The holidays: when good will toward men is on full display at airports and train stations around the world.
Just kidding. Holiday travel can understandably make people a bit crabby, and this year, a storm system in the Midwest and Northeast United States is adding to headaches across the country.
Flight delays began early this week, and showed no signs of letting up as of Wednesday afternoon. According to flight-tracking site FlightAware, the biggest delays are at Newark Liberty International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, Philadelphia International Airport, O'Hare International Airport and San Francisco International Airport.
The constant stream of travel complaints on social media makes you wonder how people vented their frustrations pre-Internet.
flights delayed so we are prob going to have to sleep in the airport tonight! great!!!!!!— kendall (@KendallKushner) December 24, 2014
Delta line at @no_airport. RT @FleurtyWhitney: This isn't even half of check in & TSA is worse #holidaytravel pic.twitter.com/0lICU8QBKo— Carlie Kollath Wells (@carlie_kollath) December 24, 2014
Solo pre-xmas drinks at the airport due to flight delay - amusing myself watching men last-minute xmas shop at the airport mall.— Chelsea Pizzaslice (@chelscore) December 24, 2014
Top pic is the line to check bags at Terminal 1 of MSP airport. Bottom pic is line to go through security pic.twitter.com/GyZ5egEkz5— Melissa Colorado (@melissacolorado) December 24, 2014
Despite lengthy security and check-in lines, most of the airport delays are due to weather. Passengers at several airports are reporting that Christmas Eve travel is relatively calm.
Many of those delayed at the airport took it as an opportunity to get started on their holiday binge-watching.
Sitting in the airport waiting for our delayed flight while watching Netflix— Ant (@Masonite19) December 24, 2014
Delayed flight, thank god for Netflix— Kally Peace (@kally_king) December 24, 2014
free airport wifi = binge watching Netflix while my flight is delayed — Brooke Bingham (@KBrookeNBingham) December 19, 2014
3 hour layover in ATL then flight delayed 3 more hours. More yuengling and Netflix— John Farrer (@jsfarr) December 24, 2014
Several air travelers took to Twitter to complain about passengers being kicked off of planes to reduce weight.
Full flights plus luggage full of holiday gifts can mean planes are too heavy to take off.
Flight delayed 2 hrs now they're saying the plane is overweight & will be kicking off 10 people. @AmericanAir is the WORST. #incompetent— Emma England (@msemmaengland) December 24, 2014
On my @Delta flight, we are "overweight" and need 1 pass to give up seat. Can that possibly really make a difference? cc @BrianSumers— Dan Loeterman (@DanLoeterman) December 24, 2014
A small family of 3 just had to be kicked off the flight because we were overweight... nick said it was due to my baggage#itspossible— Courtney Bliss (@courteybee123) December 24, 2014
$600 travel voucher for getting off this flight because it's over weight? Hmmmmm.....— EL Basnight Jr. (@Kid_Capricorn) December 24, 2014
Delta flight overweight. Offering $800 and a first class seat on the 3:00 flight. So tempting. Too bad I love my family so much...— Ryan Iamurri (@RyanIamurri32) December 24, 2014
As usual, if you're traveling this holiday, check with your airline or transit agency for the latest info on delays and cancelations.