Spring Breakers faced travel misery when they were left stranded for hours over the weekend as thousands of flights were canceled in the U.S. – some due to bad weather while some Southwest flights were grounded because of tech issues.
More than 3,500 U.S. flights were canceled this weekend, according to FlightAware, a website that tracks flights.
The site noted major disruptions at several Florida airports – where spring breakers have been fleeing to for weeks, including in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa and Orlando, as well as Baltimore, New York and other airports around the country.
JetBlue, Southwest, Alaska Airlines, Frontier, Spirit and American Airlines were most affected, according to FlightAware, with JetBlue and Spirit canceling one-third of Sunday’s scheduled flights.
Local news reported storms in Florida on Saturday. Several airlines said Sunday that operations are returning to normal.
Travelers waited hours in line to rebook after more than 3,500 U.S. flights were canceled this weekend, according to FlightAware
Travelers posted to social media about their hours spent in the airport, ‘Our bed for the night. Thanks Southwest’
Hundreds of Southwest Airlines flights were delayed and canceled throughout the weekend
The airline cited ‘intermittent performance issues following routine overnight maintenance of some of its backend technology’
The spate of cancellations arrived as air travel is rebounding from the pandemic, with strong demand for spring break flights.
Travelers on social media complained about waiting on hold or in lines for hours to get their canceled flights rescheduled and being stranded for days.
‘Our bed for the night. Thanks Southwest. @SouthwestAir,’ one traveled posted on Twitter.
Another posted a photo on Twitter of his mother sleeping beside several suitcases, and tagged Southwest, pointing out they had nowhere to sleep.
‘Thanks 4 teaching me how to provide a homeless camp for my mom since we can’t get a hotel in Austin & we can’t get to Dallas until tomorrow. But more than anything thanks so much for 1 blanket that I let us borrow so we don’t have to lay on the tile. Your the best.’
‘Severe weather in the Southeast and multiple air traffic control delay programs have created significant impacts on the industry,’ a JetBlue spokesperson said in an email. ‘Today´s cancellations will help us reset our operation and safely move our crews and aircraft back in to position.’
Southwest Airlines also cited ‘weather and airspace congestion’ Saturday in Florida, as well as a ‘technology issue.’ It canceled more than 1,000 flights over the weekend.
As of Sunday evening, the airline had canceled 400 for the day and had 1,442 delays. On Monday morning, there had been 12 canceled fights and 143 delays.
Spring Breakers spent at least 12 hours in the airport in Tampa after thousands of flights were canceled over the weekend due to weather and tech issues with Southwest Airlines
Travelers posted to social media photos of people sleeping in the Tampa airport after thousands of flights were canceled and hotels and rental cars were fully booked
Some travelers posted on social media that there were no trans or buses to get of Florida after thousands of flights were canceled and delayed over the weekend
Southwest issued a statement over the weekend saying that the delays and cancelations took place ‘after we experienced intermittent technology issues following routine overnight maintenance.’
‘We offer heartfelt apologies to our Customers for any inconvenience, and gratitude to our Employees who are working diligently to make it up to them. We’ll continue to update Customers whose journey with us today might be delayed as result of the now-resolved issues.’
American said Florida weather Saturday affected its operations, and it was recovering today.
More than 3,500 U.S. flights were canceled this weekend, according to FlightAware, a website that tracks flights
JetBlue, Southwest, Alaska Airlines, Frontier, Spirit and American Airlines were most affected, according to FlightAware, with JetBlue and Spirit canceling one-third of Sunday’s flights
Alaska Airlines seemed to be dealing with a separate issue. The airline said Sunday that weekend flight cancellations that began Friday have affected more than 37,000 customers and, further cancellations were possible.
The airline declined to say why it canceled flights, but referred in its statement to contract negotiations with its pilots.
Off-duty pilots picketed in several U.S. cities Friday over stalled negotiations. They have been without a new contract for three years.
‘Alaska Airlines failed to properly plan for increased travel demand and take the steps necessary to ensure it attracted and retained pilots,’ the pilots union said in a Friday press release.