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Post by carrier76 on Dec 28, 2022 9:25:45 GMT -4
Well, I am one of the 70% of SW Airline’s flights that got canceled after Christmas. Currently making a VERY long drive through Pennsylvania. It’s a long way to St. Louis… I had a SW flight scheduled for tomorrow (I was planning to be visiting family over New Years and a couple of days beyond) so I've been following all the news reports. What a mess. SW really dropped the ball. After reading about the people waiting in line at the counters or to get their luggage for 14 hours or more, I can only imagine the stress and exhaustion level for the travelers. I was kind of figuring my flight would be cancelled, and it was. I was lucky to get a decent priced ticket on another airline for a Saturday night flight, so at least I'll still be able to go even if my trip is shortened. I called my mom to tell her my change in plans, and she wanted to know why I didn't rebook for Thursday instead  I told her there was literally nothing available for SW flights the rest of this week, and other airlines were charging on average $1,000 for tickets this week, so I was lucky to get a ticket at all.... Yes! It would have cost us, a family of 3, several thousand dollars to fly home today (Wednesday). Hence the car rental. What a mess. |
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Post by tabby on Dec 28, 2022 9:34:45 GMT -4
Southwest is a disaster. The heads of the SW flight attendants' union and the SW pilots' union have been interviewed on NPR, and they both talked about the SW's antiquated systems for handling staff assignments. Evidently, everything has to be done on the phone. It sounds like their IT systems are at least 30 years out of date, and their procedures haven't been scaled up since they were a company one-tenth the size they are now. The storm was bad for all the airlines, but SW seems to have been singularly ill-equipped to handle it.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Nov 24, 2024 17:34:22 GMT -4
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2022 15:00:30 GMT -4
Southwest is a disaster. The heads of the SW flight attendants' union and the SW pilots' union have been interviewed on NPR, and they both talked about the SW's antiquated systems for handling staff assignments. Evidently, everything has to be done on the phone. It sounds like their IT systems are at least 30 years out of date, and their procedures haven't been scaled up since they were a company one-tenth the size they are now. The storm was bad for all the airlines, but SW seems to have been singularly ill-equipped to handle it. One thing that travelers kept mentioning in the news is that they didn't get any notification that their flights had ben canceled until they showed up at the airport. Even the website didn't show. That is so antiquated it's hard to believe in this day and age. Anyway I guess they are trying to catch up belatedly. I still never got an official email, I had to log on to confirm yesterday what I expected. However, last night I started getting non stop texts that my flight was canceled and I am still getting them, even though it's hours and hours since it was supposed to have flown. They really need to purchase some kind of computer software, whatever program the other airlines have. There's really no excuse in this day and age. |
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Post by carrier76 on Dec 28, 2022 16:05:19 GMT -4
We luckily found out the night before, but found out accidentally. My husband had seen some posts about people’s flights getting canceled, so he just decided to double check just in case. We were lucky; we were at my in-laws’ house and could come up with a plan. But if he hadn’t looked at the app, we just would have gone along with the plan.
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Post by Ladybug on Jan 30, 2023 11:05:07 GMT -4
We're going on a college tour over Spring Break in March. Part of this trip includes 2 days in St. Louis, 3 days in Chicago plus 2 days in South Bend. Midwesterners, tell me what I need clothing-wise. We're from Texas and our winters are mild. I'm thinking our coats will be ok if we have layers underneath. Thermal underwear base layer, clothing layer, coat, hat, gloves, scarf. What about shoes? Are sneakers sufficient? Do we need some kind of winter boot? We're going to be doing a lot of walking. I'm thinking it's still really cold in the midwest in March. Am I overdoing it or not preparing enough for the cold?
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Post by ratscabies on Jan 30, 2023 11:22:52 GMT -4
My experience here in NE Ohio is that I haven’t really NEEDED a winter/snow boot since 1980. Getting enough snow to need that only happens a couple days a year now.
Good thing climate change is a myth, or that might be concerning!
Honestly, I wear your basic Chelsea boot all the time now, and can count on one hand the number of times snow has got in my shoe. I do have those rubber web spikey things I stretch over the sole for traction on ice, but I am old now, so less interested in falling.
Layers is the way to go. Where I am as I type (PA turnpike outside Pittsburgh) it is currently 35 degrees, and I am plenty warm in a long sleeve tee, a polo shirt, and a nice windbreaker. Get some knit hats to cover your ears. You’ll be fine.
ETA: pro tip: don’t pack a heavy coat. If you find yourself in need, hit a Goodwill or Salvation Army store.
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Post by carrier76 on Feb 2, 2023 16:06:31 GMT -4
We're going on a college tour over Spring Break in March. Part of this trip includes 2 days in St. Louis, 3 days in Chicago plus 2 days in South Bend. Midwesterners, tell me what I need clothing-wise. We're from Texas and our winters are mild. I'm thinking our coats will be ok if we have layers underneath. Thermal underwear base layer, clothing layer, coat, hat, gloves, scarf. What about shoes? Are sneakers sufficient? Do we need some kind of winter boot? We're going to be doing a lot of walking. I'm thinking it's still really cold in the midwest in March. Am I overdoing it or not preparing enough for the cold? St. Louis resident here. It’s hard for me to comment on some of this, as I run hot and would never wear thermal underwear unless it was below zero. At least for your St. Louis portion, I don’t think it would be THAT cold in March. March weather here is all over the place. Last year I skipped the 5 mile St. Pat’s Race on March 12 because the high was supposed to be 20, and there was no way I was lining up at 8 am to run in sub-20 temps. On actual St. Pat’s Day, my husband and I walked to my son’s school to pick him up, and I was in short sleeves and cropped jeans, and I was overdressed and sweating. So for STL, be prepared for either option. |
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Post by Ladybug on Feb 3, 2023 13:05:55 GMT -4
Thank you! I think layers are the way to go. My kids and husband are always warmer than me. I'm the one who is freezing no matter what.
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Post by batmom on Feb 3, 2023 13:29:13 GMT -4
May I suggest silk long john's? They provide an insulation layer without the heat. That's how I survived waking to and from classes in -25C and sitting in the overheated classes themselves.
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Post by ratscabies on Feb 3, 2023 17:14:15 GMT -4
It occurs to me that you might drive such a trip, and if so, go ahead and toss heavy coats in the trunk, just in case.
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I told her there was literally nothing available for SW flights the rest of this week, and other airlines were charging on average $1,000 for tickets this week, so I was lucky to get a ticket at all....
