Southwest Airlines says it's ready for the holidays after its meltdown last December
A major blizzard set off a series of issues last year that forced the airline to cancel more than 16,000 flights, stranding passengers across the U.S. Southwest says this year will be different.
For Emily Cornelius, last December was not one to remember.
The Denver resident was flying home on Christmas Eve after visiting family in Richmond, Va., when she landed in Chicago for a layover.
Her Southwest Airlines flight was canceled, so she left the airport and spent the night with a friend. Eventually, she was able to rebook for the day after Christmas, but when she arrived at the airport she faced a string of delays before Southwest cancelled her flight for a second time.
Like countless other Southwest customers late last year, Cornelius found herself stuck in the terminal — her flights canceled, her checked bag lost and her prospects for getting home dim.
"The vibes were not good," Cornelius said. "We either felt trapped in
