. >> reporter: francine and mark were supposed to pass through d.c. on their way from a vacation in thailand, home to ottawa, canada. when they arrived in dulles, they found out they would spend the night. >> we had to get ourselves a hotel and find our way around washington, change airports. we came from the other airport. we learned the tricks of taking the buses, people and the train or not the train but the -- >> a day of sight seeing not in the cards. >> we have to go somewhere. we're not dressed and we went to the library for the day. >> we were disappointed, but we spent a nice day here in washington. >> reporter: with several airports still closed to air traffic, including those in boston and hartford, a good number of flights are simply cancelled regarding than delayed. the passengers who check ahead know it's not worse showing up. >> every traveler should be savvy going to the airport. having that in mine was helpful to me. >> reporter: erica had to extend her business trip in d.c. for a day after her flight was canceld. she arrived to find