We had a flight scheduled for Dec. 30, 2021, at 3:50 pm out of SLC heading to Seattle. On Dec. 29, 2021, we get a notice that our flight was cancelled due to weather. If it was actually cancelled due to weather, it would have been hard to get too upset at Delta - it doesn't control the weather, but the real reason was a staffing shortage, as relayed by multiple of its employees and a pilot. Delta does not require its employees to be vaccinated from COVID; so when an employee tests positive, every unvaccinated employee who had contact with that employee must isolate. So not only was this a stupid public health decision; it was a stupid business decision. Delta, as many of you are aware, had to cancel hundreds of flights over the holiday. Because Delta did not have enough staff to make sure the runways were clear of ice and deice planes, our flight was cancelled. We were able to get on another flight at no extra charge on January 2, 2022, and it appeared this one was going alright. On time departure and even an early arrival by about 20 minutes. That said, once we landed we had to wait on the tarmac for another 15-20 minutes because, you guessed it, staffing shortages. There was no ground crew to get us to the gate. Annoying but at least we were not late, right? Well, official time we got off the plane was 5:10 pm. Family, friends, and hired cars were expecting everyone to arrive at 5:15pm and thus be about ready for pick-up at 5:30pm after getting bags. Our bags arrived at the carousel at 6:30 pm; almost an hour and one-half after we landed, causing further expense and frustration, with some people simply leaving the airport without their luggage. The reason for the over hour wait? Staffing shortages. The one bright spot on our trip was, after Delta's cancellation split me and my fiancee up in seating, at the gate the attendant was kind enough to offer us seats together again. So while for Delta, that is really just fixing what it messed up, for the flight attendant that was kind and I would rate beyond expectations. We will be avoiding flying Delta until it decides to take the health of its passengers seriously and it gets its act together.
