OPINION: Airlines Have Run Out of Excuses For Terrible Customer Service

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In the period since airlines received government bailouts to present day, these companies stand accused of overscheduling flights that they know they don’t have the staff for. Then, when airlines cannot meet the demand for these flights, travelers end up with cancellations.

Despite getting the aforementioned bailouts, airlines helped many of their employees retire amid COVID, as a means of cutting labor costs.

However, this came back to bite them. As the increased demand for travel emerged in 2021 and 2022, airlines continuously struggled (and still struggle to this day) to keep up.

Had these airlines not been so hasty to rush their staff into retirement for the quick buck, they would have fewer problems today. Now, these problems are piling up at an unbelievable rate.

Over the Christmas 2022 holiday season, Southwest Airlines made headlines for not just cancelling a high percentage of its flights, but also for leaving travelers and even its own personnel stranded.

Then, just earlier this week on Wednesday, American travelers were stunned when all US domestic flights were temporarily grounded due to technical problems experienced with the Federal Aviation Administration’s communications system.

Enough is enough

Because of the colossal complications with airlines, travelers keep running into the following problems

  • Major flight delays/cancellations
  • Missing connecting flights
  • Missing planned engagements, such as weddings, parties, Christmases, etc. with loved ones
  • Being stranded in airports, sometimes for up to 24 hours or beyond
  • Struggling to get refunds on flights

It is high time for airlines to get their act together. Americans pay good money for flight tickets and shouldn’t have to brace themselves each time they head to the airports.