Flight delays, cancellations cause chaos for some travelers at Sky Harbor
PHOENIX (FOX 10) - Winter storms across the country are affecting flights at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. Passengers' flights are being delayed, diverted or canceled, which means the airport is packed.
Check-in lines wrapped around escalators and airport employees are working around the clock to make sure everything runs smoothly.
"Fly in from Ontario, California to Phoenix on my way to New York and after a three-hour delay, they tell us our flight was canceled," one traveler said.
Canceled, delayed and diverted, tired travelers are waiting out a long night at Sky Harbor Airport, hoping to get a flight out of town.
"My flight was supposed to leave St. Louis at 7 o'clock, it was delayed four hours-ish," one traveler said. "I have to wait until 7:25 for my new flight, but I have to go to St. Louis through Dallas because all of the flights were booked. I have to go to Houston now, then to Dallas."
The line to check-in or check a bag for some airlines wrapped around the escalator.
"I'm stuck until Sunday," another person said.
Airport employees worked overtime to ensure everything went smoothly and suitcases were transferred correctly.
In addition to weather, general holiday traffic is feeding the frenzy. AAA says a record-breaking 112.5 million Americans will travel through January 1 and nearly 46 million will fly.
While some passengers packed their patience and waited, others made new plans.
"We got here and our flight was canceled going to Flagstaff, so we're trying to catch a shuttle and we're taking a shuttle," one traveler said. "We had to go ahead and cancel our second flight."
The airport and airline officials say if you are flying on December 28, the best thing to do is check ahead at Sky Harbor.