Updated: Nov 1, 7:32am PT.
For the record, I really do like Southwest Airlines (SWA). I’ve flown them dozens of times but not hundreds, like I’ve flown the other major carriers because I cherish assigned seating, confirmed seats with extra legroom and first class upgrades. Flying SWA is just too much of a risk for getting a bad seat (if you don’t check-in or show up to the airport in time). But I’ve always loved the carrier’s fun attitude (the flight attendants are often hilarious), the two free checked bags and no change fees.
However, it seems the airline has lost its way recently. It began two weeks ago and I wrote a post, Why You Shouldn’t Book Southwest or American Airlines This Holiday Season, addressing it. The post was about how Southwest canceled over a thousand flights and blamed the weather while no other airline nor the FAA said weather was a factor. Weather only played a small part in the problem when Jacksonville airport shut down for a short period. And yes, Southwest is a point-to-point airline so even a little hiccup could cause serious problems. Combine that with the fact that the airline aggressively tries to serve too many flights and cities, which also set them back. But no doubt, the main reason were staffing issues including some pilots calling in sick in retaliation for the federal vaccine mandate.
Even though the airline and their pilots union vehemently denied that was the cause, I know for a fact this definitely played a small part as I have pilot friends who are in a closed Facebook Group with other pilots who said that was the case. FYI: There’s also a push for unvaccinated pilots to stick together and call in sick November 8-11 but that’s a whole other story.
Now, the latest hiccup for Southwest is that one of their pilots on a Houston to Albuquerque flight Friday morning signed off his greeting over the public address system with the phrase, “Let’s go, Brandon.” There was an AP reporter on the flight and she said there were audible gasps from some passengers.
After reading multiple stories about this, I had to do some research since I didn’t know the meaning behind “Let’s go, Brandon.” Well it turns out, “Let’s go, Brandon” stands for “F—- Joe Biden.” According to the Associated Press: “It started at an Oct. 2 NASCAR race at the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama. Brandon Brown, a 28-year-old driver, had won his first Xfinity Series and was being interviewed by an NBC Sports reporter. The crowd behind him was chanting something at first difficult to make out. The reporter suggested they were chanting “Let’s go, Brandon” to cheer the driver. But it became increasingly clear they were saying: “F—- Joe Biden.” NASCAR and NBC have since taken steps to limit “ambient crowd noise” during interviews, but it was too late — the phrase already had taken off.”
“Let’s go, Brandon” is definitely way better than actually saying “F—- Joe Biden” which I’ve seen on t-shirts and flags flying from houses (including one of my eccentric relatives) but I don’t care who is named. I would be offended if it read “F—- Donald Trump” and I really dislike the man.
But when pilots start pulling this nonsense and there are no repercussions, it’s not going to end well. Until Southwest (and American Airlines) deal with their pilots and the vaccine mandate, travel over the holidays isn’t going to be very merry. UPDATED: Southwest Investigating Pilot’s Anti-Biden Insult During Flight
Oh, and did I mention that, according to FlightAware.com, so far today (9:11am ET), Southwest has canceled 185 flights and American has canceled 670? To put that in perspective, United has canceled 10 flights and delayed 39 Delta 3. See screenshot below.
Yesterday (Oct 30): Southwest canceled 87 flights and delayed 745. American canceled 543 and delayed 432? To put that in perspective, United has canceled 18 flights and Delta Air Lines canceled 2, See screenshot below.
FYI: I will also probably still book LAX-JFK flights on AA since I have top tier elite status with them so getting free upgrades and knowing these flights are least likely to cancel outweigh the risks.
You wrote:
“… I have pilot friends who are in a closed Facebook Group with other pilots who said that was the case. FYI: There’s also a push for unvaccinated pilots to stick together and call in sick November 8-11 but that’s a whole other story.”
Are you f’n kidding me??? That’s like saying, “My friend’s cousin’s sister’s mom has a friend who is a pilot and they said…” The bias that you show in your articles truly discredits anything you ever say. You are such a hack that you don’t even deserve to be called a writer or blogger or whatever. Your “intel” is severely flawed and clearly shows that you have an agenda to push false information to the masses. I actually work for one of the airlines mentioned in your article, as a pilot, and I can tell you FACTUALLY that everything you mentioned about pilots calling off sick is completely untrue. During the most recent Southwest meltdown, it was actually quite the opposite of what you think to be true. Voluntary trip pickup rates were way above average and sick calls were at an average rate when compared to other weekends. And you making baseless claims about a supposed planned sick out November 8-11 is just absolute horse poop. Why don’t you make a “whole other story” about that and enlighten us? I can assure you that the company and union would be frantically sending memos right now urging us to not call off on the aforementioned dates and threatening disciplinary action.
Try to do a little more homework in the future before you write something genius.
Perhaps many are unaware/in denial that a possible purpose of Johnny’s/Team Johnny’s rhetorical, unedited blog posts are to rile people up, draw increased attention to the site, generate publicity leading to guest interview opportunities (together known as media hype) or possibly retaliate against negative experiences with some businesses (much like other online reviews). The author’s/authors’ increasingly incendiary, hyped POVs have been ongoing since the start of the now-19-month pandemic, and for some time several other readers have already commented how this blog veers into and blurs politics and travel, speculation vs facts. Some short while back, I recall repeated author/blog requests for donations for this site (not tax-deductible at this time). Perhaps just stop commenting and skim the blog for what often-very-good travel value it provides for your travel needs/dreams/plans. Sometimes, with forgoing (correct spelling) critical thinking beforehand, one can get proverbially too big for his/her britches (spelled correctly) and fly off the seat of their pants. Who knows how long I will be able to comment on this blog without adding incendiary goading feedback for balance?
Delta the official airline for Joe Biden and his policies.
“She did not tell the rest of the plane that singing the national anthem for this soldier was against company policy,” Dr. Gaudry said. “She told me that several of the people on the plane were from other countries and that they were uncomfortable with us singing the national anthem.”
Johnny, keep doing what you do. Many of us appreciate your take on the airline and travel industries (and vaccines and politics). We may not be the loudest, but we are the more educated, better traveled, and more reasonable side in all debates.
I am an A-lister and fly all the time. 1 of 2 people on a flight to NY in March 2020 when the pilot announced “Welcome to the friendly skies of United, both of you”
I find this article very ignorant, and will continue to fly SWA. I just lost all respect for the author and his opinions on travel.
Where was the outrage when Delta stopped a passenger from singing the national anthem when a fallen soldier was on board? Yeah, fly Delta.
https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/triangle-sandhills/news/2017/10/16/woman-national-anthem-on-plane
You are lying when you say the pilots called in sick. That’s a lie and facts to prove it. LETS GO brandon
Another self proclaimed travel journalist who’s really just another mouthy passenger writes to opine on the current staffing problem at Southwest and American airlines. The truth is Johnny and the rest of his brethren in the media have no idea what’s going on behind the scenes. Sadly, Johnny and his friends are incapable of real journalism and in their lack of knowledge and skill, they make assumptions and write fairy tales about current events to advance their political agenda. Wait till they learn what the real story is.
Hey oenn, don’t be a hating LIBTARD. Y’all put the F Brandon in office. We all know he is a puppet.
IT’S THE PROBLEM WITHIN THE Boeing MAX airplane, SOMETHING Smell Fi…i, the airplane’s!
I’m a SWA pilot and quite familiar with recent challenges. This author is another perfect example why America should be repulsed by the media. EVERYTIME that I’m intimately involved in a story that is reported in the media (some major events in my previous military life) they confidently get it completely wrong. This article is just another example. This guy knows nothing but believes he’s got the story figured out. It would be funny if the media wasn’t hurting our country so badly.
I heard Orange Man Bad and Cheeto jokes for four years in every possible public setting. I saw violence justified against citizens wearing MAGA hats all based on lies and organized disinformation campaigns. So spare me if you had to hear Let’s Go Brandon you silly Karen!
Amen!!!
I will continue to fly SWA.
What kinda writer u r? Who does not know whatnis Let’s Go Brandon just goes to show how ignorant these ppl in media are.
How come he has no problem when players make political statements or when Hollywood makes them or even when elected Dems make the derogatory comments.
Johnny jet is nothing but another fake reporter attacking ppl freedom of speech