Southwest Airlines Offers Travelers More Than $300 Worth of Frequent Flyer Points After Christmas Travel Chaos

Southwest Airlines Offers Travelers More Than $300 Worth of Frequent Flyer Points After Christmas Travel Chaos
Southwest Airlines staff tend the counter in the check-in area, at Los Angeles International Airport on Dec. 28, 2022. Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images
Katabella Roberts
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Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan, who apologized in December 2022 after the flight carrier canceled more than 15,000 flights over the Christmas holiday period, is offering 25,000 frequent-flyer points to travelers who were affected by the ordeal.

According to a screenshot of an email Jordan sent out to travelers impacted by the cancelations and posted to Twitter by the Points Guy’s Zach Griff, the 25,000 points are a “gesture of goodwill” and have a value of more than $300.

The extra points are available to those who had flights canceled or delayed for more than three hours between Dec. 24, 2022, and Jan. 2, 2023. The points have no expiration or blackout date and can be used for future travel or other items such as gift cards and merchandise.

The bonus air miles are in addition to refund and reimbursement for expenses.

Southwest has said it would reimburse affected passengers for “reasonable expenses” such as last-minute hotel stays, food, or alternative transportation arrangements, although the reimbursements may take several weeks to arrive in customers’ pockets.

“Our Purpose has always been to connect our Customers to what’s important in their lives,” Jordan wrote in the email.

“And this holiday season, as you made plans with us to do just that, we fell short. For that, please accept my personal apology.

“I know that no amount of apologies can undo your experience. For those who have requested refunds, reimbursements and/or are waiting to be reunited with your lost bag(s), those processes are being handled with great urgency and we appreciate your patience.”

Jordan also noted that the travel chaos began after severe weather over the holiday weekend period, which then transitioned into “other operational challenges.”

Stranded Southwest Airlines passengers look for their luggage in the baggage claim area at Chicago Midway International Airport in Chicago on Dec. 28, 2022. (Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images)
Stranded Southwest Airlines passengers look for their luggage in the baggage claim area at Chicago Midway International Airport in Chicago on Dec. 28, 2022. Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images

Over 15,000 Flights Canceled

Southwest Airlines canceled more than 15,000 flights over the holiday travel week as a powerful storm hit much of the United States, sometimes amounting to 60 percent of the airline’s daily schedule.

The carrier largely resumed normal operations on Dec. 30, several days after other airlines were able to recover from the storm relatively quickly. However, many passengers are still waiting to have misplaced luggage returned to them.

In an interview with “Good Morning America” in December, Jordan apologized for the travel chaos, adding that there “will be a lot of lessons learned that come out of this” to ensure that it doesn’t happen again.
Southwest Airlines initially blamed the weather and its scheduling system for the thousands of flight cancelations, but transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg said that the delays were actually “due to circumstances within the airline’s control.”

Passenger Sues

Jordan’s email to customers comes after Southwest Airlines was sued on Dec. 30 by a passenger who claims the flight carrier failed to provide refunds to passengers left stranded over the holiday period and is in breach of contract.

In a proposed class action filed in New Orleans federal court, Eric Capdeville claimed that the airline had promised to reimburse passengers for expenses but that he and his daughter were instead offered only credit after their Dec. 27 flight to Portland, Oregon, from New Orleans was canceled, and they were unable to book alternative travel.

Capdeville is seeking damages for passengers on Southwest flights canceled since Dec. 24, and who didn’t receive refunds or expense reimbursements.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the 25,000 points being offered to customers is enough for one person to take a round trip from Phoenix to Maui, Hawaii, in late January or to fly one-way from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, over Presidents Day weekend.
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