OHIO — While some people are out enjoying Independence Day with family and friends, others are spending the day at the airport as many flights were canceled or delayed throughout the holiday weekend. 

What You Need To Know

  • There were more than 30 delays and eight cancellations here at the Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International airport Sunday

  • This holiday weekend, there were more than 1,600 cancellations and more than 12,500 delays across the U.S., according to flightaware.com

  • Wyn Jones was one of those travelers who experienced a delay while traveling from London back to Cincinnati

  • She ended up missing her flight and experiencing more issues

There were more than 30 delays and eight cancellations at the Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport on Sunday, and there were plenty more on Monday, leaving some travelers wondering whether they would make it to their destination in time for Independence Day celebrations. 

“The entire process of traveling now is so much more complicated,” said Wyn Jones, a Cincinnati resident traveling back from London. 

On Sunday, Jones arrived at the airport in London for her morning flight. She made sure to get there early so there wouldn’t be any issues. 

“They tell you to be three hours early for an international flight,” said Jones. “They then emailed me and said make it four hours early because they’re having staffing shortages. I did that.”

But when she boarded her flight, the plane was delayed for more than an hour because of technical issues. That’s what led to her, and many others passengers, missing their connecting flight in Philadelphia. 

“I walked up to my gate as they were locking the door and the attendants were leaving the desk,” she said. “If they had waited five more minutes, I would have made that connection.”

This was frustrating for Jones, who took all the right steps to getting to her flight on time and paid to have what she called "a better experience."

“I paid $3,600 for this flight, and they couldn’t wait five minutes,” she said. “It’s a bad way of doing business.”

But Jones wasn’t the only traveler this holiday weekend dealing with flight issues. This holiday weekend, there were more than 1,600 cancellations and more than 12,500 delays across the U.S., according to flightaware.com. Megan Stepp, who was also traveling from London to Cincinnati, had two delayed flights and had to say overnight in Atlanta. 

“I spent 22 hours traveling to have two delayed flights and stay where my final destination is not,” she said. “I fly pretty frequently, and I've never seen it so crazy."

Moving forward, Jones said it’s important that airlines should allow for more time for travelers to get to and from their connecting flight. She encourages people to be prepared and ready for obstacles like these.