What to do if your flight is canceled due to omicron-related crew shortages

Passengers stranded by the rise in airline cancellations have some options to get to their destinations or accommodate their extended stay, travel experts say.

A rise in cancelations during the busy holiday travel season has left thousands of passengers around the country stranded in airport lounges as they attempt to get back home.

Airline representatives said that the recent surge in omicron COVID-19 cases has grounded flight crews, and as a result, they don't have enough people to fly their scheduled flights.

While such a predicament is hard to plan for, travel experts say affected passengers still have options to reach their destination, or in the worst-case scenario, ride out their extended stay with as little hassle as possible.

"It's frustrating for travelers but that is not a lot they can do to avoid it," Brett Snyder, the president of the travel planning service Cranky Concierge, told ABC News.