Funviralpark Flight cancellations spark Christmas travel nightmare across Bay Area airports
More than 250 Christmas Day flights were canceled at Bay Area airports on Sunday. KTVU’s Emma Goss reports.
San Jose, California – More than 250 Christmas Day flights have been canceled or delayed at all Bay Area airports.
By 8:30 pm Sunday, 100 flights were canceled at San Jose International Airport, 90 at SFO and 82 at Oakland International Airport.
Part of the problem had to do with severe winter weather in other parts of the country making it difficult for flights to return to the West Coast. It was full and the flight was canceled as a result. Southwest Airlines, which is dealing with staffing shortages, canceled more flights on Sunday than any other U.S. carrier, according to CNET.
“We’re just stuck,” said 7-year-old Miles Hooper, whose family was unable to travel from San Jose to her cousin in San Diego because of flight cancellations.
“It lasted from 3:00 p.m. to 3:10 p.m. and ended up at 5:00 p.m. It boomed and was canceled,” said the Redwood City family with their loved ones in Southern California for the eighth Hanukkah. Said Laurie Matzkin who couldn’t celebrate the night.
At San Jose International Airport, some travelers were unaware of their flight until hours after boarding.
“After sitting on the plane for five hours, they canceled our flight,” said Lindsey Peelman, who is also about to board the plane to see relatives in San Diego.
Others were left out in between connections.
“This is not how I wanted to spend Christmas,” said Rachel Williams, whose connection with Chicago was canceled. spent on
“I can’t spend another night sitting at the airport, so they’ll probably arrange a hotel. I basically spent 30 hours without sleep. Yesterday I ate in the queue they were waiting for. It was just a bag of snack food that was handed to me,” Williams said. “i’m done.”
With the airline’s app and online booking not working together, the family waited over an hour for their checked luggage to be dropped off the canceled flight before queuing for another three hours to try to rebook. Some travelers tried to rent a car to reach their final destination, but were told it was not available.
Many travelers broke down in tears on Sunday after missing out on a family Christmas celebration. Some are holding virtual family reunions instead.
“Maybe FaceTime,” said Shree Guve, who couldn’t get on a plane with her husband to see relatives in Minneapolis over Christmas. “I have no other choice.”
