CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. — Friday was one of the busiest travel days across the country as people pack their bags to head home and see loved ones for the holidays.
That includes many people at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport who are jumping on a flight to see family and friends for Christmas.
Operation "I'll be home for Christmas" is in full swing.
"We are delayed again," Chris Czopp said.
Czopp and his wife are traveling to Orlando for Christmas. Their plane was delayed twice.
"We were supposed to leave at 11. Now we're leaving at 2," Czopp said, adding, "It's disappointing. Right now it's up in the air. It's delayed. Is it going to get canceled? We don't know."
His backup plan is to drive to Orlando, Florida, which he says is an 18-hour drive. Folks are on the move, running through the airport. They're making it their duty to complete the mission.
"I'm going to surprise my family in Boston. They don't know I'm coming," Jenna Koch said.
Kock booked her flight Wednesday night. She wanted to surprise her cousins for Christmas.
2 On Your Side asked, "How were you able to keep this under wraps?"
Koch replied: "Well, if you know me, I'm not a good secret keeper, so I haven't talked to anybody."
AAA is expecting 115 million people to travel for the holidays. It's a 2% increase over last year.
Despite the crowds, these travelers are grateful to still catch a flight. Last year's deadly Christmas blizzard ripped through Buffalo, stopping all travel for anyone who wanted to leave.
"Last year our flight got delayed right before the blizzard, so we were supposed to fly the day before the blizzard, and our flight got canceled," Czopp said.
"We rented a car. Drove one way, 18 hours straight. Left at 6 in the morning, got in at midnight."