SANTA MARIA - Its one of the busiest, and stressful, times of the year for air travel.
Even at the Santa Maria Airport, packing extra patience doesn't always calm the nerves if there are weather or other flight delays.
One traveler, who asked not to be identified, was upset his flight was delayed due to mechanical problems.
"What a terrible airline, and your people are rude", the man said about the airline he was flying on.
When told that unpredictable weather patterns can cause unexpected delays, the man replied, "that wasn't the problem, they said the plane was broken."
For others catching flights from Santa Maria to Los Angeles, Las Vegas and now Honolulu, they know to expect the unexpected this time of year.
"I don't know, I make the best of it usually", said traveler Kristy Mooney who paid extra to fly non-stop from LAX to Dallas after a previous trip over the holidays was disrupted by the weather.
"It took me two days to get to Dallas two years ago", Mooney says, "I spent the night in Los Angeles and another night in Denver."
The recent addition of Allegiant Air service to Honolulu has brought more energy and far more people to the Santa Maria Airport.
"What a deal, Santa Maria to Honolulu", said traveler Mike Wright about the new service and cheaper, promotional fares, "it's a good deal, its fun."
So far flight delays out of Santa Maria Airport because of the weather have been minimal.
Experienced travelers know it's subject to change at any moment.
"My boys always tell me its an adventure", says traveler Karen Taylor, "no matter what it is, its going to be an adventure."
