On Saturday, I wrote that something is really up at Southwest and American, after both Texas-based airlines had widespread delays and cancelations while their competitors didn’t.
FYI: That trend is still carrying over today. As of 10:22am PT, according to FlightAware.com: American Airlines (AA) has canceled 376 flights and delayed 375. Southwest (SWA) has canceled 81 flights and delayed 399. Meanwhile, over at Delta Air Lines, they haven’t canceled any flights and United just 13. Expect American and Southwest’s delayed and cancelation numbers to increase big time as the day progresses.
Again, if you’re booking flights over the holidays, I would steer away from AA and SWA until they can prove they can manage their schedules.
Related: 10 Ways to Find Cheap Thanksgiving Flights & 10 Ways to Find Cheap Christmas Flights
The other major headline today is that Southwest issued a statement that they are investigating the pilot on Friday’s Houston to Albuquerque flight after he signed off his public address greeting with the anti Joe Biden phrase, “Let’s go, Brandon.”
Southwest tweeted: “We know many of you have heard about recent statements that may have been made on a Southwest flight, and we wanted you to hear directly from us.” They added a screenshot of their official statement, which goes as follows:
“The Southwest Team takes pride in providing a welcoming, comfortable, safe, and respectful environment for the millions of Customers who fly with us each year. Southwest does not condone Employees sharing their personal political opinions while on the job serving our Customers, and one Employee’s individual perspective should not be interpreted as the viewpoint of Southwest and its collective 54,000 Employees. Southwest is conducting an internal investigation into the recently reported event and will address the situation directly with any Employee involved while continuing to remind all Employees that public expression of personal opinions while on duty is unacceptable. Southwest does not tolerate any behavior that encourages divisiveness, as it does not reflect the Southwest Hospitality and inclusiveness for which we are known and strive to provide each day on every flight.”
That’s more like it. I think everyone can agree that no one wants their pilot making a political statement, regardless of which party they support. It seems that with this announcement, Southwest will put a kibosh on any more truly unprofessional rally calls.
As Dan Rather wrote, “Let’s go Brandon? How about let’s go America?”
What is wrong with giving a shout out by a pilot (or is it captain?) to his favorite NASCAR driver? Doesn’t seem to rank as a ‘fireible’ offense.
Disrespectful and unprofessional. The person should be either fired or given the worst flights in their system at the very least. No one should have to place their lives in the hands of an ass like that..
If you know it’s a reference to a Nascar driver (which is not mentioned in this article), then you know the whole story. This kind of bad faith argument is exactly why no one wants to engage with your side. And yes, it’s extremely obvious which side you’re on.
Damn liberals who live in a Fantasy -phantasmagoria world that doesn’t really exist. *”Go Dan Bongino !
If we don’t want a airline employee making a political comment, then that should apply to many others sectors as well, maybe blogging / travel reporting? Not saying I agree, just saying it should apply equally.
Personally I just found it amusing.
I”m pretty sure he said, “Let’s Go Braves” and not “Let’s Go Brandon”.
I was employed by Southwest 32 years during the companies massive expansion from 1989 to recent years. During this time, few flights were canceled or even delayed. Southwest really isn’t a point to point company now. They have tons of nonstop flights, 1 stop flight and many stops requiring connections in large airports. Apparently, I retired at the right time. The company has begun to have bad press and huge issues. Every department is highly unionized and the pilots can get away with almost anything. However, every employee signs documents he/she will keeps their opinions to themselves. Sick outs by pilots is horrible. They earn big money from the customers who pay their bills. All employees should respect customers too. Leaving them stranded and delayed for hours goes against what Southwest originally stood for and that goes for every employee at SWA. I apologize to everyone who has been inconvenienced by my former employer.
I didn’t get an anti Biden from what the pilot said. Geez, people really are getting offended at nothing. This was probably all taken out of context.