Jaunted

Midwest Death Watch

Midwest Death Watch: Systemwide Cuts Starting to Hurt

July 28, 2008 at 12:30 PM | 0 Comments

Last week's announced cuts to Midwest Airlines' service are starting to take effect, and they hurt! Hundreds of vacationers bound for Orlando on one of the to-be-cut flights between September 8 and October 20 were stymied by error messages on Midwestairlines.com and consistent busy signals on the company's 800 number. Even travel agents reported trouble getting through on the domestically staffed help line.

One area particularly hurt by the service changes? The cities of Stevens Point, Wausau and Wisconsin Rapids, served by Central Wisconsin Airport in Mosinee. With Midwest goes the only flight connecting the northern half of WI to Milwaukee, forcing fliers to connect through Detroit, Minneapolis or O'Hare for an in-state destination.

At least this misery has company: Airline columnist Joe Brancatelli declared "every U.S. carrier except Southwest Airlines faces bankruptcy and possibly even liquidation" in his latest Seat 2B bulletin. Clearly people are cashing in those edgy Southwest coupons.

Related Stories:
· Midwest Death Watch: Capacity Costs Made Official [Jaunted]
· Passengers have trouble using Midwest Airlines refund site [MJS]
· Midwest Airlines callers get constant busy signal [MJS]
· Don't Take A Flier On Airlines [WaPo]
· Midwest Airlines Cuts CWA Flights [Fox 55 Wausau]

[Photo: retokurmann]