Albuquerque Sunport is impacted by the Southwest travel fiasco
Dec. 29—ALBUQUERQUE — Four Southwest Airlines employees paced through a sea of multicolored luggage Wednesday afternoon, looking for Ruth Ann Price’s missing red duffle bag.
After a weeklong trip through Costa Rica, Price’s family had to part ways with the fifth suitcase.
Price stated that you will need lots of things if you’re traveling to Costa Rica with a 18-month old.
The Southwest plane brought the bag to Albuquerque. Price and her family were forced to take a 13-1/2-hour van ride to Houston as their only option to the nationwide travel crisis that had erupted for Southwest passengers who were unable to fly Southwest during a difficult holiday week.
The Albuquerque Sunport is not the epicenter of Southwest’s problem — an airport spokeswoman said only 166 flights had been canceled since Saturday, with 36 coming Wednesday. It wasn’t difficult to see the ripple effects of the disaster Wednesday. New Mexicans spent Wednesday searching for luggage and waiting for relatives to arrive.
Price, 70 years old, claimed that her family flew from Costa Rica to Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport, hoping to leave for Albuquerque within a few hours. Instead — after spending the night stranded in Houston — Price, her daughter, son-in-law and infant grandson jumped into a rental car, figuring they would get home before others who’d been buried by Southwest’s avalanche of flight cancellations.
While Price read classic books to her grandson, Price and her daughter-in-law drove together across Texas.
“My son-in-law has wonderful music — lots of Grateful Dead,” Price said with a chuckle.
Although the family arrived in Albuquerque Tuesday morning, they still had to retrieve their bags. Price was left with Southwest’s ground crew to clean up the mess while her family went about their day.
It was a long process of pace, confused looks, and many communication links, but Price managed to walk out of Albuquerque Airport without losing a single bag.
“There are many big problems in the world and it is frustrating, but we have a place to call home. We could rent a car. She stated that “… We have one another.” It was painful, but not a big problem in the grand scheme.
Jennifer Cerny (60) and Nicholas Cerny (61) weren’t so fortunate.
Nicholas, a Yale University senior, is visiting Santa Fe to spend the holidays with his family. He flew out from New York’s LaGuardia Airport this week. His suitcase got lost on his way.
After being called by New York to inform them that the bag had been found in New York, Cerny and her son drove to Albuquerque. It was not there when Cerny and her son arrived at Southwest’s seaside of suitcases.
Cerny stated that she was not looking forward telling her son about the bag’s misfortune, while her son was away. “A lady remembers even handling the bag here, because we have an unusual last name. … It was there. I wonder where it is now. Who knows?
Travis Clyne (70) sat alone near baggage claim on Wednesday. Clyne was wearing a Vietnam veteran baseball cap with a jacket and jacket for his machinist association. He patiently waited for Marie Burdett to arrive home at 90 years old.
Burdett, who used to work for Southwest, flew to London this week to attend her brother’s funeral. After arriving back in the U.S., Tuesday saw the somber occasion become more poignant. Due to the current problem of her former employer, she was left alone in Las Vegas.
“She is able to understand what happens. Clyne stated that weather is the only thing an airline can control.
Burdett was allowed to board a Spirit Airlines flight to Albuquerque, New Mexico on Wednesday. The only catch was that its arrival was, yes, delayed, leaving Clyne to wait around the airport — initially wondering why a relatively short journey was taking so long.
Clyne stated that she was standing at the end the escalator, where I could see both the elevators as well as the escalator. “She doesn’t get by me,” Clyne said.
Burdett arrived just before 3:00 p.m. and was escorted by a Spirit Airlines employee to Clyne’s place. After their long journey, they shared a kiss.
Finally home, Burdett said she appreciated the hotel room she stayed in during her overnight stay in Nevada — which included a queen-size bed with two duvets, a kitchenette, a “proper” bathroom, a desk and a living room. Despite the comforts, Burdett said she was glad to be back in New Mexico.
She stated, “It is good to be home except for the weather.”