Two Blind Women Left Alone on a Southwest Flight

Two blind women from Florida recently realized they were the only passengers aboard a Southwest Airlines flight from New Orleans to Orlando.

Sherri Brun and Camille Tate were flying together on Flight 2637, which was originally set to leave New Orleans on July 14. After about five hours of waiting, the pair discovered no one else was on the plane.

“You’re the only two on this flight because they’ve forgotten about you,” Brun recalled a flight attendant telling them.

Waiting at the gate, Brun and Tate checked the Southwest app for updates. They were unaware that most passengers had been rebooked on an earlier flight from a different gate.

The U.S. Department of Transportation states that airlines should communicate clearly and effectively with visually impaired passengers, particularly during delays or when rebooking. However, Brun and Tate felt that these standards weren’t met. “No one ever informed us about another flight,” Brun said. “We were checking the app and standing at the gate, just like everyone else.”

Tate expressed that there’s a definite need for better communication with passengers, especially those with disabilities.

In response, a Southwest spokesperson stated that the women weren’t simply “forgotten,” and the flight number remained the same despite the delay. According to them, they had handled the situation according to protocol.

As a form of compensation for the inconvenience, Southwest offered each woman a $100 travel voucher. “We apologize for the inconvenience,” the airline said. “Southwest is continuously exploring ways to enhance our customers’ travel experiences, especially for passengers with disabilities.”