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.
Liberals want “Their body their choice” and kill millions of unborn children but ok with forcing a mandate?
Wah, after four years of bashing Trump, now no one is allowed to voice their displeasure with the current administration. As a frequent SW Flier, I wish I was on that flight. Would have made me feel very safe and smiled all the way to the next airport.
Common sense and respect means that every person should decide for themselves whether or not they want a vaccine.
This shouldn’t even be a debate.
Freedom means allowing others the opportunity to choose for themselves.
Forcing your will on others is the hallmark of a dictatorship, which is what everyone accused the last administration of while denying that this administration is doing the same.
Both Democrats and Republicans are guilty of this but the blindly loyal don’t want to hear that.
There is no personal accountability in this society anymore.
Thanks to social media, even breathing can be considered offensive, and being a whiny tyrant who berates others for not being like them or believing in the same things as they do is nothing short of a witch trial.
All people should be responsible for themselves, no one is allowed to force their ideals, preferences or religious beliefs on others.
Work is about work, not being a sjw or political pundit.
You aren’t being paid to come in and vent your frustrations with the state your political party or the latest happenings on faceplant.
That’s something a vast majority of us would either get a serious reprimand for or we would be outright fired, especially if it happened repeatedly.
Do I believe in science? Yes, I do.
Do I trust a vaccine/vaccines that were rushed onto the market without the proper amount of time for testing while there were two emerging variants that they may very well do nothing against? No.
I want to see long term data on the vaccines and their rate of effectiveness and whether or not it drops and if it’s effectiveness does drop, by how much percentage wise.
I’m not rushing out to get jabbed only to turn around and have to go for boosters ever 2-3 months because a vaccines rate of effectiveness is only 60% or so at that point.
I’m also unwilling to put my body through the stress of an allergic reaction just so someone else can feel good.
Do I go out in public? Yes.
Do I take precautions? Yes, both mask and nitrile gloves as well as hand sanitizer at the ready.
Do I go to parties or to hang out with people? No.
Do I allow people to come hang out at my home? No.
No hanging out, bars, parties, or anything with more than three other people.
Large groups of reckless, people with less than adequate hygiene and an overwhelming need to rub up against every other living soul without proper precation is how the first and second waves of covid spread in the first place.
Besides the fact that people are nasty i.e. don’t wash their hands, cover face when coughing/sneezing, insisting on taking the entire family to the ER when only one member is I’ll, etc.
And somehow a small piece of fabric touching someone’s face offends them to their moral core, even the vaccinated are throwing their privilege around there by saying that they shouldn’t have to wear masks just because they got vaccinated.
Some people are confused as to the difference between vaccination and immunization.
Vaccination is where you are given a vaccine that will help trigger your body’s immune system to respond to a virus.
Immunization means you have been made immune or are naturally immune to a disease/virus and/or your body produces the antibodies to fight the disease/virus off on its own efficiently.
People think they have immunization when all they got was vaccination.
More study is required on the vaccines before they are definitively championed.
Lol brainwashed u have no common sense these same ppl telling u all these don’t follow the rules from.wearing mask to coughing in hand and shaking hand BUT that does not matter coz CNN did not have outrage
Yours is wise counsel my friend. I aggressively book away from American. Employees unhappy and taking it out on customers! Truly sad! If they go down the tubes, they’ll have themselves to thanks. As for Southwest, no thanks.
Listen to your master.
Let’s go Brandon!
Well it seems people get butt hurt when comments about their current beloved leader are derogatory. Same as the last administration. I guess if can’t get along we will just have to get used to it.
This is JohnnyJets’ newsletter and he can write on it whatever he likes, and if anyone else doesn’t like it, they can read something else. Simple!
LET’S GO BRANDON! #FJB. Pathetic leftist “journalist”….go find an honest job because you suck at this one!
You lost me when you said there were “gasps” through out the plane.. another reason why reporters and mass media are not to be trusted, you call it creative reporting, just lies.
FUCK DONALD TRUMP.
Sorry folks, but using a stupid slogan, putting a moron on pedestals, waving an American flag, and making everything about the left and the right will not eliminate his stupidity or change who you indeed are. Sadly, your deeds will not make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. So, I encourage you people to give Trump your money, buy TRUTH Social stocks, and worship your mentor. You see, it’s like masturbation. It may feel good, but it has no value. Methinks
Bravo, absolutely nailed it!