There have been many other issues beyond weather cancellations, although weather will be blamed for most of the meltdown over the last few days. Biggest problem seems to be shortage of crews and no reserve to draw from when weather issues affect regular crew rotation cycles. SWA melted down in our area too, far removed from the most severely winter storm affected regions. Apparently, when these events occur, every plane that SWA flies passes thru the affected area at some time on their flight rotation and are thus subject to extensive delay and then cancellation at the last minute. That's hard to imagine when it happens (a) with weather events in Florida and (b) with weather events anywhere else in the country. With all the computerization of schedules, crew assignments, etc., it would seem possible to at least provide better notice of these cancellations rather than advising passengers 2 hours or less before departure, when most are already at the airport. I suppose its too much to ask, but proactively addressing flights into weather affected areas to keep the remainder of the system fluid and operational would seem a worthy goal. Its not just Southwest, but that is of little consolation when a long-planned Christmas trip is scrubbed.

We have let our transportation infrastructure go to ****. Amtrak is a joke in most of the country, Interstate highways are congested with an abundance of 18-wheelers carrying freight that the railroads no longer want to bother with, and the commercial aviation option leaves much to be desired.