Alaska Airlines Suffers Technical Glitch, Delays Nearly Two Dozen Flights

UPDATE: Alaska Airlines says the computer issue that delayed about 20 flights late Wednesday and early Thursday has been resolved. All of the carrier’s flights are back to normal and no residual delays are expected. 

—ORIGINAL POST—
There’s just something about airlines and technology that haven’t been jiving well this year. Case in point: nearly two dozen Alaska Airlines flights were delayed on Thursday morning because of a technical glitch.

The airline says that crews are currently fixing the programs and systems are returning to normal, the Associated Press reports.

The issue first started late Wednesday night when several computer systems ran into what the airline is calling technical problems. Alaska Airlines spokesperson Cole Cosgrove said the problem affected passenger check-in and pre-flight departure paperwork.

Because the computers were not working at the check-in gate, employees were forced to hand-check every passenger against the manifest and physically tick off their names as they presented their boarding passes.

In all, 20 flights were delayed, but it’s possible others could follow suit this morning. Cosgrove says the airline doesn’t expect to cancel any flights.

Passengers were advised to check the status of their flight before leaving for the airport, the AP reports.

Alaska Airlines is just the latest carrier to experience glitchiness: Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, Spirit Airlines and United Airlines all suffered computer issues recently that snarled air travel for many travelers, and even the Federal Aviation Administration said it suffered a technical issues that led to flight headaches in August.

Alaska Airlines: Issues That Delayed Flights Being Resolved [The Associated Press]

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