Vacation Travel: AAA expects 3.5 million people to travel by plane over the 4th of July weekend

For some people like Lauren Stevens, the stress of travel is just beginning.

Stevens, her husband and their 8-month-old baby have been at a Miami airport as of 10 a.m. Wednesday trying to board a flight home to Houston.

“Our flight was delayed three times. We moved the gates twice,” Stevens said.

“We have received no explanation, no information,” she said. “They just keep updating the board and saying delayed, delayed, delayed.”

She was stuck in a busy terminal all day buying food and diapers.

“The airport is packed with people, tons of families, little babies and kids who just can’t get home,” Stevens said.

Several of the airline’s flights have been canceled due to pilot shortages and a series of severe weather en route.

“It’s a mess. It’s a nightmare, especially when you’re traveling with a family or an infant,” she said.

AAA said Friday is expected to be the busiest travel day of the July 4 weekend, adding that Houston’s peak congestion will be between 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m

The most important thing AAA wants travelers to know is to be patient and flexible to enjoy the vacation.

Stevens says she just wants to get home as soon as possible.

“I hope there’s a plan in place to prevent something like this from happening again,” Stevens said.