Holiday journey delays depart some guests caught at Tampa International Airport

TAMPA, Fla. — Now that the America 250 celebrations have wound down, thousands and thousands of Americans are making their method again residence. But for some vacationers at Tampa International Airport, the journey is taking a bit of longer than anticipated.

Hundreds of flights out of TIA had been delayed Sunday, and a handful had been canceled — leaving guests with no alternative however to increase their keep within the Bay Area, whether or not they deliberate to or not.

WATCH: Holiday journey delays depart some guests caught at Tampa International Airport

Holiday journey delays depart some guests caught at Tampa International Airport

Sisters from New York face two-day delay

Natalie Leon and her sister traveled from Long Island to spend the vacation weekend in Tampa. On Sunday, they arrived on the airport prepared to move residence — solely to seek out out their plans had modified dramatically.

“We came like an hour ago, and then we were going to check in, and it said like it’s too early to check in, and then they said your flight’s canceled,” Leon stated.

With hen wings on the desk and baggage by their facet, the sisters settled in for an sudden wait. Their JetBlue flight to JFK was canceled, and the subsequent obtainable departure is not till Tuesday.

“I think it’s for like the weather probably,” Leon stated, staying constructive regardless of the setback.

National journey chaos impacts Tampa

She’s proper. Severe storms shifting by means of the nation are inflicting widespread journey disruptions, in keeping with ABC News. Routes into main cities like Chicago, Houston, New York City, Minneapolis and Seattle skilled peak congestion Sunday.

Triple-A estimates a record-breaking 72 million individuals traveled a minimum of 50 miles from residence over the vacation weekend — the best quantity ever recorded for a Fourth of July journey interval.

Oklahoma household waits all day

Just a couple of steps away from the Leon sisters, the Harris household from Oklahoma has been on the airport since early morning.

“Our first flight was for 7:55 a.m., got rescheduled or delayed to what, 6 or something like that, 6:10, something like that,” stated Ronde Harris. “So we’ve been here for some hours, and I’m ready to get out of here, ready to go home.”

The Harris household is flying Southwest. The Leon sisters booked JetBlue. Across the board — delays, modifications, and cancellations hit vacationers Sunday no matter service.

To go the time, Harris discovered inventive methods to remain occupied.

“I’ve just been sitting here playing chess with my brother over there, like just that’s what I’ve been doing all day, just eating, playing chess,” he stated.

Not everybody skilled delays

But not everybody handled the vacation headache. While some waited to test in, a gaggle of males from Puerto Rico rushed to board their on-time flight.

“For us this travel has been very, very good, very easygoing,” stated Esteban Santiago, who was headed residence after spending his first Independence Day in Tampa.

“For us this was an awesome, awesome opportunity for my son, for me,” Santiago stated with a smile. “We hope to come next year.”

Good recollections regardless of the wait

So whereas not everybody felt the delays, they’re all leaving Tampa with good recollections of the nation’s 250th birthday celebration.

“We were just like at the beach,” Leon stated about their prolonged Tampa keep.

Harris mirrored on his week of fishing in Florida: “Of course, do a lot of fishing. Didn’t catch any fish, but you know, it’s whatever.”

Travelers who spoke with us say climate was the principle perpetrator for Sunday’s delays, compounded by the record-breaking vacation weekend journey rush.