You're on vacation... permanently

Imagine the shock of many vacationers arriving at Midway and other airports, only to discover once they got there that not only was their flight canceled, but the entire airline was discontinued. Horrible? Terrible? Yes.

But now imagine the shock of the employees of the same airline who received the same shock when they arrived at work today. No advanced notice given to travelers. No advance notice given to employees.

I feel bad for the vacationers. I can't imagine what my own reaction would be if I were in that situation. The website advises those people who bought their tickets by credit card to seek refunds from their credit card company, but no refunds are available for customers who bought with cash or check. At least, not from the company. Customers can submit claims as part of the bankruptcy proceedings.

But while many people have had their vacations ruined, imagine those people whose lives have been ruined because their employer has suddenly ceased to function. God help them as they look for new jobs in this economy. God help us all.