Stuck at SeaTac Airport by Southwest Airlines

[cantdrv55]

Apparently thousands of travelers were stuck over the weekend at various airports due to weather or air traffic control but no one is believing Southwest Airlines’s excuses. The internet buzz is blaming it on vaccine mandate sick outs but who knows what the cause really is. Regardless, my flight home is 4 hours delayed and I’m hoping they don’t cancel it altogether. I’d hate to drive all the way to SF Bay Area in a Chevy Malibu rental.

[Arizona_928]

political.

[john70t]

ATC is probably having their own employee walk-out problems.

I was in the Teamster strike of 1989(?) when rat bastard Ron Carey didn't pay us for three weeks on the line.
(maybe it was longer than that. fuzzy memory)
I think it was the AFL-CIO who finally stepped in with a $400 or $600 check so we could pay rent.

The Pilot's union was co-joined with the Teamsters back then iirc.
They had the least to gain from all that noise, but were the loudest silent voice in the room.

Yeah this is parf

[Jeff Higgins]

The Washington State ferry system has cancelled hundreds of sailings on Puget Sound in the last several days. They are blaming things like an aging workforce, staffing difficulties, etc. And this all just came out of the blue, quite suddenly and unexpected. They refuse to admit what is painfully obvious - they are under a vaccine mandate, and workers are saying "no". And staying home.

The Seattle PD is also on track to lose hundreds of staff, from officers to civilian support personnel. And they are already several hundred blow their target. Hospitals around here are in the same boat, short staffed as it is, and thousands leaving across the state with this mandate looming. Fire and EMS, along with our State Patrol, same story. Yet everyone one of these agencies is saying "don't worry, we got this..."

[masraum]

The left coast is a good place to not live right now.

[MRM]

At least it is a beautiful airport, if not one that is very comfortable. In times like these just swallow hard and buy a day pass to a lounge (if you don’t already have access) and just settle in and make yourself as comfortable as possible. Pretend you’re treating yourself to a leisurely dinner and take plenty of deep breaths. No matter what you do, no airport is ever fun to be stranded at. Be well and We’re all thinking of you and wishing you the best.

[Ayles]

Originally Posted by masraum

The left coast is a good place to not live right now.

I have to ask why?

The airport is ‘ALLWAYS a your mileage may very’ situation. My wife flew in last night from Palm Springs to Seattle and there were no delays of any kind.

[mattdavis11]

Here is your liberal media at its finest.

https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2021/10/11/southwest-flights-houston-airport-dallas-american-airlines-delays/6091012001/

Austin newspaper.

Skip down to the DFW cancellations and delays. I read it and just laughed. Southwest doesn't fly into DFW. How do they get blamed for that?

[red-beard]

Meanwhile also in Austin TX

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott bans any COVID-19 vaccine mandates — including for private employers

https://www.texastribune.org/2021/10/11/texas-greg-abbott-covid-19-vaccine-mandate/

[cantdrv55]

I just boarded and heading home. It’s been a long day but I get to sleep in my bed tonight!

[Ayles]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

The Washington State ferry system has cancelled hundreds of sailings on Puget Sound in the last several days. They are blaming things like an aging workforce, staffing difficulties, etc. And this all just came out of the blue, quite suddenly and unexpected. They refuse to admit what is painfully obvious - they are under a vaccine mandate, and workers are saying "no". And staying home.

The Seattle PD is also on track to lose hundreds of staff, from officers to civilian support personnel. And they are already several hundred blow their target. Hospitals around here are in the same boat, short staffed as it is, and thousands leaving across the state with this mandate looming. Fire and EMS, along with our State Patrol, same story. Yet everyone one of these agencies is saying "don't worry, we got this..."

At least from this article it sounds like the ferries were mostly back on track by yesterday.

https://komonews.com/news/local/washington-state-ferries-reach-full-staffing-by-end-of-weekend-but-delays-still-possible

[mattdavis11]

Originally Posted by red-beard

Meanwhile also in Austin TX

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott bans any COVID-19 vaccine mandates — including for private employers

https://www.texastribune.org/2021/10/11/texas-greg-abbott-covid-19-vaccine-mandate/

His retraction and actions stem from prior executive orders. If you will recall, Gov. Perry issued an executive order mandating that female minors get a vaccine for HPV. The state Senate whacked him over the head with a 2x4 and reversed the executive order. Perry summoned council, one of which is a family member, and was politely informed why his executive order was reversed.

It was just a bit too much. Now, Joe is telling, Abbott is telling Joe no. I can support that. The overreach is federal.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by cantdrv55

I just boarded and heading home. It’s been a long day but I get to sleep in my bed tonight!

Whew!

[red-beard]

I wish I had known there is a Centurion Lounge at SeaTac. I think the last time I just used the Lufthansa Lounge and it was a tiny nothing.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by Ayles

At least from this article it sounds like the ferries were mostly back on track by yesterday.

https://komonews.com/news/local/washington-state-ferries-reach-full-staffing-by-end-of-weekend-but-delays-still-possible

That's good news. Others who depend upon the ferry system for their commute, for transport of goods, for emergency services, etc. should not be beholden to their dispute. They really are a vital part of the Puget Sound economy.

This is the second time they had to cancel a significant number of sailings. The first time was mid summer-ish, around the time of the announcement that a state employee vaccine mandate was going to be imposed.

I'm all for vaccinations. I got mine as soon as I was able after I was done with my shingles vaccinations. When I was traveling the world fixing airplanes, I never missed a vaccination that was recommended by our company veterinarian. There's some bad schitt out there, especially in some of the Third World garden spots I frequented. I wanted nothing to do with that stuff, and I certainly did not want to bring it home to my wife and kids.

That said, I'm all about one's personal freedom to decide which chemicals one would like to introduce into their body. This, to me, is one of the inalienable, ultimate "firewalls" of personal liberty and choice. No one should be able to tell another human being what they have to put into their body.

[jyl]

I’m skeptical LUV issues were due to vaccine requirements. Lots of companies have those now. Or weather, FAA, etc. Those affected other airlines too. My guess is they were particularly aggressive in adding capacity and ran things too tight with staffing, also I think they may have a bunch of pilots in retraining for the MAX.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Ayles

I have to ask why?

The airport is ‘ALLWAYS a your mileage may very’ situation. My wife flew in last night from Palm Springs to Seattle and there were no delays of any kind.

Not specific to the airports. At the best of times, some of the politics of most of wthe west coast are a bit out there, but I understand that things have ramped up. I've heard that some of the recent policies are leading to issues.

[cstreit]

They're calling it "Weather" so they don't have to reimburse 5000 hotel rooms.

[sugarwood]

Lots of gullible out there

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/trump-right-wingers-praise-anti-vax-southwest-pilots-who-turn-out-to-be-imaginary/ar-AAPqFHB

[mdj930]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

Lots of gullible out there

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/trump-right-wingers-praise-anti-vax-southwest-pilots-who-turn-out-to-be-imaginary/ar-AAPqFHB

Yes you are.