ASHWAUBENON (WFRV) Weather conditions didn't keep people from driving into Austin Straubel International Airport. But for those trying to fly out via Chicago O'Hare, it was iffy at best."
"They've talked about Chicago flights being twenty-minutes late. So we're just kind of waiting a bit. They haven't said for sure anything's going to be canceled for us," said
Kurt Kananen, who was flying from Green Bay to Ft. Myers, with a connecting flight from O'Hare.Reaching O'Hare was impossible at worst as Julie Schmidt of Silver Springs, MD learned via email.
"Canceled. And then about 15-minutes later it's been rescheduled to a later flight today. And I thought--"Great!" Told my family saying I'd be coming in late. I got off that phone call and found out that flight had been canceled," said Julie Schmidt, whose flight from Green Bay to O'Hare was canceled, along with a connecting flight to Washington D.C.
While Julie Schmidt is among those spending tonight in Green Bay, airline ticket agents have worked together to help passengers rebook their trips through hubs like Detroit and Minneapolis.
"They were able to get to their destination. And certainly because of weather, there weren't any penalties or fees added on to their ticket prices. So while it certainly was an inconvenience, they were still able to get to their ultimate destination on the same day," said Tom Miller, Director of Austin Straubel International Airport.
Passengers who know they're going nowhere today are making do with unplanned stopovers, while some others still have high hopes of getting through.
"We've got a week down in Florida. So, yeah, that would be great if we could just hit them all on time," Kananen said.
"I'm trying to buy some casual clothes. I've been in dress clothes all this time," Julie Schmidt said as she chuckled.
As for Wednesday morning, two flights scheduled to arrive from O'Hare have already been canceled. And Miller urges people to check their flight status before heading to the airport.
"If you have reservations right now going through Chicago, it'd be real good to contact the airline and see if alternative arrangements can be made so that you can get to your destination, he said
Local 5's Terry Kovarik has the story.
