How to write a check 

Learning how to write a check is a skill that can be learned, like any other. Heres a breakdown of the 10 steps:

• Step 1: Make sure you have physical checks from your bank. Checks typically withdraw funds from your checking account and are used as a form of payment. If you dont have them, you can place an order with your bank and youll receive them in a few business days. 
• Step 2: Make sure you have and use a black or blue ink pen. There are sections to fill out on the check, and permanent ink is best, so the check cant be erased or modified.  
• Step 3: Write the current date in the upper right hand corner. Checks have different parts to them. On the upper right, youll see a section for the date. Numerically write out the current date, such as 12/01/2022. 
• Step 4: Fill in the payee, or who youre paying, in the Pay to the order of section. Whether youre paying an individual or business, make sure you include the full name or business name, spelled correctly. Print the name, rather than writing in cursive, so its legible. 
• Step 5: Fill in the dollar amount numerically next to the dollar sign. On the right, middle part of the check youll see a dollar sign symbol ($). Next to that part, include the amount of payment numerically. So for example, if youre paying your rent you may put $1,350. 
• Step 6: Include the payment amount written out. Youll see a long line and the word Dollars on the right side underneath the Pay to the order of section. On that line, write out the payment amountthis time with words. So for example, youd write out One thousand three hundred and fifty. If the payment amount doesnt include any cents, then add 00/100 to denote that its a flat dollar amount. If it does include any cents, such as $1350.75 then include 75/100 at the end of the written amount. Make sure the amounts written out and with numbers match up. Its important to note that if there is a mismatch, the written amount is the legal amount that will be used. 
• Step 7: Sign your name in cursive on the Signature line on the lower right hand side. This helps authorize the transaction. 
• Step 8: Include a description in the Memo or For line in the lower left corner. This part is not required but can be useful. You can write a note about what the check is for, for example December 2022 Rent. 
• Step 9: Give or send to the intended recipient. Once youve double-checked the payment amounts, the spelling of the payee name, and confirmed youve signed and dated the check, you can give or send the check to the intended recipient. This may be handing it over in person or putting it in the mail with a stamp. 
• Step 10: Keep a record of the transaction. If you have a checkbook, you can write down a record of the transaction via your check register. This can include important information such as the check number, date, and payment amount. While not a requirement, it can help you keep tabs on whats going out of your account. Whether you do this step or not, you want to ensure you have enough funds in your account for the check to clear.  

Tips for writing and paying with checks 

Learning how to write a check is fairly straightforward; however, there are some best practices to consider. 

For one, you absolutely dont want to use a pencil, which can easily be erased. Instead use a pen. Another major point is making sure the check is completely filled out and finalizing the process by authorizing the check with your signature, including your full legal name. 

Many young adults will print their name or ask if they have to use cursive to sign their name. Weve even seen someone just sign their first name, says Laura Sterling, vice president of marketing at Georgias Own Credit Union.

Make sure you have the full name of the individual or business that you intend to pay. Avoid writing checks out to cash, as those can easily be redeemed by someone other than the intended target, Sterling adds.

Some additional things you can do to help limit the chance fraudsters alter your checks include:

• Drawing a line after the amount to avoid any blank spaces
• Write a note in the memo so you know what the payment is for
• Include the current date, and not a date in the future, which is referred to as post-dated 

How to endorse a check 

Now you know how to write a checkbut what do you need to do if you receive a check? The first thing to do is include your signature on the back of the check. This is referred to as endorsing the check. 

Endorsing a check is authorizing the checkas the intended payeeoften by signing it and is done on the back of the check. Endorsements can include instructions on how the check should be handled whether it is cashed or deposited, explains Rahkim Sabree CFEI, RFC, and financial coach with a decade of banking experience. 

You may see a line that says Endorse here which is where you should put your signature. There may also be some language about not writing anything underneath the line. When you endorse a check, youre verifying that youre the person the payment is being made to. 

Endorsing a check seems fairly simple, but with the younger, digital generation having little to no experience with checks, weve seen some recurring patterns. Weve had some young adults sign the entire back of the check horizontally, while some forget to endorse the check at all, says Sterling. While it may not seem like a critical step to someone not used to writing checks, checks that are not endorsed could get returned.

There are many different types of endorsement, including:

• Blank endorsement. This refers to the standard way of endorsing a check which is with a simple signature on the back of the check. This can be an easy way to endorse mobile deposits or if depositing through your banks ATM. 
• Restrictive endorsement. This refers to a secure endorsement where the recipient includes For deposit only. For even more security, you can include the bank account number where it can be deposited or for mobile deposits via your phone write For mobile deposit only. This is a step up from a blank endorsement as the check can get into the wrong hands and potentially be cashed. Going this route has more specific measures that are restrictive and more secure.  
• Third-party endorsement. This type of endorsement is not typically advised and may not be available at all financial institutions. But in theory, you could take a check you receive and pay someone elsea third partyand endorse it by writing Pay to the order of and insert that persons name and including your signature. 
• Mobile deposit of check endorsement. If youre going to use your mobile phone to deposit a check, your financial institution may require an additional step to endorse the check. You may need to write mobile deposit or for [banks name] mobile deposit. 
• Business endorsement. Checks to a business require an individual who has authorization to sign on behalf of the business to endorse the check. This includes putting the company name, signature, and job title when endorsing. 
• Multiple-payee endorsement. You might get a check with two names on it, such as for an anniversary or wedding gift. In this case, one or both parties may need to endorse the check and it depends on a one-word difference. Checks made payable to one individual or multiple individuals separated with the word or can be cashed or deposited by either party, says Sabree. Checks made payable to multiple individuals separated by the word and require that both parties sign the check in the presence of a bank representative or deposit it into an account that has both parties name on it. 

How to deposit a check 

Receiving a check means money is coming your way, but you need to deposit it first. To deposit a check, take the following steps:

• Confirm the accuracy of the check. Confirm that the payment amount is correct, its intended for you, and its from a legitimate company. I had a situation when someone provided a fake business check as payment for services from my business, says says Tiffany Grant, MBA, AFC at Money Talk With Tiff. Luckily, I did not deposit the check first. If you deposit a bad check, the bank will reverse the funds, which could spell disaster if you have already used some funds.
• Endorse the check. Turn over your check, sign it, and for more security you can include For Deposit Only. 
• Deposit the check in person or through mobile deposit. You can head to a local bank branch or use your banks mobile app to deposit a check into your account. You can deposit a check at a bank branch where you bank, at the ATM, or via their mobile app, says Grant. You can also typically cash a check at the bank the check is written from. You can find that information on the front of a check you received. Be wary of check-cashing places, as they charge fees in order to use their services.

The takeaway 

Given the advancement in technology and array of payment choices, learning how to write a check is becoming less common. However, its a good skill to have and can come in handy in a variety of situations like paying rent or paying a contractor. 

But with any financial skill, you want to take measures to lessen the likelihood of fraud such as filling out all sections, leaving no spaces, and including a restrictive endorsement. Writing a check the right way can help prevent any errors or delays.

Fitness gear 

Peloton Bike

Courtesy of Peloton

It may be no surprise that the Peloton Bike made our experts favorites list. Peloton helped revolutionize at-home fitness with fun and interactive classes led by professional trainers. It allows me to get exercise in even if I only have 15 minutes. Fifteen minutes is better than 0 minutes! says SmartyPants Vitamins CEO Brenda Demers. In addition to the bike, Peloton has a rower and a treadmill and offers no-equipment workouts like yoga and Pilates, too. 

Price: The Peloton Bike is $1,445 to buy and $89 per month to rent. The Bike+ is $2,495 to buy and $119 per month to rent. An all-access membership to the Peloton app is $44 per month. 

Atoms sneakers

Courtesy of Atoms

After sleep, walking is my most essential habit to feeling good, says Quilt founder and CEO Ashley Sumner. She recommends her favorite shoesAtomsto other avid walkers. I go on a walking meditation every day, and my Atoms shoes make it easy to walk 10,000 steps without pain, Sumner says. These sneakers have a simple, clean design and features like achilles padding to enhance stability, copper lining to prevent odor, grooves to provide traction on wet surfaces, and a cushioned midsole for comfort. 

Price: $179

Concept2 ERG machines

Courtesy of Concept2

Julie Hansen, U.S. CEO and chief revenue officer of Babbel, likes to work out first thing in the morning. Her go-to machines are the Concept2 RowERG and the Concept2 SkiERG. I love how they track my metrics and offer a community feature so I can work out with a buddy, my team, or even the wider rowing community, she says. Both machines were originally built as training tools for advanced or professional athletes, but each has the flexibility for athletes of all levels to build strength and endurance. Every Concept2 ERG machine includes a performance monitor that can connect via Bluetooth to a wide range of apps so you can track and share your progress. 

Price: $850 for the Concept2 SkiERG and $990 for the Concept2 RowERG.

Saucony Endorphin Speed 3

One of the best things about running is that its an effective, equipment-free workout. All thats required is a great pair of shoes. Papa CEO Andrew Parker loves the Saucony Endorphin Speed 3. These shoes have been a game changer for me, he says. It feels like Im floating when I run. The Endorphin Speed 3s are ultra-light and designed to provide maximal support during your run. Available in both mens and womens sizes, theres also a version with reflective details for safer night runs.

Price: $170 

Wearables

Garmin Fenix and Garmin Epix

Courtesy of Garmin

Garmin makes a range of stylish wearables that can track a variety of health data including sleep, heart rate and pulse, respiration, hydration, and menstrual cycles. The smartwatches can calculate stress, your bodys energy reserves, and give you a sleep score. I love to incorporate data into my own life, says Papas CEO Andrew Parker. My Garmin watch helps measure my fitness and wellness and track my goalsall while staying connected to those around me. Thanks to his watchs ability to follow and share activity data with friends, Parker can virtually connect with loved ones over a run. He wears the Garmin Fenix, which has a solar charging lens and training features for multiple sports and is compatible with several fitness apps. 

Russell Glass, CEO of Headspace Health, is also a fan of the brand. I love my Garmin Epix watch for the step and stair counter and biometrics like step count and heart rate, he says. It helps me see when I need to get some more steps, or just take time to breathe. And its great for yardages on the golf course. 

Price: The Epix Gen 2 is $899.99 and the Fenix 7, ranges from $699.99 (the Standard Edition) to $999.99 (the Sapphire Solar Edition). 

FitBit

Courtesy of Fitbit

FitBit has long been a leader in the wearable space. Katy Milkman, co-founder and health director of the University of Pennsylvanias Behavior Change For Good initiative says shes crazy about hers. Tracking and goal setting matters to achievement, and that little jiggle at 10,000 steps is just what I need to motivate myself to get great exercise every day. Milkman wears a FitBit Inspire 2, which also tracks sleep, heart rate, and active minutesthe time when your heart rate is in cardio or peak zones. FitBit has a range of smartwatches and trackers to support a variety of activities. 

Price: The Inspire 2 is $79.95 and the newer Inspire 3 is $99.95 

Oura Ring

Courtesy of Oura Ring

In a market overflowing with personal activity trackers, three members of our product panel pointed to the Oura Ring as their favorite. Fortune CEO Alan Murray is hooked on his, because I believe sleep is as important to wellness as exercise, and Oura does a good job tracking both, he says. 

Brenda Demers, CEO of SmartyPants Vitamins says this wearable has become part of her daily routine. I have altered my routines for the betterment of my well-being based on the information it provides meplus the ring itself fits my style, she says. And Lindsay McCormick, founder and CEO of Bite, says the Oura Ring, which she bought to track her sleep, has been a game changer. I realized how much of an impact screen time and blue light has on my quality of sleep and now I avoid both at least an hour before bed, she says. 

Like other wearables, the Oura Ring gives you personalized data on sleep quality, movement, heart rate, and other metrics important to your health. However, this wearable, with all sensors on the inside, looks like a simple, stylish piece of jewelry. 

Price: The Oura Ring ranges in price from $349 to $549 depending on the metal you select.

Skincare

Jolie Filtered Showerhead

Courtesy of Jolie

Although most people probably havent considered contaminants in their water while showering, common components of public water supply like heavy metals and the chlorine used to disinfect water, can damage delicate hair and skin. Beyond the benefits for my skin and hair, showering in clean water is one of the healthiest things we can do for our bodies to reduce exposure to toxic chemicals, says Ashley Sumner, CEO and founder of Quilt. A year in, and I feel great! The Jolie Filtered Showerhead slips over your existing showerhead and uses a custom blend of filtration material tested to work best in the conditions of a shower (hot water and high pressure). 

Price: $165 or $148 with an ongoing filter replacement subscription at $33 every three months. 

Solawave Red Light Therapy Wand

As a mother of two, I dont get very much time to myself, let alone actual me-time to dedicate to self-care, says Liana Douillet Guzmán, CEO of Folx Health. After hearing that skincare brand Solawave donated to Folxs HRT Care Fund, she explored the brand and got hooked on its Red Light Therapy Wand. The facial massage wand uses low wavelength red light to help the absorption of skin-care products, and reduce the appearance of wrinkles, dark circles, and blemishes. It helps keep my skin smooth and vibrant, no matter how tired I am. I think the design is brilliant, and its easy to use, plus it feels amazing. she says.

Price: $149

Glam Glow Supermud Face Mask

As Eight Sleep CEO Matteo Franschetti points out, Our skin is the largest organ in our body. Franschetti incorporates Supermuds Glam Glow face mask into his wellness routine. [It] keeps my skin feeling clean, fresh, and restored, he says. The Glam Glow face mask is especially good for acne-prone, oily skin. Made with charcoal, a blend of six acids, and K-17 clay, this face mask lifts excess oil and dirt from the hardest to reach pores and loosen and exfoliate dead skin cells. 

Price: $60 for a 1.7 ounce jar. 

Relaxation and recovery aids

Headspace

Courtesy of Headspace

Meditation apps are a booming business. More than 70 million people have subscribed to Headspaceone of the top apps in the category and an incredibly powerful tool that helps Andrew Parker, founder and CEO of Papa, clear his head for a few minutes. I come back feeling rejuvenated so I can be there for my team, my friends, and my family, he says. With helpful animations that visually guide you through the sessions, Headspace has made meditation approachable and accessible. 

Price: After a free 7- or 14-day trial, a membership costs $12.99 per month or $69.99 per year. 

HigherDose Infrared PEMF Mat

Courtesy of HigherDose

Think of HigherDoses Infrared PEMF Mat as a whole-body heating pad, but exponentially better. The infrared part of the mat involves deep-penetrating heat to relax your muscles, but the PEMF part is a cutting-edge therapy astronauts use to recover. NASA found that PEMF, which stands for pulsed electromagnetic field therapy, could improve cell viability and enhance tissue function. Ashley Sumner, CEO and founder of Quilt, says 15 minutes on this mat and I feel calm, rested, and focused. Its helped me the most with work stress and falling asleep more easily. 

Price: $1,095

Hyperice Hypervolt 2 Pro

Courtesy of Hypervolt

Most hand-held massagers were created for elite athletes, bodybuilders, and runners. However, theyre excellent for everyday athletes like Eight Sleep CEO Matteo Franceschetti. I have a very active lifestyle between workouts and playing sports and my Hyperice] Hypervolt 2 Pro helps relieve stiff muscles so I can continue to train hard and recover fast, he says. The Hypervolt 2 Pro has a long handle to extend reach and five different attachments so you can choose how you want your massage. The attachments come in a fork shape, a ball shape, a cushion shape, a flat shape, and a bullet shape. 

Price: $299 

Sleep aids

Baloo cotton weighted blanket

Courtesy of Baloo

The benefits of a weighted blanket are many. Thanks to pressure therapy, which creates a calming effect similar to when you swaddle a baby, weighted blankets can help alleviate symptoms associated with anxiety, sleep disorders, and ADHD. BCFG health director Katy Milkman particularly likes her Baloo cotton weighted blanket. It helps me get a great nights sleep and is light enough to keep me cool in the summer, and [I can] layer with a thick comforter for cozy winter nights, she says. Baloos blanket comes in four sizes, each a different weight. Every blanket is made with 100% cotton on the outside and filled with glass microbeads to provide the weight. 

Price: The throw (12 pounds) is $179, the full/queen (15 or 20 pounds) is $199, and the king (25 pounds) is $249. 

Withings Sleep Tracking Mat

Courtesy of Withings

Sleep is essential for feeling sharp and focused, but also for keeping stress under control. Eric Daza, founder of Stats-of-One, loves that the data from the Withings Sleep Tracking Mat helps him understand, not only his sleep duration, but the quality is well. The sleep mat is a strip of fabric with pneumatic sensors that measure respiratory rate, heartbeats, and body movements as well as a sound sensor tuned to listen for snoring and gaps in breathing. The mat fits under your mattress and sends data to a free app that automatically calculates a sleep score, displays sleep trends, and gives tips on improving your sleep quality.

Price: $129.95 

Finnleo Sauna

Courtesy of Finnleo Sauna

At the end of the day, CEO of Eight Sleep Matteo Franceschetti likes to relax in his Finnleo Sauna. It improves my overall health, brain function, recovery, and prepares me for a deep and restful sleep, he says. Evidence from a Mayo Clinic research review suggests that sauna bathing, especially combined with regular exercise, can be beneficial for heart health. Finnleo builds customized wood indoor and outdoor saunas, with the option of traditional hot rocks sauna, infrared, or both, but also offers a few pre-set designs. 

Price: Pricing is available via a quote. However, expect to pay anywhere between $2,500 to $12,000. 

4KOR Fireball Recovery Ball Set

Muscle recovery is as important as your workout, which is why Eight Sleep CEO Matteo Franceschetti even packs 4KORs Fireball Recovery Ball Set in his suitcase when he travels. It helps relieve sore muscles and helps keep my tissue healthy by improving circulation and mobility, he says. The Fireball set comes with three massage balls, one with a 4.75 inch diameter thats best for the lower body, one with a 3.2 inch diameter for the upper body, and one with a 2.5 inch diameter for small muscles. 

Price: $69.99

Personal Health Monitors

Airthings

Courtesy of Airthings

Although we tend to think of health as personal, there are many environmental factors at play that we cannot so easily control. Tools that monitor some of those environmental factors, like air quality, can be helpful. Stats-of-One founder Eric Daza particularly likes the Airthings sensor because it gives me a great pulse on air quality and has helped alert me to higher-than-usual radon levels, he says. Radon is a naturally-occurring gas that disperses quickly outside, but inside, it can build up and increase the risks of health problems, like lung cancer. In addition to radon, Airthings sensors can monitor temperature, air pressure, humidity, VOCs (volatile organic compounds), pollution, particulate matter, carbon dioxide, and more. 

Price: From $199.99 to $299. 

Levels continuous glucose monitor

Courtesy of Levels Health

Glucose levels are a great indication of how well your metabolism, which regulates important bodily functions like sleep, appetite, and energy levels, is working. While glucose monitors have long been a tool for people with diabetes, the growing trend of collecting personalized health data has spurred general interest in monitoring blood sugar. Nick Green, CEO of Thrive Market, uses a Levels continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and app because, he says, it gives you all the most important data about blood sugar and insulin and helps you make lifestyle [changes] to improve your metabolic health. 

The CGM attaches to your underarm via a small needle and can transmit data to an app to provide real-time information about your blood sugar, and tips on how to keep it in healthy levels. Just knowing what spikes my blood glucose (and what doesnt) has been a game changer, and the app has helped me to [put] action to the insights too. 

Price: $199 per month-long testing kit. 

OMRON blood pressure monitors

Courtesy of Omron

At Stats-of-One, Eric Daza expounds the benefits of individualized data. One of his favorite tools is his OMRON blood pressure monitor. It helps me track long-term trends for reducing my slightly elevated blood pressure, he says. High blood pressure, even slightly elevated, increases the risk for heart disease and stroke. Omron is one of five manufacturers with blood pressure monitors that meet the American Medical Associations criteria for clinical accuracy. 

Price: From $44 to $499.99. 

Nutrition

LettuceGrow Farmstand

Courtesy of Lettuce Grow

Fresh, homegrown food is without a doubt some of the healthiest for your body. Yet, without the space to garden, its near impossible to grow produce at home. Thats why Thrive Market CEO Nick Green likes the LettuceGrow Farmstand. The Farmstand is a modular, freestanding, self-watering, and self-fertilizing gardening system that can house up to 36 different plants. It can be used indoors with the help of glow rings to ensure enough light reaches the plants or outdoors in an area that gets direct sunlight. The seedlings sent to you are already well into their growing process, so youll be able to quickly harvest food. They grow shockingly fast and the flavor from the freshly picked produce is incredible, Green says. Plus, gardening at home is a fun learning experience for the whole family.

Price: From $399 to $699. Seedlings are an additional cost. 

Pressed Greens 1.5

Courtesy of Pressed

I start my day every day with an ice-cold shower and a green juice, Rishi Mandal, co-founder and CEO of fitness app Future, says. Theres no shortage of green juices available, but Mandal particularly likes Presseds Greens 1.5. Its actually tasty because theres a fair amount of salt and lemon in it, he says. This green juice is a mix of cucumber, celery, lemon, spinach, kale, parsley, and sea salt. It accounts for 20% of your daily potassium, which is important for the healthy function of muscles and nerves. 

Price: $6.95 per bottle

Eco Teas Yerba Mate Tea

To avoid the afternoon caffeine crash she would always get with coffee, Bite CEO Lindsay McCormick drinks loose leaf yerba mate tea made in her French press every morning. Yerba mate is brewed from the leaves of a South American tree that has about as much caffeine as green tea, but is more energizing thanks to a mix of three different caffeine structures, minerals that boost nervous system function, and B-vitamins to relax muscles. 

She says the tea wakes her up and keeps her energized through the afternoon. McCormick particularly likes EcoTeas, which has a few varieties of yerba mate tea.

Price: $15 for one pound of loose leaf yerba mate. 

Motivation tools

Beeminder and stickK apps

Katy Milkman, co-founder of the Behavior Change for Good initiative (BCFG) knows how challenging it is to build new habits. Many people pursuing healthy goals find they could use a little extra motivation to resist temptation, she says. Two tools shed recommend are Beeminder and stickK. stickK.com is a website where you can choose a goal, choose a referee to report on your success, and put money on the line that youll have to forfeit (to a charitable cause of your choice) if you fail to achieve your goal, Milkman says.

Beeminder is very similar and partners with many common goal-setting apps to track how youre doing.  The website uses commitment contracts to help users define their goal, acknowledge what itll take to accomplish it, and leverage the power of putting money on the line. 

Price: You choose how much money to wager and if you dont achieve your goal stickK will take either 29.5% or 50% of your wager depending on whether you chose a charity or an anti-charity (a charity that goes against your personal beliefs) to benefit.

Chris Johnson, the carriers vice president of ground operations, declared a state of operational emergency at the airport after an unusually high number of employee absences, according to a Dec. 21 message to ramp workers seen by Bloomberg News. 

It was just the beginning.

The so-called bomb cyclone kicked off a cascade of disruptions that have battered Southwests operations over the past week, forcing the carrier to cancel thousands of flights and stranding holiday travelers who now face days of waiting.

The chaos is still unfolding. As of Wednesday morning, Southwest had scrapped more than 60% of its Wednesday schedule more than 2,500 flights plus 58% of its trips for Thursday, according to FlightAware data. 

And although no airline was spared the storms wrath, rivals such as Delta Air Lines Inc., American Airlines Group Inc. and United Airlines Holdings Inc. largely returned operations to normal this week. 

Chief Executive Officer Bob Jordan apologized again late Tuesday in a video posted by Southwest, saying the company reduced its schedule to gain time to reposition aircraft and crews. 

Were optimistic to be back on track before next week, Jordan said. As of early Wednesday, Southwest has canceled only about two dozen flights for Friday.

Southwest shares were down about 1.2% in premarket trading Wednesday after falling 6% on Tuesday, the most since July, to extend their 2022 decline to 21%. US authorities and lawmakers, meanwhile, are scrutinizing the carriers response to the storm, which analysts at Citigroup estimate could shave as much as 5% from Southwests fourth-quarter profit. 

Customers complained on social media of spending hours in line or on hold to book alternate flights, only to find few alternatives. Pilots and flight attendants, meanwhile, faced lengthy waits for work assignments and hotel accommodations as the storm and its subsequent disruption hobbled the carriers crew scheduling systems and left the companys fleet of Boeing 737s out of position across the country.

Management messages to Southwest employees seen by Bloomberg News highlight how the chaos unfolded, and how the carrier struggled as the systems used to coordinate a vast network of airplanes, destinations and flight crews were first overwhelmed and then failed to recover.

The airline confirmed the authenticity of the memos, and in previous statements has apologized to customers and tried to explain what led to the crisis.

Part of what were suffering is a lack of tools, Jordan, a 34-year Southwest veteran, said to employees late on Christmas Day. The companys crew scheduling system is one area in need of investment, he said. 

We need to be able to produce solutions faster. We need to be able to communicate with each other where it doesnt involve a phone call, Jordan said.

Cold Front

The effects of the storm were building well before Christmas. By the evening of Dec. 21, frigid temperatures, high winds and heavy precipitation were disrupting Southwest operations in Denver, limiting the number of flights the carrier could handle safely, Chief Operating Officer Andrew Watterson said in one message.

The carrier suspended operations at Chicagos Midway airport, meaning both locations had fewer flights shuttling crews between their home bases and assignments, he said.

By Dec. 23, 90% of Southwests routes had been affected by weather. Yet, Watterson said, actions to deal with the chaos had positioned the carrier for fewer cancellations on Saturday, Christmas Eve. 

As long as theres not another disruption, well start the day in a much better position, Watterson said.

Yet by late Dec. 23, Southwest was heavily disrupted, undoing all of the work to position crew members, Watterson said in an update the next day.

Foggy San Diego

Unexpected fog triggered a ground stop and delays in San Diego. A glitch slowed refueling in Denver. Southwests Dallas Love Field stronghold was packed with parked aircraft to ease congestion at northern airports battered by cold, without enough gates to accommodate them.

Many flight crews began Dec. 24 either out of position or resting under US aviation safety rules, leaving the airline with no choice but to implement additional cancellations, Watterson said. 

By Christmas Day, hundreds of Southwest flights were awaiting crew assignments even as improving weather helped alleviate a majority of its ground operational woes and competitors were restoring their schedules.

Supporting crew scheduling had become the companys larger focus, with teams working extra shifts to troubleshoot problems with an all-hands on deck approach, Watterson said in a Dec. 25 update. The airline is in the process of upgrading its crew systems. The work by teams struggling to overcome the crew and scheduling chaos is highly manual and cant be addressed with more people alone. 

Our current systems are overmatched in situations of this scale, Watterson said.

In his video Tuesday night, Jordan said the company would double down on plans to upgrade systems so that we never again face whats happening right now. 

Official Questions

Once Southwest gets its planes back in the air, it will have to answer questions from lawmakers and US transportation officials. 

Jordan spoke Tuesday with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who conveyed the Departments expectation that Southwest meet its obligations to passengers and workers and take steps to prevent a situation like this from happening again. 

This has clearly crossed the line from whats an uncontrollable weather situation to something that is the airlines direct responsibility, Buttigieg said Tuesday on the NBC Nightly News.

Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell, a Democrat from Washington, said her panel will be investigating, while President Joe Biden said in a Tweet that his administration is working to hold airlines accountable. 

The problems at Southwest Airlines over the last several days go beyond weather, Cantwell said in a statement. The committee will be looking into the causes of these disruptions and its impact to consumers.

She also used the meltdown to buttress calls to strengthen rules on compensating customers.

Consumers deserve strong protections, including an updated consumer refund rule, she said.

Two other senators, Democrats Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, said the airline should compensate customers, not just for the cost of their tickets and accommodations but for ruined holidays as well.