(The Slice): The financial nightmare is not over for Southwest Airlines. The company must reimburse passengers up to $3800 in damages in the aftermath of a huge holiday flight fiasco that led to over 16,000 cancellations, the Department of Transportation says.
The DOT has opened an investigation to hold Southwest leadership accountable for the mismanaged response. The U.S. air carrier was the only one that caused massive travel disruptions when other major airlines continued to operate despite weather snafus. The DOT has determined that it was not the weather that caused Southwest to fold and is prepared to apply full penalties to correct their actions.
The company is feeling the wrath of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg who was blamed for the fall out. Buttigieg sent a pointed letter demanding that Southwest complies with the law to take care of all affected customers. Expenses related to customers incurring costs from uncontrolled travel disruptions that are covered range from transportation to and from the airport, to hotel stays and meals. These costs must be covered.
Buttigieg stated on CNN's Wolf Blitzer that he spoke to the CEO of Southwest , Bob Jordan conveyed that they will be held accountable.
HOW TO GET REIMBURSED FROM SOUTHWEST
In his Dec. 29 letter to Southwest, Bottigieg said by law, passengers are entitled to a refund if a carrier makes significant changes to a flight for any reason. Southwest is supposed to process a refund in seven business days if a passenger paid by credit card. The reimbursement window is 20 days if a passenger paid by cash, check, or other means.
In order to request a refund, the company says passengers whose flights were canceled from Dec. 24 to Jan. 2 should fill out a form and submit receipts online.
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