Utah fans catch new flights, hit the road to make Rose Bowl amid cancellations

SALT LAKE CITY — Lots of Utah soccer followers planning to journey to California for the Rose Bowl are switching gears of their journey plans following main airline cancellations over the previous week.

Most flights canceled in Salt Lake Metropolis and throughout the U.S. have been with Southwest Airways.

Many passengers on the SLC airport on Thursday mentioned the flights they’re catching are new flights or rescheduled flights that had been initially supposed to depart Wednesday or a number of days in the past.

Whereas excited for the Rose Bowl Recreation in Pasadena, California, first issues first: getting there, which appears to be simpler mentioned than performed amid back-to-back flight delays and cancellations.

“I feel we’ll pull it by way of. For certain,” mentioned Zoe and Aja Vigil.

The Vigils are flying to see the Utes tackle the Nittany Lions within the Rose Bowl Recreation this Monday.

They’re additionally pulling for his or her flight — that they and their baggage — make it on time.

“It’s so much busier this yr… Our flight acquired delayed like 20 minutes to date. It’s higher than getting canceled,” mentioned Zoe and Aja Vigil.

Southwest cancellations proceed as airline offers with ‘meltdown’ fallout

For others, purple — not the sport day form — was all they noticed Thursday.

This comes as a whole lot of departing and arriving airline flights learn “canceled” this week in Salt Lake Metropolis and throughout the nation.

The Memmotts are additionally flying to see the Utes play.

“Little loopy. It’s loopy! We’re glad we’re not flying Southwest. What a nightmare!” mentioned Korey and Todd Memmott.

To keep away from the airport altogether, some Utes followers determined they’d reasonably drive the 10-plus hour highway to Pasadena versus danger watching the sport from an airport display screen.

“You’ve acquired to see them win… I used to be nonetheless getting emails from Southwest saying, ‘Prepare in your flight to LA. It’s going to be tremendous superior!’ Deep down inside, we had been all like, ‘It’s most likely not going to occur,’” mentioned Mattew Berrett.

Utah Soccer ‘Excited To Be Right here Once more’

Again on the airport, fingers are crossed.

“Yep. Nothing but. Bought my spouse and daughter and we’ve already acquired mates who’re there and mates who’re coming,” mentioned Kyle Ariotti.

Many proceed holding their breath for no main delays or cancellations.

“All 4 of us final yr missed final yr, so we’re so excited,” mentioned the Memmotts.