Half term got off to a bumpy start as a ferocious storm caused airport misery on Sunday evening, leaving some holidaymakers to sleep in airports overnight.
Dozens of flights were cancelled at Gatwick and Heathrow airports on Sunday evening and Monday morning as the hefty weather front unleashed torrents of rain and lightning.
That included 30 services cancelled from Heathrow on Sunday and at least eight more on Monday morning.
Have you been caught up in the travel chaos? Email webtravel@reachplc.com
Meanwhile, more than 60 flights were abandoned from Gatwick on Sunday and Monday combined, i reported.
The last minute groundings led to "absolute carnage" at Gatwick, one passenger claimed, with some passengers reportedly left to sleep on the floor overnight.
“Absolute carnage at Gatwick with easyJet flights the vast majority of the cancelled ones,” one person claimed on Twitter. “Older people, children and people with disabilities left on the floor of the airport all night. Still no support 12 hours after we were due to depart.”
A Gatwick Airport spokesperson said: “A number of flights were cancelled or delayed late [Sunday], as air traffic control restrictions were in place across the UK due to poor weather conditions.
"As some of those flights and crews have to be repositioned it does mean some flights will be cancelled or delayed [Monday]."
Issues in the skies also affected people flying back into the country.
One mum, from Derby, told the Mirror that her son was stuck in Germany on a school trip after their easyJet flight home was cancelled.
The 14-year-old and his friends stayed an extra night before making a five hour journey to Nuremberg Airport to catch another plane on Monday evening, the mum said.
easyJet has been contacted for comment.
Dozens of people took to Twitter to express their dismay at being caught in the chaos due to the thunderstorms.
“Quite shocking – British Airways just cancelled our flight to Venice this morning,” one person posted this morning.
“With both kids and partners already on their way to the airport and my wife and I at Heathrow hotel, they don’t even offer the kids flights today, and want us to fly from Gatwick.”
A spokesperson for BA said: "Due to thunderstorms across the UK and Europe, and a reduced flow rate at Heathrow (on Sunday) we were, like other airlines, forced to cancel a number of short-haul flights and have experienced some knock-on disruption to some of our services.
"We have offered customers booked to travel on cancelled flights the option to rebook to an alternative service or to take a refund.
"The safety of our customers and crew is our highest priority and we apologise to our customers for any inconvenience."
Fred Sirieix, the famously French maitre d of TV show First Dates, found himself caught up in the chaos over the two days.
"Mad morning," he tweeted. "My flight to Glasgow was cancelled last night at last minute after delay. Rebooked & stayed overnight in Gatwick airport.
"Flight cancelled again this morning as I arrived at security. Re-rebooked flight but from Heathrow. Waiting to board now."
On Friday passengers coming into Bristol Airport found themselves in a monster queue, with customers describing arriving at the airport to queues out of the building, with further "chaos" inside.
One family claims they have been left £1,600 out of pocket after they missed their flight because of the chaos.
