Southwest Adds 'Mechanical Difficulties' To Act Of God List

War, earthquakes, and broken washers are all unavoidable events for which a carrier should not be liable if travel is delayed according to Southwest Airlines. Southwest quietly updated their act of God list a few weeks ago to include mechanical problems with the other horrors of an angry travel god. From the article: "Robert Mann, an airline industry analyst based in Port Washington, NY, called it 'surprising' that Southwest, which has a reputation for stellar customer service, would make a change that puts passengers at a legal disadvantage if an aircraft breakdown delays their travel. Keeping a fleet mechanically sound 'is certainly within the control of any airline,' Mann said. 'Putting mechanical issues in the same category as an act of God — I don't think that's what God intended.'"

Comments

isn't the lack of maintenance inaction by God?

[Michael Kristopeit]

if God acted to properly maintain the plane, the mechanical failures would not have happened. unless purchasing engine parts that don't follow quality control guidelines is also an act of God... or if the head of southwest maintenance is God.