A carpool back to Wisconsin amid Southwest cancellations turned a group of strangers into friends

MILWAUKEE — Bob Mayer, Jeni Summers, and Alex Tick all spent Christmas day somewhere else. However on Monday, the three Wisconsinites and Tick’s spouse all ended up in a automobile collectively driving from St. Louis to Milwaukee.

It began on Friday. Mayer was making his manner again to Wisconsin after a Christmas-themed cruise that launched from Galveston, Texas. He was in line to board his Southwest aircraft on the airport in Houston when his flight was canceled. He was speculated to fly by way of Denver, earlier than getting on a aircraft there to Milwaukee.

“I used to be speculated to get to Milwaukee proper round 10 o’clock, 9:30 so I might spend Christmas at house,” Mayer stated.

On the time, he had no thought it was simply one in every of 1000’s of Southwest flights that might be canceled over the Christmas weekend and the in days to comply with.

He was initially rebooked for the following day, Christmas Eve. So he took an Uber to a lodge and stayed the night time in Houston.

“[On Saturday] I used to be nearly prepared to go away for the airport and I acquired one other textual content message saying that (the) flight was rescheduled for Sunday. Christmas Day,” Mayer stated.

After extra rebooking, he ultimately acquired on a flight late on Christmas Day that took him to New Orleans. From New Orleans, he flew to St. Louis. That flight was delayed and he did not make it to the airport in St. Louis till about 2 a.m. the day after Christmas (Monday).

As he seemed on the flight boards on the St. Louis airport, he started to fret.

“I seemed on the monitor and all these flights have been being canceled. My flight was delayed no less than,” Mayer stated.

As he sat at an airport restaurant with different annoyed Southwest prospects, he watched as an increasing number of individuals had their flights canceled.

That is when he referred to as his neighbor Jeni Summers again in Horicon, Wisconsin. Summers was watching Mayer’s cat whereas he was away so they’d been in communication nearly day by day anyway.

“I came upon that he was in St. Louis and he referred to as me. He stated, ‘I do not know, I’ve a flight for 11 o’clock however I do not assume it should occur,’” Jeni recalled. “I stated, ‘nicely I informed you in the event you want me to, I am going to come get you.”

So, when she acquired off work on Dec. 26, she jumped in her automobile and commenced the 6-hour drive from Horicon to the St. Louis airport. She was a number of hours into her drive when the flight was formally canceled.

On her strategy to St. Louis, Summers stated she informed Mayer: “I have been listening to on the information that there is lots of people stranded. So, in the event you discover anyone else that wishes to come back alongside that is coming to Milwaukee, we would as nicely seize as many individuals we are able to match within the automobile.”

That is the place Tick and his spouse are available in. They have been hanging out on the identical airport restaurant as Mayer and have been speculated to be on the identical flight as him as nicely.

“That is when Bob approached me from the opposite aspect of the bar,” Tick stated. “He had seen my Packer hat. Good Wisconsin man, assumed I used to be going to Milwaukee.”

Tick and his spouse took Mayers up on his provide regardless of being full strangers.

Jeni arrived on the St. Louis airport round midnight as Monday became Tuesday. Tick, who stated he likes to drive, provide to take the wheel for the journey house.

“We came upon that we had a good quantity in widespread, so it was enjoyable. Made a few new mates we did not count on to make,” Tick stated.

When requested why Summers determined to not solely soar within the automobile however invite complete strangers alongside for the journey, she stated, “It is simply the precise factor to do. I am unable to simply go away individuals stranded down there.”

However regardless of the vacation good that got here out of the Southwest flight cancellation chaos, they are saying they’re nonetheless ready to listen to from the airline about precisely what occurred and the way the corporate will make it proper.

“What I am in search of out of Southwest is simply to deal with these individuals decently and possibly do one thing for them. As a result of it was horrible. The crowds, the strains, the bags,” Mayer stated.

Mayers stated he was additionally disillusioned within the lack of respect vacationers confirmed towards Southwest workers on the airports.

“They have been understaffed on the counters and it wasn’t their fault. At any time when I did get an opportunity to speak to them, I informed them I appreciated what they have been doing and gave them a praise. They acknowledged that as a result of I do not assume many individuals did that. They have been simply making an attempt to do their job, which they’d no extra solutions than we did,” Mayer stated.

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