Photograph of Dan Ryder at an airport
Dan Ryder says he was not offered any help with accommodation or given any vouchers by American Airlines.Dan Ryder
  • The passenger was stuck in New Orleans for two days.

  • The airline didn't give any help with food vouchers or accommodations.

  • There were delays and canceled Fourth of July plans for two passengers.

A passenger spent three days trying to get home after his flight was canceled.

Over the 4th of July weekend, thousands of flights have been canceled, leaving passengers scrambling to find alternative transportation and putting their holiday plans in disarray.

Dan Ryder, a school teacher, was attending a conference in New Orleans with two colleagues who were due to fly home to Maine on Thursday. On Wednesday American Airlines told them their connecting flight from Washington DC to Maine had been canceled.

After arriving at the airport on Friday, only one of the trio's flights had been changed, leaving them scrambling to find new seats and a place to stay.

The airline industry has not increased its game of pay, benefits, and incentives to attract and retain staff despite the fact that it has received a number of government loans.

American Airlines allowed them to rebook their flight for free, but didn't offer any assistance with extending their home or giving vouchers.

They were stuck in New Orleans for two days and didn't return to Maine until Saturday.

The Diamante's were going to Switzerland to celebrate their wedding anniversary. A couple missed their flight from Phoenix to London after someone was found smoking on the plane. The couple had to rebook their flight after they were told that seats had not been reserved for them. Since we would be en-route during that time, we lost two full days of our trip as well as any sort of Fourth of July celebration in either America or Europe.

They were put through a Delta flight by American Airlines. The seats were not confirmed because American's codes weren't acknowledged by Delta's systems.

The airlines were bogged down with full flights and being stretched thin with short staff because of the busy season.

American Airlines offered its pilots a pay raise of up to $64,000 this week in order to bring an end to a shortage of pilots.

The airlines were contacted.

Business Insider has an article on it.