Some travelers hoping to hop on flights Friday had to change their plans as more than 1,000 flights were canceled according to flightaware.com.

Airlines are blaming bad weather, but travel experts say the nightmare is not over for travelers.

One traveler, trying to get to Chicago with family says he was frustrated at the last-minute cancellation. 

“It’s a big family weekend and they canceled my flight without notifying me an hour before as I was enroute to the airport,” said Josh Morris.

More than 3,000 flights were canceled in the last couple of days and thousands more delayed.

Travel agent Michele Weis says she was also feeling the stress.

She says the airlines were simply not prepared after the pandemic.

“It’s an onslaught. The dam has broken. People want to travel.” said Weis. “The airlines don’t have the pilots…don’t have the personnel. TSA needs people.” 

She said she expects a rough summer ahead for travel.

Experts suggest that people check their flights frequently with their airlines and to get to the airport much earlier than you normally would, and to be flexible with travel plans when things go off course.

While many travelers were denied refunds for their canceled flights, the Department of Transportation says they are investigating dozens of airlines.

DOT plans to require airlines to refund ticket purchases for thousands of travelers with canceled flights.