Southwest Offering Reimbursements and Free Changes
Southwest’s major operations meltdown is still ongoing. Today Southwest has canceled another 2360 flights or 58% of its total schedule. That’s actually an improvement compared to the last few days where more than 60% of flights were canceled.
Now Southwest is finally speaking out and offering its passengers something to make up for a terrible holiday travel experience. If you have incurred other expenses due to Southwest’s cancellations or significant delays between December 24, 2022, and January 2, 2023, you may submit receipts for consideration via email. Southwest says it will honor reasonable requests for reimbursement for meals, hotel, and alternate transportation.
Some people already report of getting approved for reimbursements for hotels, meals, car rentals, and difference on more expensive flights booked after Southwest cancellations.
Southwest is offering extended flexibility for travel changes through January 2, which means that anyone with travel plans with the airline before then should be able to make flight changes directly on the Southwest website without having to speak to anyone. “All Customers traveling through January 2, 2023 are able to rebook in the original class of service or travel standby (within 30 days of your original date of travel between the original city-pairs and in accordance with our accommodation procedures) without paying additional charges,” the airline says. This is even working for some flights after January 2nd, so it’s worth checking if you are traveling with Southwest in early January.
The carrier also says that if your flight is canceled during the travel period beginning on 12/24 through 1/2, you may request a refund of your unused ticket to the original form of payment.
The Department of Transportation (USDOT) announced on Monday night that they are taking the matter seriously and will be investigating Southwest Airlines’ “unacceptable rate of cancellations.”