Morrisville, NC (WTVD) — A serious problem with the FAA air traffic control computer system on Monday delayed flights in and out of Florida for several hours.
Over 1,600 flights have been delayed and over 160 canceled.
It comes as problems stemming from the Southwest Airlines meltdown escalate into the new week (and new year), including families at Raleigh-Durham International Airport.
What was expected to be a busy travel day at the RDU was compounded by the turmoil in Florida. For Southwest, it became even more of a headache as they were still dealing with last week’s mess and dozens of bags.
After last week’s debacle, people were still coming to pick up bags left at the RDU, and some were heading home.
“They’re just saying it’s not their fault. That’s pretty much it and we’re stuck here,” said Alex Argeta.
I’ve had enough of Argueta and want to go back to Houston.
“I have an eight-month-old, two-year-old and a five-year-old. “And trying to travel with them is exhausting.”
His mother-in-law, like many others, was by the Southwest Airlines Baggage Office in Terminal 1 of the RDU.
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It’s a place that so many travelers have come to in the last week to pick up bags that got stuck in transit in an airline meltdown.
Argueta and his family were supposed to be here on December 22nd and leave on December 28th, but couldn’t rebook until Monday.
They arrived at the RDU and found out once again that their flight had been cancelled.
“Ridiculous,” said Argeta. “I mean, they say there’s a flight tomorrow, but there’s no guarantee that they’ll actually get on it or even get on the next one.”
Arguetas said he spoke with Southwest on the phone for three hours and then hung up. A previous call with the airline lasted 1 hour and 16 minutes.
The family seems to be renting a car.
“That’s a risk we’re likely to take,” Argeta said. I had to work, I missed work, she missed work. “
Also, I’m still short of two bags and have to go buy some car seats for my kids to drive back safely.
“The Southwest is just… there are no words because they are not willing to do anything,” Argueta said.
RELATED: Southwest CEO: ‘There’s no way I can apologize enough’ for a disastrous week of flight cancellations
Arguetas are paying a hefty sum and the 5-year-old is expected to start school later this week.
“We had no clothes, no shoes, very little we had,” Argueta said. There weren’t … we don’t know where they are, so we don’t really care where they are. Some of our stuff is back.”
Southwest’s CEO said last week at GMA that this was unprecedented in the airline’s more than 50-year history and that passengers should expect ticket and expense reimbursement.
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