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Lost luggage is piling up at airports nationwide as the recent Southwest cancellations and delays continue to wreak havoc on holiday travel schedules.

The big picture: Southwest's flight cancellation problems — sparked by extreme winter weather but exacerbated by the airline's business model and antiquated systems — have left some passengers stranded without their bags and unsure how to find them.

The latest: Southwest had 2,362 flights canceled by 10 a.m. ET Thursday, about 58% of its operations, according to FlightAware data. Another 61 flights were delayed.

That's on top of the more than 2,300 Southwest cancellations on Wednesday and thousands more from earlier this week.

Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan apologized publicly and said the company has "some real work to do in making this right."

Southwest Airlines told Axios in an email Thursday that it does not have specific lost luggage numbers to share. But photos and videos show piles and piles of bags stacked outside baggage claim carousels nationwide.

Security guards and police officers are watching over bags that have arrived ahead of their owners. Passengers are waiting in line to find lost luggage. And some passengers' bags are being moved to other areas of airports to make way for even more bags.

"It was a free for all and then they had to move them for another flight’s incoming luggage," Southwest passenger Crystal Muñoz told USA Today at Honolulu International Airport. "Anyone could have taken any bag."

Hundreds of people waited in line at St. Louis Lambert International Airport earlier this week to find their missing luggage, KSDK reports.

The line became so long that Southwest Airlines agents told travelers to head home and they'd receive a phone call about their bags, according to the station.

Stranded Southwest Airlines passengers looks for their luggage in the baggage claim area at Chicago Midway International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, on December 28, 2022.

Stranded Southwest Airlines passengers look for their luggage on Dec. 28, 2022. Photo: Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images

In Dallas, bags piled up and remained unclaimed at Dallas Love Field. Passengers reported finding one of their bags, but with others still missing.

"They said don't worry your bags will get to Dallas before you, and I was like, 'that don't make no sense,' but when we got here our bags weren't here," Jailon Welch, a Southwest passenger, told KDFW.

One passenger at Nashville International Airport told WKRN that she went shopping at Target for an outfit because her lost luggage had all her clothes.

In Denver, passengers are grabbing chairs as they wait for their luggage, according to Denver 7.

"I do give them the benefit of the doubt, you know, that they're working hard, but, you know, I'm hoping that I find my luggage, too," passenger Patricia Barnes told the ABC News affiliate.

And one science teacher, Brittany Loubier-Vervisch, became the hero of the day by sifting through the "Armageddon of luggage" at Tampa International Airport and texting passengers to let them know their bags had arrived, Insider reports.

Stranded Southwest Airlines passengers looks for their luggage in the baggage claim area at Chicago Midway International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, on December 28, 2022

What's happening: The delays and cancellations are impacting travelers and their schedules.

One passenger, Taylor Harris, told the Chicago Sun-Times that he and his children sat at their gate for a flight to Raleigh, North Carolina, for two hours before it was canceled without an announcement from Southwest agents.

Some passengers are taking matters into their own hands. Cameron Wright told ABC 11 in North Carolina that he bought a new car to avoid the airport travel mess.

Wright said he went to a nearby dealership and bought a Toyota Camry, adding that he was quoted $2,400 for a rental.

Southwest refund, reimbursements are available

What's next: Southwest currently has a self-service tool available that allows customers impacted by travel disruptions to submit a request for a refund or rebook flights.

Travelers can visit Southwest.com/traveldisruption and fill out the form. The airline said customers can submit receipts for hotel, meal and travel reimbursement.

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Thousands of Southwest flight cancellations have caused a travel disaster nationwide — with tons of lost bags.

Stranded Southwest Airlines passengers looks for their luggage in the baggage claim area at Chicago Midway International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, on December 28, 202

Stranded Southwest Airlines passengers looks for luggage iat Chicago Midway on Dec. 28, 2022. Photo: Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images

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Southwest Airlines was responsible for the majority of flight cancellations and delays in the U.S. for the third straight day on Wednesday, signaling that the airline's holiday season troubles aren't over yet.

The latest: Southwest accounted for 2,352 of the 2,419 canceled U.S. flights as of 2:30am Thursday ET, according to FlightAware. Another 52 of its flights were delayed.

Southwest canceled 64% of its flights that were scheduled to take off Tuesday, too, per FlightAware data. The airline also had 1,053 delayed flights.

Thousands of Southwest flights were canceled and delayed on Monday amid the holiday travel season.

Why Southwest Airlines had delays, canceled flights

The big picture: Southwest's troubles are due to a combination of the extreme winter storms and how the airline's flight routes are structured, per the Wall Street Journal.

The airline's crew-scheduling system also crumbled under the pressure of so many recent flight changes.

The airline said in a statement Monday that it was "staffed and prepared for the approaching holiday weekend" before the severe weather disrupted its plans.

"These operational conditions forced daily changes of an unprecedented volume and magnitude to our flight schedule and the tools our teams use to recover the airline remain at capacity," Southwest said.

Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan said Tuesday the plan for the next few days was "to fly a reduced schedule" and the company was "optimistic" it would be back on track before next week.

Zoom in: Travel blog The Points Guy wrote that "staffing and technology problems" sent "the carrier on a downward spiral."

"With schedules deteriorating so quickly amid the winter storm, Southwest’s crew scheduling struggled to keep up with the quick changes needed to keep crews and planes in place," The Points Guy reported.

Flashback: Southwest had a similar problem last year. Bad travel weather, a pilot shortage and staffing issues led to many flight cancellations and delays.

What's next: Department of Transportation review

Southwest said it will fly about one-third of its schedule as it works its way through the mess this week.

The airline said it's looking to "make things right for those we’ve let down," including its own employees.

Southwest has been booking hotels, rental cars and tickets for customers impacted by the delays, Ryan Green, Southwest's chief commercial officer, told the Journal.

Of note: Multiple airlines are working to help travelers get home following the flurry of Southwest Airlines cancellations and delays.

What we're watching: The Department of Transportation said it would review Southwest's actions that contributed to a rough holiday travel weekend.

The agency said it was "concerned by Southwest's unacceptable rate of cancellations and delays & reports of lack of prompt customer service" and "will examine whether cancellations were controllable and if Southwest is complying with its customer service plan."

What they're saying: U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told CNN Tuesday he had spoken with Jordan and "made clear that our department will be holding them accountable for their responsibilities to customers, both to get them through this situation and to make sure that this can't happen again."

Two Democratic senators said Tuesday that Southwest "is failing consumers" and called on the carrier to "compensate passengers" with rebooked or refunded tickets, hotel and meal reimbursements, and "significant monetary compensation for the disruption to their holiday plans."

"Southwest cannot avoid compensating passengers by claiming these flight cancellations were caused by recent winter storms," Sens. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said in a joint statement. 

Southwest refund: How to request or rebook

Details: Southwest opened a self-service tool where customers impacted by travel disruptions through Jan. 2 can request a refund or rebook flights.

The tool is available at Southwest.com/traveldisruption and travelers will fill out a short form with their reservation number, first and last name.

Yes, but: Rebooked flight needs to be "in the original class of service or travel standby (within 30 days of your original date of travel between the original city-pairs and in accordance with our accommodation procedures)."

The company said customers rebooking will not pay additional fees but that “available inventory is limited during the holidays.”

Southwest reimbursement for hotel, meals and travel

Southwest customers that have their flight canceled or significantly delayed between Dec. 24 and Jan. 2 can submit receipts for reimbursement consideration, the company said.

How it works: Southwest said customers should submit receipts through a link on the website.

“We will honor reasonable requests for reimbursement for meals, hotel, and alternate transportation,” the company said on the disruption website.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with new flight cancellation numbers, a statement from Democratic Sens. Ed Markey and Richard Blumenthal, further comment from Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan and details of other airlines' responses. 

Southwest Airlines cancellations, delays ramp up again

The airline expects a tough week ahead for travelers.

Newly arrived Southwest Airlines passengers wait for their luggage to arrive at Hollywood Burbank Airport in Burbank, California, on December 27, 2022

Newly arrived Southwest Airlines passengers wait for their luggage on Dec. 27, 2022. Photo: Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images

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President Biden has made the COVID-19 crisis and a post-Trump return to national unity and traditional democratic ideals his top priorities. From vaccinations to stimulus to schools, Biden is seeking bipartisan compromise while showing a willingness to use executive authority and bare Democratic majorities in the U.S. House and Senate to implement his policies. Republican leaders are navigating deep party divisions over if and how to move beyond former President Trump.

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Thousands more flights were canceled on Monday as the effects of winter storms and operational challenges continued to impact holiday travel.

The big picture: The Department of Transportation tweeted that it would look into the actions of Southwest, which accounted for a large amount of the more than 3,900 flight cancelations and 8,200-plus delays within, into or out of the U.S. as of late Monday, per FlightAware data.

A screenshot of a Southwest Airlines tweet saying they're experiencing high call volumes.

The DOT said it's "concerned by Southwest's unacceptable rate of cancellations and delays & reports of lack of prompt customer service" and "will examine whether cancellations were controllable and if Southwest is complying with its customer service plan."

By the numbers: Southwest canceled nearly 70% of its 2,886 flights Monday and 60% of some 2,400, planned Tuesday flights, according to FlightAware.

The Dallas-based carrier has canceled some 8,000 flights from Thursday to Monday, per the flight tracking website.

What we're watching: Southwest CEO Bob Jordan told the Wall Street Journal Monday evening the airline would operate just over a third of its schedule Tuesday and Wednesday in order to alleviate the situation.

The reduced capacity could be extended for longer if necessary, as airlines prepare for new year holiday travel.

"We had a tough day today. In all likelihood we’ll have another tough day tomorrow as we work our way out of this," Jordan told the Journal. "This is the largest scale event that I've ever seen."

What they're saying: Southwest issued a statement Monday apologizing for the disruption.

"With consecutive days of extreme winter weather across our network behind us, continuing challenges are impacting our customers and employees in a significant way that is unacceptable," Southwest said. 

"We are working with safety at the forefront to urgently address wide-scale disruption by re-balancing the airline and repositioning crews and our fleet, ultimately to best serve all who plan to travel with us. And our heartfelt apologies for this are just beginning."

Representatives for Southwest did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with additional details throughout.

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The DOT says it's "concerned by Southwest's unacceptable rate of cancellations and delays."

 Ella Silverstein lookup air during her waiting in the line to book flight in front of Southwest Airlines ticket counter at Denver International Airport in Denver, Colorado on Thursday, December 22.

Passengers waiting for a Southwest Airlines flight at Denver International Airport in Denver, Colorado, on Dec. 22.  Photo: Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post

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A number of major airlines are waiving the usual fees and fare differences for travelers looking to rebook their trips this holiday season ahead of dangerous winter weather.

The big picture: A significant winter storm is expected to barrel through the United States this week, bringing frigid temperatures and blizzard conditions to much of the country, most likely delaying travel for millions.

Why it matters: The waivers and lack of fees will allow travelers with flexible plans to rebook ahead of the storm. Travelers can also attempt to leave a little earlier without cost concerns.

What's happening: United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and other airlines are offering to waive the fees associated with changing your flight.

Keep an eye on the fine print, as some airlines are only allowing fee change waivers to and from specific airports — though eligibility could grow as the storm gets closer.

Alaska Airlines has waivers for flights to and from Seattle, Portland, seven East Coast cities and a dozen Midwest cities.

American Airlines has waivers for travelers moving through and out of about 30 airports in the Midwest and another 30 in the Northeast.

Delta will waive fees for rebooking several flights to and from the Pacific Northwest, Midwest and Northeast.

Southwest Airlines has a waiver for dozens of airports across the country.

Spirit Airlines has a waiver for travel to six Midwest airports and 11 Northeast airports as of Tuesday.

United is offering waivers to people traveling through airports across many of its regions, including the East Coast, Midwest, Central and Northwest U.S., and Texas.

Arctic blast and intense winter holiday storm to slam U.S.

Arctic blast to bring bitterly cold temperatures to Colorado

Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional developments.

These airlines have travel waivers ahead of major winter storm

United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines all have travel waivers for the impending winter storm.

A United Airlines flight lifts off at O'Hare International Airport on December 13, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois..

A United Airlines flight lifts off at O'Hare International Airport on Dec. 13, 2022. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images

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Bad weather along the Gulf Coast prevented fuel tankers from delivering jet fuel to Orlando International Airport, the airport said Sunday.

Why it matters: The airport's fuel reserves are lower than normal and could continue to decrease, potentially causing delays or flight disruptions over the next few days.

The airport said Sunday the weather lifted and tankers were en route. 

What they're saying: "If flight disruptions occur, airline contingency plans are currently in place," it said.

It said disruptions caused by the low fuel reserves were "minimal" as of Sunday morning. 

The big picture: Airlines have been advised to have additional fuel on incoming flights to minimize fuel usage for outgoing flights, according to USA Today.

Airlines have also added refueling stops for certain flights into the airport, while Delta has given passengers the option to reschedule their flights into Orlando for later this week.

Go deeper: Orlando airport gets high-tech new Terminal C

Orlando Airport fuel delivery delayed, may cause flight disruptions

Its fuel reserves are lower than normal, potentially causing flight delays over the next few days.

People waiting in a TSA screening line at Orlando International Airport in November 2021.

Travelers wait in a TSA screening line at Orlando International Airport in November 2021. Photo: Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

President Biden on Friday signed into law legislation to force a rail labor agreement, blocking workers from striking ahead of the busy holiday season.

Why it matters: Some railroad workers have argued the deal doesn't adequately address concerns over workplace conditions, most notably the lack of paid sick leave.

Biden has said he was reluctant to override union votes but emphasized that a strike would pose a major economic disruption and called on Congress to step in.

Details: The Senate passed the legislation on Thursday but rejected a House-drawn measure that would include seven days of paid sick leave for workers.

The provision's failure is a loss for many union members and progressive lawmakers who have slammed the fact that rail workers have no guaranteed paid sick days.

Between the lines: The rail workers' battle is emblematic of some of the most critical worker issues of the post-pandemic era — revolving not around money, per se, but worker leverage, quality of life and paid sick leave, Axios' Emily Peck writes.

The contract was brokered by union leadership, and they had a tough time selling the deal to rank-and-file members. Many workers are angry about how they've been treated in recent years — particularly during the pandemic.

The other side: The White House pointed to elements of the deal that it views as a win for workers, including a 24% pay bump, no increase in health insurance costs and one additional day of paid time off.

What they're saying: "Our nation's rail system is literally the backbone of our supply chain," Biden said before signing the bill. "So much of what we rely on is delivered on rail."

"Without freight rail, many of the U.S. industries would literally shut down," he added.

Biden said he would continue to fight for paid sick leave.

The big picture: The bill caps off a tense few months during which the Biden administration has had to balance its pro-labor stance with the need to avoid an economically disastrous strike ahead of the holiday season.

Worth noting: The rail industry has been struggling with a worker shortage for months.

Go deeper: Railroad workers are fed up but hoping to avoid a strike

Biden signs rail agreement into law, thwarting strike

Some railroad workers have said the deal doesn't adequately address concerns over workplace conditions.

Photo of Joe Biden's face among silhouettes

President Biden speaks at a campaign rally on Nov. 7, 2022 in Bowie, Md. Photo: Nathan Howard via Getty Images

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Congress this week is poised to consider a bill to avert a national rail shutdown, Democratic and Republican lawmakers said Tuesday after a meeting at the White House.

Driving the news: "All four of us agreed we've got to resolve this rail shutdown as quickly as possible and that we would work together on doing it," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said after the meeting. 

"Tomorrow morning, we will have a bill on the floor," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said after the meeting, which also included GOP House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. 

"I don’t like going against the ability of unions to strike, but weighing the equities, we must avoid a strike," Pelosi said. 

"Leader McConnell and I agreed we'd try to get it done ASAP," Schumer added.

The big picture: President Biden on Monday called on Congress to pass legislation forcing railroad workers to accept the labor contract that the White House brokered in September "to avert a potentially crippling national rail shutdown."

"As a proud pro-labor President, I am reluctant to override the ratification procedures and the views of those who voted against the agreement," the president said in a statement. 

"But in this case — where the economic impact of a shutdown would hurt millions of other working people and families — I believe Congress must use its powers to adopt this deal." 

Between the lines: It increasingly seemed negotiations between the freight rail companies and their unions weren't moving. And if both sides don't reach a deal by Dec. 9, rail workers could strike — an economically devastating move that could cost an estimated $2 billion a day.

Previously, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said they would prefer both sides to work this out themselves, as the Washington Post reported.

Congressional Democrats had been waiting on White House guidance before acting, WaPo also reported. 

Some rail workers had been lobbying members of Congress for a few days of paid sick leave, which isn't included in the Biden-brokered deal. The president shut down any ideas about that addition in his statement.

"Some in Congress want to modify the deal to either improve it for labor or for management. However well-intentioned, any changes would risk delay and a debilitating shutdown, " Biden said. "The agreement was reached in good faith by both sides."

The other side: Some progressive lawmakers signaled their opposition to the bill after the White House meeting on Tuesday, including Reps. Cori Bush (D-Mo.), Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.).

"Every worker deserves paid sick leave," Bush wrote in a tweet.

"I will not support a deal that does not provide our rail workers with the paid sick leave they need and deserve," she said. 

"Listen, I can’t in good conscience vote for a bill that doesn’t give rail workers the paid leave they deserve," Bowman also wrote on Twitter. 

The intrigue: In his statement, Biden noted that he's been pushing for a federal paid leave policy for the past two years. "Every other developed country in the world has such protections for its workers," he said.

Flashback: Congress last stepped in to avoid a rail strike in 1992. Six senators voted against the move, including then-Delaware Sen. Joe Biden, a reporter at the White House briefing on Monday noted, because the dynamic favored workers. 

Go deeper: Railroad strike looms over the holidays

Railroad workers are fed up but hoping to avoid a strike

Editor's note: This story and headline been updated with additional developments. 

Congressional leaders vow to consider bill to avoid rail strike

"Tomorrow morning, we will have a bill on the floor," Pelosi said.

A freight train travels through Houston on Sept. 14. Photo: Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Biden administration

More than 3,000 flights into or out of the U.S. have been delayed as of Sunday afternoon, on what is expected to be one of the busiest travel days of the Thanksgiving holiday. 

Driving the news: Rain, wind and thunderstorms are contributing to cross-country flight delays and cancellations.

Just over 75 flights within, into or out of the U.S. have been canceled on Sunday, per FlightAware.

A storm is expected to move through the mid-Mississippi Valley into the Northeast on Sunday, bringing with it the threat of widespread rain and winds, per the National Weather Service. 

Another storm system moving into the Pacific Northwest is expected to bring heavy snow to the Cascades and northern Rockies, and winds into Wyoming and Montana into Monday, the NWS tweeted. 

Zoom out: An estimated 54.6 million people were expected to travel at least 50 miles from home this Thanksgiving, which is about 98% of pre-pandemic levels, AAA predicted before the holiday. 

Go deeper... Americans are flocking to restaurants this Thanksgiving

More than 3,000 flights delayed amid Thanksgiving travel rush

An estimated 54.6 million people were expected to travel at least 50 miles from home this Thanksgiving.

Travelers wait in lines at the departures level inside Miami International Airport on Nov. 23, 2022.

Travelers wait inside Miami International Airport on Nov. 23. Photo: D.A. Varela/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

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Norfolk Southern, an Atlanta-based freight rail operator, has agreed to buy Cincinnati Southern Railway from the City of Cincinnati for $1.62 billion in cash.

Why it matters: This comes against the backdrop of a possible freight rail-workers strike, which could cripple the U.S. economy.

Details: CSR runs around 360 miles from Cincinnati to Chattanooga, Tenn., atop around 9,500 acres of land and operated under a lease agreement with a Norfolk Southern subsidiary that's set to expire in 2026.

Deal closure is subject to approval by Cincinnati voters and the U.S. Surface Transportation Board.

Cincinnati agrees to sell rail line in $1.6 billion deal

City voters will still need to approve the deal, which comes against the backdrop of a pending rail workers strike.

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