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.
LETS GO BRANDON!!
Let’s go Brandon!
So what time is it in Ukraine and Russia?
He actually said “Let’s go Braves” but don’t expect a blue check marked reporter to know. If other passengers were aghast it’s because Houston Hobby is a huge SWA hub. SWA is therefore an Astros airline. It’s called the World Series. Not everything is politics
I retired from SWA 5 years earlier than planned due to the untenable political climate, and the company’s tolerance for sexual harassment and other irrational behavior by passéngers, that intensified in 2016. The great majority of pilots at SWA and a number of flight attendants, are hard core right wingers that spend the day spouting FOX nonsense to anyone and everyone. The political harassment endured, and the lack of back up and harassment from the company when it was brought to their attention, led to my decision to leave a job I had worked at for 3 decades. My vaccinated friends that fly have all taken leaves at great financial cost to themselves and their families, so as not to risk break through infections, infecting their children and the obvious anxiety of working with so many unvaccinated coworkers. You should inquire as to how many flight attendants have died from Covid. The delays are hands down the result of staffing issues. This article hits the nail on the head, and I am so happy this numbskull finally brought to light the environment many have been tolerating for the past 20 years. This is nothing new.
Let’s go Brandon
Southwest must make a concerted effort to prove its worth to the flying public. Minimize conflict; maximize teamwork and emphasize mutual respect and cooperation. There’s adverse groups currently working to divide and conquer all the western democracies. Those adverse elements are continuously provoking the people of the United States on all fronts. And they intrude masquerading as common people, meanwhile trying to use all of us as weapons to attack each other about every conceivable issue to coax and goad all of us into permanently destroying our country, government and society from within. Let’s all PLEASE stop, pause and reflect on this horrible subterfuge sucking us into a whirlpool of madness. I suggest we should be smart and strong enough to refuse to allow those subtle enemies to distract us from real world problems and saddle us with unresolvable unreal ones. We can say no to being sidelined. We can say no to fighting each other online or elsewhere. These petty and downright dangerous distractions could allow robber baron thieves to steal Southwest by devaluing it with the help of online fools. That could mean Southwest as an important segment of U. S. transportation infrastructure could be yanked right out from under the flying public, weakening the competitiveness of the airline industry and the whole nation’s economic recovery which the whole world truly needs to have.
Southwest must prove it can return to providing practical reliability and service to its customer base now and in the next several weeks. We can try to help instead of causing harm. If I choose to fly Southwest, I’ll try to get my questions answered ahead of time. I’ll get to my airport 3 to 3.5 hours before my scheduled flight departure. I’ll check-in at the earliest permissible time. I’ll have a digital and printed boarding pass ready. I’ll print out and affix my tags to my baggage and place ID-destination tags inside also. I’ll check bags right then. I’ll bring an empty water bottle and snacks. I’ll do my best to abide by the TSA instructions during the security check and not wear metal in my clothing. I’ll take my inspected items with me afterwards. I’ll wear my approved health mask and show my current Real ID and vaccination proof.
My carry on, personal item and checked bags will follow the airline’s size and weight limits with only approved contents. I’ll follow the customer conduct and dress codes. Southwest is still viable and anyone flying with them who works reasonably well to be a cooperative, respectful customer will make things easier and more pleasant for everyone during this worse than difficult almost unimaginable time. Most importantly, many of us would like to be able to travel by air in the future at a reasonable price with Southwest Airlines. NOPE I don’t work for them or own any stock. I hope everyone affected by the recent flight cancellation flurry will be able to have their very rough problems completely responded to and properly resolved. This last weekend I read about what pilots, onboard crew, attendants, ground crew, air traffic control, TSA and everyone involved in making flights available to those of us who don’t fly our own plane have to do. I read what they must endure to execute a safe and timely flight for every customer. The argument about vaccination is generally solved by naming it for what it is:
a public health safety issue. Let’s stop confusing issues and get back to realizing we all share this planet; sometimes in very close proximity to each other. It’s important to everyone’s survival we start doing our best to keep each other safe, or there won’t be future generations.
Interesting how so many pro-trump commenters here struggle with basic grammar. Poorly-educated people being misled by the billionaires like Trump…
Let’s go Brandon
I hate southwest never again will I fly them. cheap cheap no advanced seats planes are old,no cocktails or real food. Even my 13 year old hates them. lol
Then what their pilots say and do is of no interest to you.
Let’s go Brandon!
maybe time for these chuds to get vax’d, huh? They can get vax’d or lose their jobs, just like the 17 vax’s required for military service – but now the little whiners need someone to complain about. These little whiney clowns can lose their jobs for all anyone cares. There are still furloughed pilots who will take their place. It’s a 737 fercrissakes, the most most checked-out plane around. . . enjoy unemployment MAGAs!
Regardless of left or right (although our fearless article does tip his hand that he on the left…LAME), regardless of that choice, it is my opinion that either side is NOT the issue. It is the oligarchy of cronies we have running our government into the ground. BOTH SIDES.. We need leaders that can lead and not read from card (current idiot) and we need leasers that dont yell at everyone making it permissive (previous orange idiot). That said, I wish our journalists would fairly describe both sides.
Seriously do not care how many lose their jobs for deciding not to get vaccinated. Really, really do not care. F around and find out, right MAGAs?