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.
I will fly southwest and American again..Im glad they are making a stand on this..For people who have the vaccine that’s good..and those who don’t want the vaccine keep standing up for your choice..No person should have to inject something into their body if they don’t want too..
I wouldn’t want to be forced into a cockpit with a non science believing moron.
Exacto!!! Nor would I want to be in the cabin. These are the same brain types that when weary will be overconfident and trust their instincts over the flight control indicators, and crash. Or have personality /communication problems with others, and that leads to crashes.
Get another job if one can’t meet the required perimeter. Job creators! Let’s go job creator!
There’s a lot of people at both airlines who don’t stand alongside their whiny American Taliban (aka Republican) douche bag colleagues who can’t figure anything besides what the right wing news tells them. Really hope covid wipes out more of you morons.
The woke are dying a slow and painful death with all this negative BS ??
And red states are killing their own voters. Let’s go COVID!!
Totally unprofessional
Agreed.
Talk about whiners!!!!
You LOST the election and your still whining.
Get over it and support democracy
..or move to Russia. This is the type of “government” you seem to want.
I moved to Costa Rica. I love it here. Masks, vaccines, universal healthcare, and less than 6,000 deaths. Its bliss.
The pilots comment was entirely appropriate and understandable considering the grief Biden has heaped upon the pilots and stews with the mandate. Vaccine does not stop you from getting Covid, your viral load is much higher, and you are more likely to die from the vaccine than dying from Covid.
Not, not, not, and not. What a crazy upsidedown fantasy world you live in, Randy. Every single thing in your comment is the opposite of the facts. And btw, the earth isn’t flat, either.
I work in a hospital and have had more unvaccinated die from COVID and have yet to see anyone die from getting the vaccine alone. But I understand that I’m wasting my breath and time on you and others like you. Hopefully others will be a little wiser by just using common sense. ?
As an ICU RN, I disagree with your opinion. I call BS.
Randy, I’m far from liberal, I probably would have laughed at the Lets Go Brandon comment but I am 100% provax. Please provide your sources for the COVID vaccination killing hundreds of thousands of people in this country.
Please cite your sources. This is complete and utter nonsense. Stop spreading misinformation. The vaccine saves lives. Unvaccinated people are much more likely to be hospitalized and have higher mortality rates. Y’all need science.
You and Your buddies haven’t a clue what happened with the cancellations … Just Sayin
As an ICU Nurse, I heartily disagree with your misinformation. Vaccines save lives. Pilots are required to get at least 12 other vaccines as a work required health mandate. More if international travel is required. This political opinion has spilled over into health issues. Sad but true.
Ok Being a nurse you should know what a Vaccine is :. All the other vaccines the pilots get keep you from getting the said illness , this shot my dear doesn’t keep you from getting sick so stop calling it a vaccine . It is not. Look up the definition in a real dictionary not google .
Tina, seeing someone lecture a RN on what a vaccine is made me laugh out loud. Vaccines do not always prevent illness. Why do you think so many get the flu every year? They all have varying degrees of efficacy. You can get covid while vaccinated, but it is not common, and those who do for the most part get milder cases and are less likely to spread it because their viral loads are lighter. I am a RN also. Part of my job is patient teaching. You people with your google university degrees are the bane of our lives. Be well, wear a mask.
Thanks for your nursing service. And thx for putting the b.s dangerous misinformation in its place. These frothing ppl really are rapidly becoming the bane of normal ppls existence, and may soon be a threat to it. It’s not that far from potentially becoming effectively bioterrorism. (& in several foreseeable situations can be legally defined as such)
A lot of us are going to put our feet down, BEFORE a potentially worse variant spreads.
A voice of sanity. Thank you.
Being on top of the latest studies, even by the CDC themselves from Massachusetts, isn’t part of your job description, but if you’re going to act like you know the latest science (which actually prompted the current wearing of masks for all), then you should. With Delta, they learned MONTHS AGO that viral load is the same with vac’d and unvac’d when infected. Also, scarily, the vac’d unknowingly spread (including to the vac’d since these vacs aren’t neutralizing), and the difference in transmission is minimal between vac’d and unvac’d. Don’t believe me? Here’s BBC’s drivel, which I imagine you’ll trust. I truly find their conclusion laughable, given the information: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/health-59077036.amp
Also, please check how Ireland is doing with their being Europe’s darling with over 90% vac rate… It’s not boding them well. Also, see Israel. Truly, it’s time to read studies for yourselves, not the propaganda making the rich richer. Forget the politics, left or right, and respect one another’s right to choose what’s right for them, just as you’ve been given that right and have chosen the best option known to you, which I fully support. We each have different risks, as our bodies, situations, knowledge, etc. are completely different. To each their own. We need to trust each other. There are other proven scientific options for prevention and treatment. The silly rhetoric of pro and anti-science is damaging.
Big pharma is not responsible for vac injuries, and people are not being cared for who are hurt. Where there is risk, each person deserves choice always. We each get ONE LIFE, ONE BODY to sustain us.
Well said, Johnny Jet. I agree.
I’ve only flown SWA for years. Now I’m even more loyal. Let’s go Brandon!
Poor thing. Sore loser.
Good for these airlines and pilots! Celebrities and athletes should not be the only ones with a voice.
Athletes are protesting killings. Not being a weak non science hating snowflake. Who won’t abide by work required vaccines. HUGE difference.
I agree! Let’s Go Brandon. I’m on my way to a Southwest flight right now, thank you. I love Southwest! Don’t need to hear you state that you didn’t care for our last President. Whine, whine. About finished with this site.
Loving hate doesn’t make you a better person. It makes you a hater. And a snowflake.
Brandon has herpes.
I really hope that pilot gets grounded. Unacceptable. I wouldn’t have felt safe on that flight. I’m done with Southwest.
You wouldn’t feel safe !!! Do you think his/her training is any different from others flying aircraft. That is a totally stupid comment.
Workplace is no place for hate. Keeping your opinions to yourself while at work is nothing new. You are there to serve. Not preach.
Penn, NFL is all about seperating races in the workplace. Say something about that LIBTARD.
Yeah, see, you’re exactly what’s wrong with this country today. “You wouldn’t feel safe?” Are you kidding me? How weak and pathetic is your life that you feel threatened by that comment. Geezus.
Weak is being a weeny that won’t get a vaccine. That cares for others. Doing the right thing is strong. Not weak.
Typical chicken excrement liberal
You honestly didn’t know the meaning of “Let’s Go Brandon”? Coming from such a well traveled fella, that’s hard to believe! Maybe you felt compelled to “educate” others! Get over yourself! I frankly stand behind these pilots and anyone else that stands for freedom! They have a right to chose, as do you, so fly United!
So standing with unprofessionalism and hate. Woooop woop! Oi vey.