Southwest Airlines promises to get back on track after days of cancellations
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Following a tumultuous week of flight cancellations, Southwest Airlines appeared to resume normal operations Friday, Dec. 30, including at General Mitchell International Airport.
"We kept monitoring Southwest Airlines day and night," Cynthia Snell of Fort Myers, Florida told CBS 58. "Just checking to see if our flight was canceled."
FlightAware showed only one percent of flights for the airline were canceled Friday, a relief for Snell's family who flew from Fort Myers to Nashville to Milwaukee with their final destination being Appleton, where her husband's family is from.
"I love Southwest [Airlines] so it's great that they got it back together and our flight wasn't canceled," Snell said. "We got our luggage, we're here on time, went very smooth."
The airline said it expected to resume normal operations as the New Year's weekend began.
But the chaos of the past week still has lingering effects for passengers of Southwest.
"It's been ridiculous but we're lucky we got home," Vinny Wisniewski of New Berlin said.
Wisniewski and his wife, Sue, were one of the lucky ones to get on Southwest flights last Sunday from Tucson, Arizona to Denver and then to Milwaukee, despite hours of delay.
But their luggage never made it to Milwaukee, something that has happened to thousands of passengers across the country.
"That was six days ago, so we're hanging around trying to find it right now," Wisnieski said.
The couple waited at baggage claim at Mitchell and were finally reunited with their two pieces of luggage, ending a nearly week-long odyssey.
"We're happy," Wisnieswki said. "I can get my dirty socks and underwear in the washing machine and my wife is very happy because she gets all her makeup back but glad that's done!"
Southwest Airlines is offering things like refunds, vouchers and covering expenses for passengers affected by cancellations. This week the Department of Transportation warned it could fine the airline if it does not keep its word and make right by passengers.