Yesterday afternoon when I tried to check my flight status on my iPad, the Southwest website indicated that was not available, to try later. OK, so I went to my computer to check email, and in the process noticed a news headline about Southwest and a technology glitch that was delaying and even canceling flights. Here we go again, I thought. I went to the airport a little early and was glad I didn't have a bag to check when I saw the long lines at the ticket counters. TSA security went smoothly, and I was sitting at my gate two hours before flight time. Soon the gate agent announced that paper boarding passes would be required, not a pass on a smart phone. Many passengers then lined up at customer service to get those. I had printed mine at home; I don't have a smart phone.
It was very odd to sit there and see planes just waiting at the gates, though not at mine. I did not see any Southwest planes land or take off for more than an hour. I heard no PA announcements informing travelers to get to their gate because the door was about to close and they would lose their seats; normally there are many of those. I was somewhat curious--when would my flight leave? The monitor said it would depart on time, but I know from personal experience that information on monitors is not always up to date. At least I could just go home if need be and fly out Monday morning. But as it turned out, things began to move. Our aircraft arrived just a bit late, discharged passengers and we boarded, only a few minutes behind schedule.
We are so dependent now on our technology, our ATM and debit cards, our wireless connections, our computerized everything. I was at Safeway last year when their computer system went out, and no one could check out because what we used to call the cash registers were unable to function. Remember how nervous some people were 15 years ago, Y2K? I like using these conveniences, but there can be problems, and when these occur the consequences can be huge.
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