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.
Let’s go Brandon lol
Wow another leftist journalist? Golly we can bash the right all the live long day however when the people speak “Lets Go Brandon” we have to try and silence them. Johnny Jet, do you have to go through some sort of leftist writing class before you are able to publish anything?
Perhaps if he wasn’t being so painfully manipulated and issuing ridiculous mandates that are clearly proven ineffective, and totally against what America stands for, people would not take some satisfaction in saying Let’s Go Brandon!
Biden voter but he’s too conventional corporate Democrat for me. “Let’s go Brandon!” is funny when you know the context. Politicians should be mocked.
I like Southwest. The only reason I will avoid them for awhile is the mass cancellations. I’m not a big fan of lining up and shyly asking people if I am in the right place but I do like their attitude. I also don’t like hoping there’s enough overhead because everyone is avoiding baggage fees.
LETS GO BRANDON!
I have no interest in the political opinions of pilots during work hours and if an airline does not stop pilots from expressing them over loudspeakers, I would assume that pilot speaks for the airline. And I’d move my business accordingly.
As for gas prices, it is certainly convenient politically to pretend that gas prices are not a function of a global market experiencing once in a lifetime shortages due to pandemic-related supply chain disruptions, but that doesn’t add anything to the discussion other than reveal one’s own lack of awareness and knowledge.
And as for the “Let’s Go Brandon” chant, that’s just another sign of how low we have fallen in our public discourse and what we are teaching our children is appropriate behavior in a pluralistic society.
Thank you.
And further.
Pilots don’t get to choose to take vaccines. Not if they want to work for an airline. They have to take a dozen vaccines to keep their Jobs and more if they fly international. The fact that they are making a stink about this particular vaccine has zero to do with their concerns about a vaccine that is approved the same as all the others they have to take. . This is politics. Now whether a pilot can say what they want on a plane over a speaker is a different story. If I stood up and started singing my opinions on a plane I would be asked to stop and if I didn’t stop I would be asked to leave. There is no “right” to express opinions like that. Because a pilot has a captive audience and a loudspeaker doesn’t make him or her more important or “allowed” to say shit. I don’t care what those opinions are stuck to take if care of my safety and comfort. When he uses that forum, I agree that he is asking for the airline. Or should be anyway.
Indeedy, thx for talking sense.
JJ you never learn. After losing most of your advertisers due to covid and being scared to travel, you would think you would stay neutral on the political stuff. But indeed it seems you have lost touch with why we all liked your travel site. Once again you bring in your political California b.s. attitude to your article and turn off a bunch of us. If you want to whine, try starting off with the the gas prices, all the tankers off the coast, and the increasing cost of groceries your beloved Biden seems oblivious to. Most of us won’t be able to travel because we can’t afford the price of just living. Let’s go Brandon!
What a pathetic, whiny, stupid article. I hope you get fired. Let’s go Brandon, and MAGA!!!!
Southwest, Trump and white trash were made for each other. The only airline with a trashier clientele is Spirit. I wouldn’t fly on either airline, even with a free ticket.
Let’s Go Anthony!
Let’s go Brandon!!
Last time I read this Crap… Johnny Jet you lost a reader!!
Johnny Jet is a woke, library writer. Let’s go Brandon!
The airlines should allow these pilots to make their own health decisions. I support the pilots 100%.