TAMPA, Fla. — Thanksgiving weekend is over, and that means millions of travelers heading home.
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials said Sunday could rank as one of its busiest days in travel history, with expectations to screen more than 3 million passengers.
WATCH: Thanksgiving travel rush brings delays to Tampa International Airport
Thanksgiving travel rush brings delays to Tampa International Airport
At Tampa International Airport (TPA), the holiday rush was in full swing Sunday night. Suitcases rolled in every direction as travelers rushed to make their flights, though some didn’t get out quite as quickly as they hoped.
Out of nearly 600 flights, TPA reported at least 20 cancellations and more than 250 delays, Sunday night.
Camrynne Broome was heading back to Georgia for school, with finals starting Monday morning at 8 a.m.
“The delays are very annoying because you have a certain time that you’re ready to leave out and then within maybe 10 minutes of sitting there they’ll tell you it’s delayed,” Broome said.
Her flight was delayed about 30 minutes.
“Being a college student, you find time to study either way, but if you have yourself a schedule like I do where you have a certain time you want to be in the bed and a certain time to be up so you can take those finals, these delays do get in the way of that,” Broome said.
Another student, Erik Dyer, dealt with a short delay as he made his way back to Princeton University in New Jersey.
“It’s not that bad, but I’m also flying to Trenton, which is not a major airport,” Dyer said.
Dawn Dyer, Erik’s mom, said they prepared for potential issues.
“We made sure we got here early just in case because of parking and everything, but so far everything has been very smooth here at the airport,” Dawn Dyer said.
It was smooth sailing for most travelers, even as a winter storm hammered the Midwest, dumping snow and causing delays. At Chicago O’Hare, nearly 1,300 flights were canceled Saturday.
“The weather is the basic factor. I’ve kind of looked on my Internet and 8 inches of snow is not a happy place,” said Susan Rogoz, a traveler heading to the Midwest.
WFTS
Susan Rogoz was heading home to Chicago but said she was making the most of Florida’s warmer temperatures before leaving.
“We’re retired, so we really don’t need to get back, back, back so we can always stay in a hotel overnight and see what happens the next day. Just leisurely enjoying the rest of my vacation,” Rogoz said.
Cynthia Mattox, another traveler, noticed the increasing crowds throughout the day.
WFTS
“When we get here, it was about empty, and now it’s very busy,” Mattox said.
Airport officials continue to advise travelers to arrive early, especially during peak holiday travel days, to account for extra time needed for parking, security screening, and boarding. Passengers are advised to check with their airlines for any delays or cancellations before heading to the airport.
Share Your Story with Annette
Annette Gutierrez knows safety is important for every community. She’s focused on finding solutions and getting results for both crime and our roads. She takes pride in sharing stories from Sarasota and Manatee counties, so send Annette tips on how she can help.
Contact Annette Gutierrez
.
Lawsuit alleges deputy driving 97 mph without lights and siren killed truck driver
Deputy was speeding to call involving a fight among elementary school students on school bus when black box shows he was driving nearly double the speed limit on busy highway
Lawsuit alleges deputy driving 97 mph without lights and siren killed truck driver