Foul weather delays flights, frustrates holiday travelers

BOSTON — After rain started falling in the early morning hours of Sunday, travelers leaving Boston out of Logan had to pack their patience.

Many passengers were forced to change their plans, many getting stuck in Boston and having to make hotel arrangements after flights were not only delayed but also canceled.

Any other time of the year and it would've just been a minor disruption for passengers and airlines, but not now, at the beginning of the peak travel season for the holidays.

Starting this week until the end of December, airports will be packed with people traveling for business, college students returning home and families eagerly waiting to be reunited.

Flights delayed and canceled on Sunday will have a ripple effect on the busy upcoming peak travel days as airlines scramble to accommodate passengers into packed flights.

"We all have work tomorrow morning, we all needed to get back, and now – it's a lot right now," said Arvin Pooni, from Vancouver, British Columbia.

Pooni's flight had initially been delayed due to the rain, which would've been an inconvenience but not a major problem - until it got canceled.

"We just decided to get a hotel for the night and just be here for about 9 a.m., maybe even earlier to make sure our flight doesn't get delayed again," said Pooni.

Passengers told Boston 25 News the check-in area at Logan was packed, just four days before Thanksgiving. Long lines started early in the morning and stretched well into the evening.

"I was supposed to depart at 6:30 p.m. and now it's 8:08 p.m., so it's not terrible but who wants to hang around the airport too long," said John Moody, from Minneapolis. "If it's delayed maybe I'll have to roll up in a corner of the airport and sleep it off, but hopefully not."

This week, travel is supposed to pick up more and more, with the busiest travel day being Wednesday.

According to AAA, 4.45 million Americans are expected to fly out somewhere for the holidays, an increase from last year and over 49 million will hit the roads.

>> Suspect in Canal Street shooting will face a judge on Monday

Cox Media Group