San Francisco International Airport still recovering after FAA ground stop, leaving travelers stranded and frustrated

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- The ripple effects of Friday's massive FAA ground stop are still being felt at San Francisco International Airport, where delays and cancellations continued to disrupt travel plans Saturday.

For 10-year-old DJ Holmes of San Jose, what was supposed to be an exciting birthday trip turned into an unexpected overnight stay at the airport.

"We were supposed to go on a cruise to Mexico and the Bahamas," DJ said.

Instead of celebrating the start of his vacation, DJ and his family found themselves camping out at SFO after their travel plans were derailed by the nationwide disruption.

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When asked how he was feeling, DJ had a simple answer: "Sad."

His father, David Holmes, said the family never expected to be affected.

"We booked the trip for my son's birthday, excited about it. Didn't think we'd be affected," Holmes said. "We saw the news about what's happening. It messed up the plans. He was crying."

Airport officials say conditions are improving, but recovery efforts are still ongoing. SFO reported approximately 160 flight cancellations Saturday morning.

"We're already seeing a great improvement over the last 24-hour period," said SFO Duty Manager Bob Rotiski.

Still, Rotiski warned that delays and cancellations could continue through the weekend.

"We always say, 'Be patient.' Agents are trying to help as much as possible," he said.

Long lines stretched through terminals as travelers worked to rebook flights and find alternate routes to their destinations.

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Gabriel Oliveira, who was trying to get home to Brazil, described the situation as "frustrating" and "exhausting."

Oliveira said he came to the airport in person because he was unable to get help over the phone.

"They're telling you to call, but the waiting time is one to two hours," he said.

Some travelers spent the night on terminal floors as they waited for available flights.

Among them was tourist Fernanda Deixeira, who said she planned to leave the airport, spend the night in a hotel, and return Sunday for another attempt to fly out.

"We'll go to a hotel tonight and come back tomorrow and take another plane," she said.

Not everyone is giving up on their travel plans.

San Francisco 49ers fan Renee Rodriguez was successfully rebooked on a flight to Dallas ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Cowboys.

"It's all about the Niners," Rodriguez said with a laugh. "Either way, I'm supposed to get to Dallas by midnight, so I can still be at the game. Bang Bang Niner Gang!"

Airport officials continue urging passengers to check directly with their airlines for the latest flight information and to allow extra time when traveling through SFO this weekend.