Why is MDW More Affected ?
Jan 30, 2019, 3:56 pm
#31
Join Date: May 2002
Programs: WN F9 HA UA AA IHG HH MR
Posts: 3,305
Actually, temperatures Tuesday afternoon were quite steady as they were predicted to be and did not drop below 0 until 7:00pm. Southwest clearly has a different calculous about what the losses are from a cancelled flight than most other major airlines. Why would a plane landing at 2:00pm be 'stuck' in Chicago?
I do not understand how cold affects runway landing distance.
I do not understand how cold affects runway landing distance.
Jan 30, 2019, 8:23 pm
#32
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,599
I'm not sure if MDW is totally closed for all Southwest flights tomorrow.
A friend of mine who had his Monday Flight back to MDW from LAS cancelled and was told there would be no fights until Friday was able to get a flight for Wednesday..
He saw flights open on the Web and was able to call and get on a Direct LAS/MDW flight for tomorrow.
Does it actually take off who knows but WN is selling tickets ( or in his case giving seats to stranded travelers) for LAS/MDW on 1/30.
I just looked at the website and I see 3 available flights into MDW from LAS for 1/30 and many more for Thurs 1/31.
A friend of mine who had his Monday Flight back to MDW from LAS cancelled and was told there would be no fights until Friday was able to get a flight for Wednesday..
He saw flights open on the Web and was able to call and get on a Direct LAS/MDW flight for tomorrow.
Does it actually take off who knows but WN is selling tickets ( or in his case giving seats to stranded travelers) for LAS/MDW on 1/30.
I just looked at the website and I see 3 available flights into MDW from LAS for 1/30 and many more for Thurs 1/31.
Jan 30, 2019, 9:48 pm
#33
Join Date: Sep 2014
Programs: IHG Platinum
Posts: 629
Sorry you feel screwed........
Jan 31, 2019, 7:42 am
#34
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Chicago, IL, US
Posts: 2,210
School is closed again in the city and most if not all suburbs. The temp at ORD right now just after 8:30 (when my kid's school would have started) is -17, -15 downtown. It's supposed to be up to 0 by afternoon, should feel downright balmy...
Jan 31, 2019, 7:51 am
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Chicagoland, IL, USA
Programs: WN CP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,176
My post office was open yesterday but they got no box mail delivery. Nearby Village Halls and schools were closed. Commuter train not running yesterday or today.
Jan 31, 2019, 11:28 am
#36
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Atlanta but Washington DC will always be home.
Programs: Marriott LTP, Hilton Diamond, Accor Gold, Hyatt Explorist,, Delta Plat,
Posts: 2,070
Southwest was definitely the most conservative carrier at DTW this week. Cancelled almost all flights Tuesday. Wednesday and today. Most of Delta's flights went out. I was supposed to fly to BWI on Tuesday, Cancelled and rebooked for today....cancelled. Ended up flying out today on Delta. Wish I had been smarter, would have switched to Delta on Wednesday. Oh, well. Lesson learned!
Jan 31, 2019, 8:07 pm
#37
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: AA Plat Pto, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,536
I suspect the issue was not with the flight facilities but concerns about getting staff to the airport. A good portion of the ground crew likely takes transit to MDW and the CTA has had some funding struggles.
Jan 31, 2019, 8:25 pm
#38
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Chicago, IL, US
Posts: 2,210
CTA was generally running fine per reports (sorry, no first hand, I stayed home). Metra (suburban commuter trains), OTOH had a bunch of problems. One line (Metra Electric, tracks also used by NICTD/South Shore) had their issues with the cold made worse by a freight train derailing and knocking down some of the overhead catenary wire. Line completely closed at least tomorrow as well. Hopefully the warmer weather over the weekend will make repairs a lot easier. Other lines had delays and stuff and canceled some runs likely due to lack of passengers as a lot of people just stayed home yesterday and today.
Jan 31, 2019, 8:28 pm
#39
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Chicago, IL, US
Posts: 2,210