TAMPA, Fla. — Flight cancelations ahead of the July 4 weekend are leaving travelers stranded in Tampa and across the entire U.S.
And while Bahama Breeze can't get you to your destination, it can ease your troubles with some free booze.
The Orlando-based restaurant chain is offering a flight for a flight — a free margarita flight for proof of a canceled airline flight.
The flight features three-ounce servings of the Bahama Breeze's classic, dragonfruit and coconut pineapple margaritas.
The offer is available from July 1-8 at locations near some of the country's busiest airports, including Orlando, Miami, Vegas, Washington D.C., and, of course, Tampa.
Participating Bahama Breeze locations in the Tampa Bay area include:
- 3045 N Rocky Point Drive E, Tampa, FL 33607
- 805 Brandon Town Center Drive, Brandon, FL 33511
- 25830 Sierra Center Boulevard, Lutz, FL 33559
One exclusion is the Bahama Breeze at Orlando International Airport, but the closest participating location is less than 20 minutes away.
The flight-tracking website FlightAware showed at least 3,000 delays and 1,200 cancellations by Thursday afternoon. Denver International Airport, Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Chicago O'Hare International Airport were the hubs most affected.
Huge crowds, bad weather and the inability of some airline crews to reach their scheduling offices — even a Delta jet that made a belly landing in Charlotte, North Carolina — have all contributed to the mess.
And it could be just the storm before the storm: The FAA predicted that Thursday would be the heaviest travel day over the July 4 holiday period. On top of that, some airline planes may be unable to fly in bad weather starting this weekend because of possible interference with 5G wireless service.
Associated Press Airlines Writer David Koenig contributed to this report.