Travelers forced to sleep at Philadelphia International Airport after weather cancels, delays flights
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Dozens of cancellations and delays are still affecting flights, and bags have piled up at Philadelphia International Airport Monday, a day after severe weather brought storms to the region.
Over 150 flights were delayed Monday, and almost 40 were canceled as problems bled into a second day.
On Sunday, more than 350 flights into and out of the city were delayed or canceled, an airport spokesperson said, forcing hundreds of people to sleep at PHL overnight.
According to the airport, American Airlines, the largest carrier at PHL, had the most flights impacted by the weather. Several travelers flying on American told CBS News Philadelphia they were stuck on the Tarmac for hours yesterday before being sent back to their gates.
Monday morning, the airline said all their issues were due to the severe thunderstorm warning that was in effect for several hours Sunday night.
Along with the flight delays, travelers in Philadelphia have had to dig through mountains of luggage piled up in baggage claim.
A spokesperson from American Airlines, which accounts for 60% of all air traffic at Philadelphia International, said Monday afternoon representatives were reaching out to customers about when they can pick up their bags and will deliver luggage to those who can't come back to the airport.
According to American Airlines issues with baggage are due to a ramp that had to be closed Sunday because of lightning in the area. Other airlines did not report issues with baggage at PHL this weekend.
Several travelers who were flying American told CBS News Philadelphia they had to wait on the Tarmac for hours before being sent back to their gates.
"We sat on the Tarmac for five hours," Tammy Winston, who was flying home to Arizona, said. "There's tons of us sleeping all over the airport because they're canceling all of their flights now. So they tell me if I want to book, they can't rebook me until Tuesday."
Catherine Sommer traveled from Columbus, Ohio, to Philadelphia for work and waited hours for her luggage Monday.
"If I show up sweaty and smelling like airport," Sommer said, "I just have to hope that my boss accepts it."
