Flying during the holidays can be stressful.

Orlando International Airport Terminal C

It’s always a good idea to keep an eye on your flight status and get to the airport early so you’re prepared for crowds and delays. With so many people traveling this time of year, small hiccups aren’t uncommon, but what happens when a major airline has a massive number of flight cancelations and delays? If you tried to fly with Southwest Airlines during the 2022 holiday season, you might have been affected by the company’s service meltdown. Now, the company has been saddled with a record-breaking fine for how it handled the disruptions.

During the 2022 holiday season, an arctic blast made its way across the U.S., leaving a staggering number of travelers stranded in the wake of flight cancelations. Southwest Airlines had a particularly tough time during all of this, stating insufficient infrastructure and winter equipment as major contributors.

©Southwest

The problems led to nearly 17,000 flight cancelations and more than 2 million stranded passengers, and the company spent the following month putting out related fires. The CEO released a public apology video, sales were offered to incentivize travelers to book with the company, and new strategies were put into place to offset further cancelations. But, that didn’t stop the government from holding the company accountable.

Southwest Airlines at the Orlando Airport

According to NBC News, the Transportation Department fined Southwest Airlines a record-breaking $140 million fine following a yearlong investigation. The civil penalty, which will mostly go toward future Southwest travelers impacted by last year’s cancelations, is “30 times larger than any prior department penalty for consumer protection violations.”

Southwest Airplane

According to the department, Southwest violated multiple consumer protection laws when it failed to offer proper customer service during the disruptions, prompt flight status updates, and prompt and appropriate refunds.

Orlando International Airport

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement regarding the penalty, “Today’s action sets a new precedent and sends a clear message: if airlines fail their passengers, we will use the full extent of our authority to hold them accountable,” commenting that airlines should take every possible step to make sure this kind of meltdown doesn’t happen again.

©Southwest Airlines

Southwest communicated that it “is committed to delivering the highest standard of excellence in Customer Service” and that it is “pleased” to have reached this settlement, which includes setting $90 million aside for vouchers for future travelers. Southwest will provide a $75 voucher for passengers who arrive at their destination more than three hours after initially scheduled.

Orlando International Airport

We’ll keep bringing you all the latest, so stay tuned to DFB for more.

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Were you affected by the flight disruptions last year? Let us know in the comments below!