Travelers continue to face delays and cancellations after global technology outage

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Weekend travelers were left frustrated, confused and, in some cases, stranded at airports across the country after a global technology outage caused delays and cancellations Friday.

The effects of the outage, which affected Microsoft apps and services, are still being felt by many people, including travelers facing delays, cancellations and lost baggage.

CJ and Natalie Alberti arrived in Buffalo after their honeymoon and were in good spirits considering the drive home. They are still waiting for their luggage to be returned.

“With all the breakdowns and delays, they couldn’t get us a flight until tonight and we didn’t want to wait, so we ended up taking a bus overnight,” Natalie said. “There were no rentals, we went to every rental at the airport that was open last night. There were none available from JFK to get home.”

Alieshaia and Jon found their luggage at the Buffalo airport on Sunday.

“We are very relieved because we flew from Detroit and were stuck there,” Alieshaia said.

“We haven’t had our luggage since Saturday morning, I guess, and we had a wedding yesterday, so we just got our luggage,” Jean said.

Throughout the weekend, travelers had to scramble to find a way to get to their destinations.

“People are stranded in airports around the world. It’s unacceptable,” said Clarke Donovan, who was travelling from New Zealand. “Families are sleeping wherever they can.”

“There’s definitely a lot of people waiting and there’s also a lot of confusion,” said Tepruea Winiata, who was also travelling from New Zealand. “It’s distress, people are trying to get on a plane.”

A group of 12 people travelling from New Zealand have been separated.

“This morning, during the night, our reservations changed,” Winiata said. “We don’t know why, but we can only assume that it was part of the disruption, and that half of us were left behind. They will leave later this afternoon.”

Mary Baig, who was returning home to California, said Delta canceled her flight twice. She had been waiting to return since Friday, so she changed flights to Southwest Airlines so she could make it.

“Plus, my son had to drive me from Rochester to Buffalo so I could get on this flight and go home,” she said. “I’m happy to be going home.”