Flabbergasted at what just happened on our flight today. STL to FLL at 12pm on a direct flight which I'm on weekly. Here are the text messages from Southwest and their timestamps:

805am - Departure now 101pm
817am - Departure now 1212pm
901am - Departure now 1206pm

Starting to think everything is good and getting ready to head to the airport.

1059am - Departure now 149pm

I wait 15 minutes, no changes and call Southwest. What follows is probably the best call I've ever had with them - they know my name, my flight and that it's delayed before I say a word. The CSR explains it's due to weather over Florida that's been happening all morning. I look at the weather radar and there is a storm in North FL so I guess that makes sense. Hang up with her at 1130am.

1133am - Departure now 505pm
1134am - Departure now 810pm

Wow, this is getting worse.

1135am - Departure now 12pm (on time)

I panic, but figure there is no way that's possible, call Southwest back. I get a rep who tells me that it's going out on time because they did a plane swap (???) and if I don't reschedule now I'll forfeit my fare. I'm not particularly worried about this since Southwest has always treated me right, but .... He seems to not care that they've delayed it multiple times and says he can't see that (???).

At this point I give up, doubting we can make it on time, and reschedule online for a different flight tomorrow into MIA. The plane appears to have departed 14 minutes late and we wouldn't have made it.

I get weather delays, but this seems to be something else. Is it worth a call to complain or will this just be chalked up to weather?