Airports across the country continue to experience delays after Southwest Airlines canceled more than 2,000 flights. Some Phoenix residents are stuck trying to get home. PHOENIX – Phoenix residents went to great lengths to get home on Monday after Southwest Airlines canceled over 2,000 flights over the weekend. Laura Vasquez had to travel from Austin to San Antonio, stay at a hotel, and take a detour via LAX after her Sunday flight was postponed. “Everything was fine, I went to Austin with my friends and just did all the touristy things – never thought I wouldn’t make it to work Monday,” she said. It wasn’t until Vasquez was at the baggage check-in counter at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport that she said she was told that her flight was canceled on Sunday morning and that no other flights would resume that day. Vasquez looked for a ticket with another airline but said they all cost more than $ 1,000. It was something she was unwilling to pay for. RELATED: Southwest Cancels Hundreds More Flights, Denies Sickness Report One of her friends found her a $ 250 ticket through American Airlines, but the flight took off from San Antonio International Airport. Vasquez said her friend drove her there. “It’s ridiculous, people have to go home, they have to work,” Vasquez recalls when she found out that her flight was among thousands that the airline has canceled. “I understand it was a holiday weekend, but not everyone who flew through Southwest had a day off … I was one of those people.” Southwest Airlines made the nationwide cancellations due to air traffic control problems, bad weather and staff shortages. “I’m not buying that,” said Ron Steckel, who said he spent more than $ 1,500 on a new flight, hotel, and food to make it back to the Valley on Monday. “A lot of people don’t buy that I think it’s about work.” After seeing the long lines at a California airport, Steckel said he called customer service to book and place his flight, but said he waited more than two hours “just to connect.” The massive cancellations also affected other airlines as passengers looked for rebooking. “There were about 40 people trying to get off other flights on our Southwest that were on standby,” said Jennifer Simler. She traveled on American Airlines with her husband and baby. Simler and her family traveled to Idaho from Las Vegas, but their connection was severed. They were forced to stay in Phoenix for one night. Fortunately, they stayed with their family. “We’re leaving tomorrow at 7:00 am and will probably be back home by midnight,” said Ryan Simler. “It will be 36 hours.” Southwest Airlines said the company is adjusting flight schedules but affected passengers want more than just their refund. “I wish they could just issue a whole nationwide apology posted through Southwest,” said Vasquez. RELATED: Southwest Airlines Cancels Hundreds of Flights at Phoenix Up to Speed Check out the latest news and stories on YouTube Channel 12 News. Subscribe today.
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