Is Southwest Airlines reliable 2023?

Top 10 best domestic airlines 2023 Southwest Airlines is the second highest-rated domestic airline, with a score of 5.56. While the airline only scored 2 out of 5 for its in-flight entertainment, Southwest excelled thanks to its baggage allowance policy.



In 2023, Southwest Airlines' reputation for reliability was under intense scrutiny following their catastrophic operational meltdown in late December 2022. While the airline spent much of 2023 investing over $1 billion in IT upgrades and crew scheduling software (specifically the GE Digital "SkySolver" system) to prevent a repeat of the "point-to-point" system collapse, the year was characterized by a period of recovery and regaining passenger trust. Statistically, Southwest's on-time performance in 2023 fluctuated, often trailing behind competitors like Delta and United in major rankings. However, their "reliability" in terms of customer-friendly policies—such as two free checked bags and no change fees—remained a strong differentiator. By the end of 2023, the airline had successfully implemented new "winter-ready" operational protocols and increased de-icing equipment at hubs like Denver and Chicago, showing a significant improvement in their ability to handle weather-related disruptions compared to the previous year.

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Southwest Airlines reviews Online customer reviews tend to agree with Skytrax's assessment. According to the 2022 Airline Quality Rating report, Southwest was ranked as the No. 1 airline in 2021 and 2020. In addition, Southwest had the second lowest consumer complaint rate in 2021.

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1 best domestic airline: Delta. Delta Air Lines ranked as the highest-rated domestic airline in the U.S. According to Bounce's 2023 Airline Index, Delta recorded the highest percentage of on-time arrivals at 81.82% and one of the lowest cancellation rates at 1.96%.

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If you're choosing between Delta and Southwest When you factor in earnings rates, basic economy considerations, in-flight entertainment and pet friendliness, Southwest just edges out Delta.

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Top 10 best domestic airlines 2023 Southwest Airlines is the second highest-rated domestic airline, with a score of 5.56. While the airline only scored 2 out of 5 for its in-flight entertainment, Southwest excelled thanks to its baggage allowance policy.

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While a massive winter storm caused the initial cancellations, the company's outdated software systems turned what should have been a normal problem into a snowballing disaster that lasted for days after other airlines had resumed their usual operations.

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Most major airlines canceled or delayed flights, but Southwest Airlines canceled at least 70% of its flights Monday -- more than 2,600 -- due to a reported system meltdown. The chaos continued Tuesday, with the airline canceling 62% of flights for the day and canceling 62% of flights on Wednesday.

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Chief among them are outdated internal processes and information technology. Southwest's scheduling system hasn't changed much since the 1990s, according to Captain Casey Murray, president of the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association. Southwest has also acknowledged the company's outdated infrastructure.

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Worst airlines to avoid in 2023
  1. Lion Air. Despite Indonesia AirAsia facing intense scrutiny following the crash of flight QZ8501 in late 2014, it does not rank among Indonesia's most hazardous airlines. ...
  2. Nepal Airlines. ...
  3. Scat Airlines.


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As a result, Southwest ranked sixth for on-time performance in Dec. 2022, despite canceling 14.6% of its flights that month.

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Carryon items are limited to one bag plus one smaller, personal-type item. Southwest Airlines limits carryon bag dimensions to 10 x 16 x 24 inches. All Customers and Employees and their items are subject to a thorough physical search.

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Will I get a refund if Southwest cancels my flight? If your flight is cancelled by Southwest and you choose to cancel your trip as a result, you are entitled to a refund upon request for the unused transportation – even for non-refundable tickets.

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This time it's Southwest, but other airlines have had similar "operational meltdowns" in the past, notes Bangs. In summer 2021, for example, it was Spirit and American. And over Memorial Day this year, it was Delta Air Lines.

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The good news for Southwest Airlines is that it came back from those crises, and there are several ways it could bounce back from its latest one. But the road to recovery is not likely to be quick or easy and will involve more than resuming normal operations, which the airline said it expects to happen on Friday.

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The disruption to operations was described by Seeking Alpha as the most costly and largest in the history of U.S. airlines. More than 15,000 flights were cancelled throughout the crisis.

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Southwest Airlines is more flexible than most other large airlines. Southwest is the only large U.S. airline that is also a low-cost carrier. Southwest Airlines' strategy emphasizes recruiting and retaining motivated employees. Southwest continues to improve its business model and practices.

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Online customer reviews tend to agree with Skytrax's assessment. According to the 2022 Airline Quality Rating report, Southwest was ranked as the No. 1 airline in 2021 and 2020. In addition, Southwest had the second lowest consumer complaint rate in 2021.

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