The Royal Caribbean International's Explorer of the Seas is docked at Charlotte Amalie Harbor in St. Thomas, U. S. Virgin Islands, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014.
The Royal Caribbean International's Explorer of the Seas is docked at Charlotte Amalie Harbor in St. Thomas, U. S. Virgin Islands, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014.Thomas Layer/Associated Press
  • Thousands of Southwest flights were canceled because of the teachers.

  • The Grasenicks missed their honeymoon after a canceled flight.

  • Southwest canceled more flights than anyone else.

After Southwest Airlines canceled thousands of flights the day after Christmas, two teachers from Wisconsin were forced to return to their homes with $4,000 in their pockets.

The Grasenicks were waiting for word on their Southwest flight when they flew to Nashville. After hours of not knowing if the flight would leave or not, they were told that their luggage would not be retrieved and returned to them.

They didn't have their luggage when they flew home from another airline.

We can't make it up because this is the only break we have in common. The only shot we had was this one.

She said it would be great if they could get back the money spent on the cruise.

It would be great if you could do that. She said that the memories that were going to be made with each other and with their friends were not something that you can put a price tag on.

The couple told the outlet that they would not choose the airline in the future because of Southwest's silence.

The Grasenicks were among thousands of people who had their flights canceled. Southwest passengers saw the worst of the winter storms that caused thousands of flights to be canceled.

Around half of all canceled flights on Monday were by Southwest. 70% of Southwest's trips for that day were canceled. Rental car shortages and flight prices were caused by the disruptions.

A Southwest spokesman told Insider that the company plans to return to normal operations on Friday. Southwest customers can rebook travel, request a refund, and report missing luggage through a travel disruptions portal on their website, according to a spokesman.

Travelers missed their cruise ship departures because of canceled flights. The Carnival Celebration delayed its departure on Tuesday to give some passengers more time to get there. Many people missed the boat.

Let us know if you have a travel story to share. The reporter can be contacted at lamikvs@ Insider.com.

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