe you don't live in Colorado or understand that we've had a blizzard and the Arctic blast with high winds bringing -19° to -35° temps.
There were statewide advisories to stay indoors bc of life threatening conditions. So of course, no one showed up to work.
The days of the LUV airline have been long gone. That stopped when Herb left the airline. Then it turned into the only thing they Loved was making money. Their thinking is they used to have hundreds of people wanting to work for southwest That you are replaceable so you can leave anytime. When we were having the COVID-19 situation they wanted everyone to take a pay cut. Some departments did and some didn't. But...
The days of the LUV airline have been long gone. That stopped when Herb left the airline. Then it turned into the only thing they Loved was making money. Their thinking is they used to have hundreds of people wanting to work for southwest That you are replaceable so you can leave anytime. When we were having the COVID-19 situation they wanted everyone to take a pay cut. Some departments did and some didn't. But now with inflation going crazy have they offered any of their employees extra money to help us out. NOPE they haven't. So what's the difference? When it takes them 5 years for us to get a new contract so that's 5 years with out a raise for the ones topped out. This is the Southwest that it has come to. They did have body's to work but they were one of the companies that made it mandatory to get the shot.
How dare WN be dictator. Their entire DEN workforce should walk. People don’t know the other side of being a ramper. Had a relative that worked at a UA station. There were 3 rampers max scheduled during busy summer nights when 4 aircraft would pull in between 9 - 11 pm. They’re expected to unload, reload, restock and clean the aircraft, take paywobs (passengers arriving without bags) and sometimes would be at the station till...
How dare WN be dictator. Their entire DEN workforce should walk. People don’t know the other side of being a ramper. Had a relative that worked at a UA station. There were 3 rampers max scheduled during busy summer nights when 4 aircraft would pull in between 9 - 11 pm. They’re expected to unload, reload, restock and clean the aircraft, take paywobs (passengers arriving without bags) and sometimes would be at the station till all hours of the morning. This, was in a location with almost perfect year round weather. These guys and girls work hard…can you imagine what it’s like with its many degrees below zero. If some idiot in their ivory tower sent me a letter or email they’d see dust coming out of my car as I sped away to get a job at a real airline. Shame on you southwest. You’ve lost my respect, and possibly my business…..I certainly will think twice about taking them how seeing how they seem to take care of their employees
Not everyone is motivated and now adays few seem to want to work. Is it fair to the tens of thousands of people who want to see friends and family to miss events because a ramper is lazy?
Yes.
All those folks are on their 3rd or 4th bout of COVID these days, taking up hospital beds or disabled from long COVID, they aren't the ones showing up to work right now.
That’s like American at CLT. Except CLT is getting hit way, way worse. Look into it :)
Herb be rolling over in his grave!!!!
He was southwest !!!! He treated everyone like family. Knew everyone's name. Now it is a whole different airline. SWA 37 year employee
Southwest never did that, United did…
but keep up the crazy if it helps you sleep at night
I am one of the many SWA travelers caught up in the Denver delays. The SWA employees are facing a taxing job at the moment. Irate travelers are yelling at the employees who showed up to work and are doing their job to the best of their ability with the resources they have.
SWA should reverse their train of thought on how they handle their employees. Thanking their employees and providing cash incentives and/or...
I am one of the many SWA travelers caught up in the Denver delays. The SWA employees are facing a taxing job at the moment. Irate travelers are yelling at the employees who showed up to work and are doing their job to the best of their ability with the resources they have.
SWA should reverse their train of thought on how they handle their employees. Thanking their employees and providing cash incentives and/or paid days off would improve employee engagement, then maybe employees would want to come into work and not call in sick. Perhaps saving SWA from negative press and reputation.
Cali Saga
First off, I want to append to the beginning of this post and say how amazing all of the front line #southwestairlines employees are, they are busting it to get it done. From the flight attendants that were on my final leg wrapping up an 18 hour day with total grace to the baggage people in Denver that stayed WAY past their shift to try and sort through the mountains of bags. SW...
Cali Saga
First off, I want to append to the beginning of this post and say how amazing all of the front line #southwestairlines employees are, they are busting it to get it done. From the flight attendants that were on my final leg wrapping up an 18 hour day with total grace to the baggage people in Denver that stayed WAY past their shift to try and sort through the mountains of bags. SW had a post out there that they were going to discipline employees that might have called in, this is a huge mistake, they should be trying to figure out a way to make the work environment better for them instead of threatening them. This is clearly an executive issue, you have booked so many legs, you do not have the staff to cover it, and then a catastrophe like this happens and you threaten them, shame on you.
Anyway, back to the SAGA!!!
21st first flight out of SNA cancelled at 11:00 am. Rebooked on 9:10pm flight out of Ontario - had to take a $120 Lyft ride up to Ontario flight delayed to 10pm, boarded the plane only to be told the flight was cancelled!
Called SW to break up our flights, I was booked on a flight at 8am out of Long Beach, Austin had to purchase points so he could try and make his flight to Boston, he was booked on a 5:30am flight out of LAX through Denver to Boston. Rented a car ($90) to get back to Long Beach where we still had a hotel room for one more night from Water Polo! Arrived back at that Hotel at 1am to a room that had been stripped! Got random blankets and pillow cases from the front desk so we could try and get some sleep!
Austin heads to LAX at 4am only to get his flight cancelled while on the rental car shuttle to the airport. I arrive at Long Beach, hopeful to get on my 8am flight…show up, gets delayed until 10am, I get a Breakfast Burrito and a Bloody Mary in anticipation of the inevitable! Yes, Cancelled!
I was rebooked on an afternoon flight on the 25th automatically, called SW again, they at least pulled it in to the 24th. Thinking this was my fate, I get a car and a room for two nights in Long Beach! Called SW again just to see if I had any other options, agent finds me a 2:50 flight out of Burbank through Sacramento to get back after 8 in Denver. Cancel Long Beach Hotel and Long Beach rental car, book another rental car one way to Burbank and book a hotel in Burbank. And so the Saga continues….
Made it on my flight I Burbank that left approximately 30 minutes late, well that didn’t matter because the Sacramento to Denver flight would end up being two hours late departing, however we did get in the air. Landed in Denver at 10:18 taxied over to the terminal, only to sit on the plane at this point it is 11:31 and we still are waiting on a gate because it is too cold for the fuel trucks to fuel the plane that is at our gate!!! So will I spend the first part of my Christmas Eve on the ramp in Denver? Looking pretty good!!!
Finally was able to get off the plane at 12:30, now on to baggage claim, haha. Got to Carousel #2 to an absolute logjam of luggage (see pictures!). People were waiting around saying that they had been there for hours waiting for their luggage, so I jumped a shuttle over to FINE to get the car, because by the time I arrive back over to the terminal my luggage would surely be there…NOPE! As we were waiting, the carousel just kept getting more full to the point it was jammed up and could not move. Not 1 carousel, this was #2 - #6, so myself and another guy started offloading the carousel and stacking bags by flight number to free the carousel to allow the next bags to come in, we continued this until 4am, at this point I checked with OZ at the computer, only to be told that my bags were still on the airplane. Southwest had what appeared to be 6 or so baggage people trying to answer questions, but even they did not know where and when bags would come. So as new bags would pop up on a carousel, I would run back over to them at the podium so they could at least announce what was coming up where. At 4:15, I could not handle it any longer and headed home, I arrived home at 5:30 and got some sleep. 10am, heading back to Denver to retrieve my bags!
Oh Yeah…Austin is on a plane on the 24th to Austin then Boston, hoping he does not also experience this!
Update…Austin made it and I was able to get all three of my bags thanks to my apple air tag, took me right to it! Again, a HUGE thank you to all those #southwestairlines employees that are killing it in the eyes of complete chaos!
End of the SAGA only to do it again on the 27th!!!
I'm in Denver right now , no wonder Southwest is can't operate properly. They have huge lines where I'm standing, but desk employees (all of them) just went for a lunch...not one at the turn but all went for a lunch brake...this is how they care about people and customers ...
I guess if all you’ve got is a MAGA hammer, everything looks like a MAGA nail.
Things are bad in Baltimore. Flight scheduled to Cincinnati at 10:20 has not left. Passengers told no pilot.
Wow, this is really old fashioned leadership that in no way a partnership with the mosts important people at the airline. The note was ridiculous and even though someone wrote it for the VP, he has been at Southwest long enough to know not to send it. I recommend asking "What would Herb do"? Go back to the Southwest culture of open communication and love.
What a ridiculous view point in this article. Did you even think about the actual damages to consumers?! We were caught up in this delay flying out of Denver Thursday the 22nd on a direct flight to New Orleans that was canceled. This delay has cost us over $2500 in flights, from a different airline, hotel, rental car, missed tours, and 2 days of vacation lost to sleeping in an airport in Minneapolis. You think...
What a ridiculous view point in this article. Did you even think about the actual damages to consumers?! We were caught up in this delay flying out of Denver Thursday the 22nd on a direct flight to New Orleans that was canceled. This delay has cost us over $2500 in flights, from a different airline, hotel, rental car, missed tours, and 2 days of vacation lost to sleeping in an airport in Minneapolis. You think that's it too much To ask employees to be accountable to their job just because of bad weather ..in COLORADO?!?. Everyone that has paid a fare has already contributed to them doing just that. Going to work! They need to follow their emergency plan, and fire everyone that can't just..GO TO WORK!
I am going to be applying for a job at Southwest after reading this because I will always be to work and if I have a little cold or something of course I’m still going to go to work and I’ve never called in sick for a job my entire life, even work with severe migraine, headaches a few times And it seems very suspicious that just because it’s very cold out that all these...
I am going to be applying for a job at Southwest after reading this because I will always be to work and if I have a little cold or something of course I’m still going to go to work and I’ve never called in sick for a job my entire life, even work with severe migraine, headaches a few times And it seems very suspicious that just because it’s very cold out that all these employees just happen to not show up for work at this time so I am going to be taking one of those employees jobs who will be fired and they should be fired, so I will be applying come Monday morning and I’ll pretty sure get the job so thank you employees who did not show up for work because you have given me a job and I work hard I will always be there not like you sissies
Sounds like a leadership problem to me.
Family in Cozumel. Southwest canceled their flight home to Denver this afternoon. No explaination. They were automatically rebooked. Part of the family on Monday and the rest of the family on Tuesday. And as there are only non-stop flights from Cozumel to Denver on Saturday, the return flights will take 8 hours instead of 4 hours. Total cost for the extra days housing, rental car, parking at DIA, and food will be approximately 3K. Pretty...
Family in Cozumel. Southwest canceled their flight home to Denver this afternoon. No explaination. They were automatically rebooked. Part of the family on Monday and the rest of the family on Tuesday. And as there are only non-stop flights from Cozumel to Denver on Saturday, the return flights will take 8 hours instead of 4 hours. Total cost for the extra days housing, rental car, parking at DIA, and food will be approximately 3K. Pretty sure Southwest Airlines doesn't care. What a sad situation.
3k is a lot of money. Are there no flights available on another airline?
Why would terminating people who have sick or personal needs help your labor issues ? Makes zero sense
Mandatory overtime is the worst thing you can do to employees as it ultimately backfires with employees calling in sick. Where I work, I often do 16 hour shifts due to Mandatory Overtime. We are now losing more workers than they can hire because of this policy. It has the opposite effect in the long run.
Likewise, to get an appointment to see a doctor in my community is a 6 week wait. The...
Mandatory overtime is the worst thing you can do to employees as it ultimately backfires with employees calling in sick. Where I work, I often do 16 hour shifts due to Mandatory Overtime. We are now losing more workers than they can hire because of this policy. It has the opposite effect in the long run.
Likewise, to get an appointment to see a doctor in my community is a 6 week wait. The "walk in" clinic is no longer in business, so this only leave the ER as an option.
The solution is to pay extremely well and have back-up staff.
This is a tough one. I would think that the employees knew what they signed up for when the Holiday Season comes around. Pretty important time to be at work!
I don’t necessarily agree with Southwest’s approach of termination. They are already short staffed, so terminating existing employees doesn’t seem like the right answer either.
I don’t know anything about SW Operations, so this is a shot in the dark. Maybe better communication with the...
This is a tough one. I would think that the employees knew what they signed up for when the Holiday Season comes around. Pretty important time to be at work!
I don’t necessarily agree with Southwest’s approach of termination. They are already short staffed, so terminating existing employees doesn’t seem like the right answer either.
I don’t know anything about SW Operations, so this is a shot in the dark. Maybe better communication with the employees about the Holidays and the importance of being at work. I would think there would be shift differentials for the Holidays to keep employees engaged. Maybe all of this exists.
Short on staff is an issue in every industry. Not sure where everybody went during and subsequent to the Pandemic, but most businesses are looking for more employees.
There are hundreds of refugees entering our country looking for a better life. Let’s open our doors and provide them jobs. Maybe the people that don’t want to work and are a drag on our society will get pushed out.
"Not sure where everybody went"..
Don't forget that of the million people who've died from COVID in the US, over 20% were working age, and millions more have been disabled from long COVID. Not that this accounts for every industry, but I agree with you that the only viable labor source will need to come from elsewhere.
I work in healthcare and we have tons of callouts every day because people are just sick and burned out all the time.
You get what you pay for.
SWA seems to be having this trouble at other airports, as well. Yesterday, Dec. 23, my flight to Denver from Orlando was delayed two hours because they hadn’t loaded luggage into the plane, making it so late we lost the pilot due to work hour limits and they couldn’t find a replacement, so the flight was cancelled - third SWA flight third day in a row cancelled. No flights available until 12/26. All they offered...
SWA seems to be having this trouble at other airports, as well. Yesterday, Dec. 23, my flight to Denver from Orlando was delayed two hours because they hadn’t loaded luggage into the plane, making it so late we lost the pilot due to work hour limits and they couldn’t find a replacement, so the flight was cancelled - third SWA flight third day in a row cancelled. No flights available until 12/26. All they offered was a $200 flight voucher that expires in a year. This was the first time they offered anything for any of the cancellations. While I’m grateful for that, we’ve had to pay for three nights of hotel rooms, three days of rental cars, food, etc., because of this. When I finally cancelled the ticket because I’ve had to switch to another airline to fly home, SWA refused to refund the upgrade I paid for the latest flight they cancelled. For an airline previously known for good customer service, I’m left scratching my head over the 20+ years of loyalty I’ve shown them and what I might have been missing with other airlines.
That was your first mistske showing loyalty to any of these crappy airlines...you actually think they give 2 sh**ts about you??
It seems many airlines are in meltdown or close to it. Wages, lack of staff, etc.
Employees are being pushed to sacrifice.
I don’t see this ending. I used to love to fly,
No more cattle car travel and frustration.
The govt has let the airlines do whatever,
smaller seats, differing refund policies, waiting on planes for hours, no food, full toilets, never ending missing bags. The madness for efficiency...
It seems many airlines are in meltdown or close to it. Wages, lack of staff, etc.
Employees are being pushed to sacrifice.
I don’t see this ending. I used to love to fly,
No more cattle car travel and frustration.
The govt has let the airlines do whatever,
smaller seats, differing refund policies, waiting on planes for hours, no food, full toilets, never ending missing bags. The madness for efficiency and massive profits are not working. CEO’s
squeezing every available avenue to minimize costs and taking home huge salaries and perks. . The bond between employees and management is in disrepair. The system needs a major reset.
Everyone thinks Southwest is the WORST airline experience for passengers…
Until you fly American, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Spirit, or United!
The experience may be bad on the others but at least they get you o your destination.
Just had our flight to denver canceled. Even though three other flights are going. They are trying to reroute but there are no flights available until Thursday. Ugh. No Christmas with family. They really need to take care of their employees so they can manage in the tough times. This working right in the margin just doesn't work unless everything goes perfectly.
Must be time for contract negotiations
RT’d through Denver in May on SW and was delayed > 1 hour on the outbound due to lack of ramp workers for luggage loading.
This is not a new problem.
Lolz at WN management going max "beatings until morale improves."
Let's see how this turns out for them.
Leaders offer incentives, positive motivation, and step up personally to lead in an emergency. Tyrants threaten and coerce to force people to comply with their demands. Which management style is now the spirit of Southwest?
Let me get this straight, you’ll fire someone for being sick, you’ll fire someone for not working overtime cause they are already doing the work of two or three persons that you fired. So I don’t see how this will make employee motivated to work there. Let’s get real SWA and reward your employee at the bottom of the pay scale with bonuses or overtime to work during the stressful holidays and sub-freezing weather (hazardous...
Let me get this straight, you’ll fire someone for being sick, you’ll fire someone for not working overtime cause they are already doing the work of two or three persons that you fired. So I don’t see how this will make employee motivated to work there. Let’s get real SWA and reward your employee at the bottom of the pay scale with bonuses or overtime to work during the stressful holidays and sub-freezing weather (hazardous pay at the very least). Also, don’t be surprised that nobody answers your ads for ramp workers!
I don’t blame them it’s Been as low as -17F at DEN …. I don’t know how much their tampers make but I suspect it’s not enough to be outside at -17
This is straight out of the "The Beatings Will Continue Until Morale Improves" playbook. There is heavy flu, RSV, and Covid (still) right now plus this weather was predicted. SW could have scaled back the flight schedule in advance but hey, capitalism. Much easier to book the flights for short term stock price and year end bonuses for execs and deal with the fallout later.
BTW for all the people dumping on the blue...
This is straight out of the "The Beatings Will Continue Until Morale Improves" playbook. There is heavy flu, RSV, and Covid (still) right now plus this weather was predicted. SW could have scaled back the flight schedule in advance but hey, capitalism. Much easier to book the flights for short term stock price and year end bonuses for execs and deal with the fallout later.
BTW for all the people dumping on the blue collar workers, you don't necessarily make a trip to the doctor if you have flu. Some probably are working even with sickness versus not wanting to work. And I guarantee you Southwest HR recently sent out an email about "your mental health is important and here are some resources for you" just like my understaffed company did. It is all about booking revenue versus actual customer service.
This is the what, 3rd, 4th operation meltdown for Southwest now?
I retired from Southwest in July after 28 years of loyal service. Let’s just be honest, Herb hasn’t run the place in the last 12 years. After 9 airlines, I can tell you what bad management looks like. You won’t see Gary Kelly or Bob Jordan or any of the others at work Christmas, let alone rallying the troops in Denver. They don’t listen. They can’t assimilate information. And they stay on the Business side of the house. We never saw them on the Operations side.
You hit the nail on the head! Kudos for speaking the truth.
When Southwest cancels a flight over 3 times and refuses to give a full credit? Why? It’s ridiculous that I have to pay for a companies greed and ineptitude.
I saw a news report on TV last night about a flight that arrived at destination with no bags in the hold. They apologized to their passengers and offered bag fee refunds but one has to wonder why the flight took off in the first place. Mistake or deliberate?
Wasn't that an Allegiant flight?
Kristen - I wasn’t sure which airline. You might be right.
So my girlfriend is disabled, and SW makes my girlfriend pay for a $200 hotel, not to mention a $200 uber due to THEIR cancelled flight (DIA was a transit from San antonio to Los Angeles). At 2am no less bc of delays from the San antonio to DIA flight.
AND she's DISABLED.
And they told her to leave the airport couldnt sleep overnight. Wtf is wrong with these people working (or not working)...
So my girlfriend is disabled, and SW makes my girlfriend pay for a $200 hotel, not to mention a $200 uber due to THEIR cancelled flight (DIA was a transit from San antonio to Los Angeles). At 2am no less bc of delays from the San antonio to DIA flight.
AND she's DISABLED.
And they told her to leave the airport couldnt sleep overnight. Wtf is wrong with these people working (or not working) here at DIA! It's not just the ramp loaders, apparently the customer service, airport staff, everyone seems to suck. I expect this at a place like bum F nowhere airport but not a major international airport.
Employees have an obligation to do their jobs. Full stop.
What are you management some where? You can only get up some many times. After you have been knocked down,(worked a 12 hour shift to close the station. Then get told you have to be back in 4 hours or lessback to open the station. From a SWA employee
So did slaves, pre-Civil War. Not sure what your point is: unless Southwest enslaves its employees, it can’t force them to go to work. (And nobody works harder than employees forced to work against their will.)
These poor ramp workers have been enduring multiple days of mandatory double shifts in this weather. It’s bound to wear them down- physically and mentally. And for that, they’re threatened with termination if they don’t allow themselves to continue getting kicked in the teeth. Merry Christmas…
We were picking up a family member from Denver International arriving on Southwest last night, Dec 23, and there were no gates available. That flight had to wait 2 1/2 hours to get a gate and finally got one at another airline who moved an empty plane for them because Southwest couldn't get their act together. Unbelievable!
Sounds like a bunch of disgruntled employees who teamed up to make southwest “pay”. We don’t know the full story, my guess is these issues have been culminating for months. It’s cold, it’s Christmas, you don’t like your job. Of course you suddenly don’t feel well.
You can work with a cold. If Covid taught us anything it’s that we over exaggerated the need to “isolate”. Communication in this memo is off, but come on....
Sounds like a bunch of disgruntled employees who teamed up to make southwest “pay”. We don’t know the full story, my guess is these issues have been culminating for months. It’s cold, it’s Christmas, you don’t like your job. Of course you suddenly don’t feel well.
You can work with a cold. If Covid taught us anything it’s that we over exaggerated the need to “isolate”. Communication in this memo is off, but come on. If someone’s family member is indeed dying I’m sure managers are ok with them not coming to work. This is to get those taking advantage of the system so stop.
I’m an actual SW ramper (not in Denver) and I can tell you it’s not to make Southwest pay. Denver is one of the worst stations to work in, constantly have temps because they can’t keep employees, increased flights despite a lack of staffing, etc.
It’s horribly run and definitely at no fault to rampers who are outside in single digit weather working, only to get mandatory overtime when it’s time for them to...
I’m an actual SW ramper (not in Denver) and I can tell you it’s not to make Southwest pay. Denver is one of the worst stations to work in, constantly have temps because they can’t keep employees, increased flights despite a lack of staffing, etc.
It’s horribly run and definitely at no fault to rampers who are outside in single digit weather working, only to get mandatory overtime when it’s time for them to leave. It’s even more laughable they’re refusing telemedicine when they’ve tried forcing Teledoc on us. This is one of those instances where you have no idea what’s going on and it’s just easy for you to pick the side of the large corporation.
I don't work for an airline, but I work for the city at DEN. I have worked from the 21st and will be finishing my week this morning (Christmas day) at 4am. We work 12 hour shifts, and were told months ago that if you call out, you will be reprimanded or fired. We have a different perspective, as we are neither passengers, nor the airline making the mistakes. It's understandable that you're frustrated and...
I don't work for an airline, but I work for the city at DEN. I have worked from the 21st and will be finishing my week this morning (Christmas day) at 4am. We work 12 hour shifts, and were told months ago that if you call out, you will be reprimanded or fired. We have a different perspective, as we are neither passengers, nor the airline making the mistakes. It's understandable that you're frustrated and upset about your travel issues, as someone who has to work here on the holidays I'm right there with you (except I get to go home when I'm done working). However, can you as a passenger show a little respect and gratitude in the employees that ARE showing up and working? Do you know how many times a day throughout the entire year we hear people complaining about some issue and acting like the world revolves around them and should always be perfect? You can be upset, you can be angry or frustrated, but look around you. There are hundreds of others in your exact same situation who aren't berating employees and acting like spoiled brats who didn't get the toy they wanted. Traveling during the holidays is a bad idea, traveling during a winter storm on the holidays is worse. My crew has done our best to make things work at the airport, and most people have been kind and courteous, but we have had a fair share of a**holes and I promise you, nobody is going to help you or want to help when you're being a d***. I've personally gone to the Hudson and been handing the wonderful ladies that work there cash, to pay for travelers purchases that are affected. I've been offering to go and look for people's car seats (which I could lose my job doing) because that is the one thing that I think nobody should be waiting on regardless of the situation. Take this holiday season differently, connect with the person next to you who's in the same boat, make new friends. Try to make the best of the worst, because I promise, making the worst even worse, helps nobody at all.
Stranded in DEN here. Flight was delayed and delayed and delayed last night until finally canceled at 3:00am. Gate agent simply flipped the sign to cancelled and walked away, leaving people with no where to go at 3am. All the hotels around DEN were fully booked by that time, we had to do a $75 cab into downtown to find a hotel.
Been on hold for 2+ hours multiple times only to have the...
Stranded in DEN here. Flight was delayed and delayed and delayed last night until finally canceled at 3:00am. Gate agent simply flipped the sign to cancelled and walked away, leaving people with no where to go at 3am. All the hotels around DEN were fully booked by that time, we had to do a $75 cab into downtown to find a hotel.
Been on hold for 2+ hours multiple times only to have the call disconnect. We’re fortunate enough to be able to afford a hotel stay of a few nights if necessary, but what in the world do others do? From the looks of it when we left the airport last night, thousands of people were stranded to spend the night in the airport, plenty with young kids.
Still no clear path out of here, either home or to our original destination.
Came to Denver for vacation and had no issues with the flight. Going home however hasn’t been so lucky. Had a flight the evening of December 23rd, was reported to be on time, even at time of boarding-but we didn’t board. Finally got told verbally in a delay and 3 hours later of that got officially cancelled. Line to speak to an agent was 100s deep with multiple flights cancelled and no hope in getting...
Came to Denver for vacation and had no issues with the flight. Going home however hasn’t been so lucky. Had a flight the evening of December 23rd, was reported to be on time, even at time of boarding-but we didn’t board. Finally got told verbally in a delay and 3 hours later of that got officially cancelled. Line to speak to an agent was 100s deep with multiple flights cancelled and no hope in getting someone on the phone. With no flights the next day we are stranded until at least Sunday and eventually had to book with another airline and still haven’t been able to get through to discuss a refund.
This is a great reminder that in the end, for all the talk of a company being "family," your employer is your overlord, not your friend.
Amen!!!!
I’m on team southwest here. You have thousands wanting to go home for Christmas and some bad Apple employees wanting the day off around Christmas. Fire them.
LOL!
*Someone* is missing the point…
Keep drinking the Southwest coolaid .from a 37 year employee. Herb has passed wish we could have someone like him. Treat employees like family. Now it is money,money and money
Or pay more?
My neighbor swears by Southwest and she’s flown them to the West Coast for years. After this last debacle she has joined me in being done with Southwest. I had flown Southwest for years. But I got caught in an operational meltdown and they were no help. Never say never, but I’ve been successfully avoiding them for the past 5 years.
On Thursday, I was heading from Las Vegas to Denver. The gate agent made an announcement asking for 48 (yes, 48!) volunteers to take another flight. The reason was to get Southwest crew members to Denver.
I had no issue taking another flight as long as Southwest would put me up in a hotel and feed me. So, I went up to the gate agent and said I was willing to give up my...
On Thursday, I was heading from Las Vegas to Denver. The gate agent made an announcement asking for 48 (yes, 48!) volunteers to take another flight. The reason was to get Southwest crew members to Denver.
I had no issue taking another flight as long as Southwest would put me up in a hotel and feed me. So, I went up to the gate agent and said I was willing to give up my seat to help.
Originally the agent stated it would be a couple of days to go back home to Denver, again, I had no issue of staying.
The agent said I would get a refund in vouchers but would need to book my return flight myself.
Oh, next flights available, in January. Plus if I wanted to try and use another airline, that would of been on my dime.
I felt bad for the gate agent and all I wanted to do try and do the right thing since there were many families just trying to visit family. However, with the chance of being stuck, I had to say no.
There was a Captain that told the waiting Southwest employees to go ahead and get on the flight.
I was in the “A” group, so I don’t know if and how many passengers were bumped off the flight.
I am grateful to be home
I had a 3:30 flight from Denver to Las Vegas on Thursday and they were deadheading 27 employees. They loaded the plane with everyone then made 10 passengers get off so that more crew could get on. Only six crew members got on so they put four people back on that were kicked off earlier. Then some of those people were removed a second time for some reason. We sat in our seats for two...
I had a 3:30 flight from Denver to Las Vegas on Thursday and they were deadheading 27 employees. They loaded the plane with everyone then made 10 passengers get off so that more crew could get on. Only six crew members got on so they put four people back on that were kicked off earlier. Then some of those people were removed a second time for some reason. We sat in our seats for two and a half hours at the gate while they tried to sort all this out and left with a few empty seats. I still don't have my bag and no one answers the phone at baggage claim.
As a former business owner you have to or should have the policy already in place and made employees very aware of the situation I'm sorry, but I agree with Southwest!
you are a trash capitalist
As a former business owner myself, I know that a business is not a slave galley. When the unexpected happens, that's when you find out if you've earned your employees' respect. If you've done right by them over the years, they'll pitch in. Southwest's management is getting a very public education in this.
Very poor precedent to be setting with some of the hardest working people in the industry. Bad weather, cold, winds, snow could cause some to stay home. Maybe a note from a local meteorologist. I wonder if Southwest is already running at minimum manning to put more money into the stockholders pockets. Sputhwest you do know firing everyone will only make matters worse.
It’s been horrible in Denver with no one to help or even support folks who have made it to this southwest hub after torturous conditions.
They wouldn’t let you fly on another airline threatening that they will send he check-in bag back to the origin. They expect you to stay at the airport for 48 hours with no options and any question you have needs to go through a line 4 hrs long or...
It’s been horrible in Denver with no one to help or even support folks who have made it to this southwest hub after torturous conditions.
They wouldn’t let you fly on another airline threatening that they will send he check-in bag back to the origin. They expect you to stay at the airport for 48 hours with no options and any question you have needs to go through a line 4 hrs long or call times which are never answered. US airline passengers don’t have rights- after all this it will be mentioned that this is a uncontrollable situation and no meal or hotel vouchers can be given.
Both my wife and I are fans of Southwest and use Denver International Airport as our home port. To me, they are the Tesla of the aviation world before Tesla ever existed (minus the Musk stupidity) due to their innovation. And they have/had a reputation of treating their employees well.
Having spent over three decades in the U.S. Marine Corps, I can't fathom not showing up for work, nor could my bride. Many is the...
Both my wife and I are fans of Southwest and use Denver International Airport as our home port. To me, they are the Tesla of the aviation world before Tesla ever existed (minus the Musk stupidity) due to their innovation. And they have/had a reputation of treating their employees well.
Having spent over three decades in the U.S. Marine Corps, I can't fathom not showing up for work, nor could my bride. Many is the day that we were both ordered to bed rest due to our showing up at work not feeling well, not because we were ordered to be at work, but we felt compelled to be there due to loyalty and to "set the example (even when it's not the greatest example).
But it's a different world we live in due to the pandemic and younger generations whose work/life balance is different than that of my generation.
It's sad to see this happening to Southwest, of all airlines, especially the threat of termination for so many reasons. I hope they are able to work this out and make it through the Holidays with a much higher on-time percentage.
It does make one think twice about flying with them in the future though, especially during a high-demand season like Christmas/New Years.
Working in travel and hospitality over a holiday requires sacrifice. It’s not a surprise there are crowds. And snow in Denver shouldn’t be a surprise. Cowboy up folks.
Can rampers work at any airport or only a specific one? If they could, it seems like it might be worth flying in a few from other bases and putting them up in hotels with extra pay for a few days
GOOD! Let Southwest meltdown, terminate staff when they’re already understaffed and then go into full liquidation because they’re such a mess. They are an absolute disgrace of a company and the most boring US airline with the ugliest paint scheme. Every choice that airline makes - from operations (making sick employees who call out ONE DAY go to a doctor AND require them to work mandatory overtime while denying any personal requests for time off)...
GOOD! Let Southwest meltdown, terminate staff when they’re already understaffed and then go into full liquidation because they’re such a mess. They are an absolute disgrace of a company and the most boring US airline with the ugliest paint scheme. Every choice that airline makes - from operations (making sick employees who call out ONE DAY go to a doctor AND require them to work mandatory overtime while denying any personal requests for time off) to the customer experience and marketing - are atrocious.
Businesses that operate such toxic and hostile work environments like this shouldn’t be in business. These employees should sue! This is an intentional tort where both punitive and compensatory damages can easily be calculated for the actions of Southwest against any employee terminated for any of their obscene requirements. It’s *not* the employees fault Southwest can’t properly staff it’s ops.
I'm going to guess Jake got fired from Southwest for faking being sick.
I agree. Either Jake got fired or he's just one of those "bah humbug" kind of people. According to JD Powers 2022 rankings, Jet Blue and Southwest were the two best domestic airlines in the U.S. this year.
Then maybe ML & Kevin are Southwest managers who had to get their hands dirty ramping-up for the holidays?
It was -13°F Thursday morning in parts of Denver, and there is tridemic (flu, RSV, and COVID) here…Southwest’s management was caught unaware, as no other airline at DEN is threatening their staff. Looks to me that Southwest’s management FU’ed.
@ML
Are you really that dumb or do you just like to post dumb replies? Why on earth would I ever work for what I just described as the most boring US airline with a toxic and hostile work environment?!
It actually was not that cold in denver. I worked Wednesday night and while it was snowing and cold, it was colder than normal but some people on here want to make it sound like it was -20° all over the city. Yes there were some spots like Colorado Springs where it was colder and probably up in the mountains but a Dia it was actually not that cold. I'm not saying it wasn't cold...
It actually was not that cold in denver. I worked Wednesday night and while it was snowing and cold, it was colder than normal but some people on here want to make it sound like it was -20° all over the city. Yes there were some spots like Colorado Springs where it was colder and probably up in the mountains but a Dia it was actually not that cold. I'm not saying it wasn't cold I'm just saying quit using the weather as an excuse. You live in Denver ... where it's cold!!
Not all employees are equal. Some work harder than others. Some will try to sham as much as possible.
There was a time when people would come to work, even when (mildly) sick. Say it was out of guilt, or pride, or whatever, people would still come in. A sympathetic boss might send the employee home (maybe even under protest). A flu-riden Michael Jordan in game 5 of the 97 NBA finals was lauded, idolized...
Not all employees are equal. Some work harder than others. Some will try to sham as much as possible.
There was a time when people would come to work, even when (mildly) sick. Say it was out of guilt, or pride, or whatever, people would still come in. A sympathetic boss might send the employee home (maybe even under protest). A flu-riden Michael Jordan in game 5 of the 97 NBA finals was lauded, idolized even. Not anymore.
In the post-covid era, MJ playing that game would be thought of as unconscionable. People figured out that, under the cover of illness, they could get easy paid time off. Heck, you didn't even have to be sick. You just had to demonstrate that just to risk of exposure to illness was enough to get paid time off.
Managers now had to solve for a new pandemic: malingering.
Employees are absolutely a company's greatest asset. But only those who are honest, and hard working. Don't make the mistake in thinking all employees are the same. You'll end up forsaking the hardworking ones just to avoid a conflict with the sham-artists. And you'll lose those truly valuable employees who realize that they're not valued equitably to what they contribute compared to their peers who would otherwise sham out of work.
Yeah, and in the past NBA players did lines of coke before games and now they're all health conscious and eat vegan and wouldn't think of partying hard before games.
I'm not sure what this "in the past people would have done this" argument is supposed to prove since all kinds of dumb sh*t happened that wouldn't fly now. Is everything in our present age progress? Certainly not. But the 'things were so much...
Yeah, and in the past NBA players did lines of coke before games and now they're all health conscious and eat vegan and wouldn't think of partying hard before games.
I'm not sure what this "in the past people would have done this" argument is supposed to prove since all kinds of dumb sh*t happened that wouldn't fly now. Is everything in our present age progress? Certainly not. But the 'things were so much better before everyone got whiny' argument comes off as so utterly lame.
Everything in that memo is perfectly legal per their union contract, and honestly is not all that uncommon when compared with contents of other airline contracts. To give an example: at an airline where I've worked, if you feel unwell and are in the middle of a trip and cannot fly, you must physically go see a doctor in the location where you were ill and turn in that paperwork within 48 hours in order...
Everything in that memo is perfectly legal per their union contract, and honestly is not all that uncommon when compared with contents of other airline contracts. To give an example: at an airline where I've worked, if you feel unwell and are in the middle of a trip and cannot fly, you must physically go see a doctor in the location where you were ill and turn in that paperwork within 48 hours in order to count as legitimately sick versus going AWOL.
Southwest, and other airlines, have had a tremendously difficult time staffing Denver in the last two years. They are offering huge hiring bonuses, cost of living stipends, even putting people up in hotels for months at a time. Some airlines and ground handlers have continued raising pay to the point some pay as much as they do in a San Francisco or New York City. And Southwest is going to continue growing at a crazy pace?
I think everyone at Southwest should get a Participation Bonus
The exclusion of telehealth appointments is a bad move. Have you tried to schedule an in-person doctor's appointment if you're sick? It's nearly impossible, even when the weather is fine and it's not the holidays. Most will refuse to see you in person now and do everything over the phone (even if you've tested negative for COVID). Clearly, whoever wrote this for Southwest is out of touch with reality.
My wife had a bad cough...
The exclusion of telehealth appointments is a bad move. Have you tried to schedule an in-person doctor's appointment if you're sick? It's nearly impossible, even when the weather is fine and it's not the holidays. Most will refuse to see you in person now and do everything over the phone (even if you've tested negative for COVID). Clearly, whoever wrote this for Southwest is out of touch with reality.
My wife had a bad cough over the summer, and despite multiple negative COVID tests, doctors wouldn't see her and just kept recommending simple cough medicine. Took a month for them to realize it was bronchitis. If she had been able to go in person, they could have felt her neck and throat and made a diagnosis much sooner.
I’m finishing up a bout with Covid, and all I was offered was a teleconference with my doc, for obvious reasons. They’ve got that one all wrong.
That’s exactly why they did it. Plus it forces you to go to a LOCAL doctor, and not skip town for the holiday weekend.
So they're going to fix this by *checks notes* forcing people with COVID to come to work, making everyone around them sick, and firing a bunch of people when they are already short staffed.
I'll just point out they're based in Texas and leave it there.
Oh! You're absolutely right. That's totally the point of the telemedicine exclusion--it's to make sure the doctor is in Denver.
That TPA-DEN flight to nowhere - - eek.