Showed up on the 22nd on a cold clear day in denver. This is after the 2nd schedule change prior to showing. Didnt mind as it changed my 0445 report to a more manageable 0745 report. Weather was nice despite being cold. Sunny and not much wind. Only got 6" at my house and seemed like 2-3" at the airport.
got to the gate early cause I planned on a much longer drive in. Met a few cohorts that were DHing. About 12 of them. Talked to the ops agent and then found out the originators hadn't left yet. 3 hrs they've been waiting on equipment to warm up so they can get them started. Ramper came up and said they only have one belt loader working on the sw ramp and no tugs. All the plane from.last night hadn't been downloaded. He had no idea how they were going to do it. During this conversation I watched Alaska load and push their plane on time.
soni asked the ops agent if we could all go sit on the plane and get out of the way. She said no, not gonna happen. I'll let you down but none of the DH because I dont want to have to ask them to get off if the schedule changes. I thought this to be weird but clearly she was having a day so I let it go. Sat on the plane for an hr eating breakfast. Watched United after United load and go. Still not a single SW plane left. 3 hrs later a belt loader showed up and they downloaded onto carts moved by hand.
by the time we got loaded to go it had been over 4 hrs. I had already missed my scheduled DH later in the day and had two more reroutes. None of which actually happened.
Needless to say I knew I was in for an interesting trip and a lot of money.
First day ended with a cancelled flight they didnt have an FO for on which I was DHing. Called scheduling to tell them I could do it and they said no it's already cancelled..
asked what now and was told go get some dinner and hang around and we'll put something on your board when we get to it.
I said I'll go get my own hotel and wait for you. They said cool and hung up.
2nd day started with yet more DH. DH 2 legs and flew one. Got in so late I was illegal for flight next morning. Actually had a hotel. Called scheduling and asked what next. They said keep checking your board and please self acknowledge in the night. I said nope I'm going to bed and when I wake up I'll see what's there whatever time that is. She said ok and hung up.
day 3 was a later start probably because I didnt see the several other trips they tried putting me on without any way to tell me since I turn my phone in silent and unplug hotel phones on overnights.
day 3 was only DHing.
Actually dh me to fly an already cancelled flight. When I asked if this is really what they want me to do she said yes just take the DH and we'll figure out the rest.
No hotel. Grabbed and brand new guy, went to a nice hotel downtown, ubered and expensed it all.
Had a good xmas eve dinner and enjoyed some good music. At the time I went to bed there was nothing for my day 4. Woke up when I wanted and saw that what they put on my board cancelled so I JS home and had xmas at home.
Never was called or notified of anything on day 4.

When there is that much chaos all you can do it go with the flow. Take care of yourself and others and disappear.