Travelers flying through Texas on Monday faced a hurricane-sized delay, as more than 1,300 flights were canceled and over 1,000 delayed due to Hurricane Beryl making landfall near Matagorda.

In what can only be described as a Texas-sized inconvenience, Hurricane Beryl plowed into Matagorda early Monday, leaving chaos in its wake with over 1,350 flight cancellations and more than 1,000 delays. United Airlines and Southwest bore the brunt, with United canceling 405 flights and Southwest 268. Houston’s major airports were left a virtual ghost town, with up to 80% of flights at George Bush Intercontinental grounded. As if wrestling with winds of 80 mph and torrential rain weren’t enough, thousands of travelers now find themselves arguing with customer service agents over rebookings and refunds.

Hurricane Beryl, classified as a Category 1 storm, hit the Texas coast with 80 mph winds and, predictably, left a trail of disruption in its wake. As the storm crashed into Matagorda, over 1,300 U.S. flights faced the chopping block on Monday morning and more than 1,000 endured delays, turning airport terminals into an impromptu venue for frustrated travelers.

United Airlines experienced the highest number of cancellations, with 405 flights nixed due to the storm. Southwest Airlines was also heavily affected, with 268 flights canceled across its network. Specifically, flights originating from or destined for Texas bore the lion’s share of these disruptions. It's almost as if Mother Nature had a particular disdain for Texas airports!

Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport were hit particularly hard. As of 9:30 a.m. ET, an eye-popping 80% of flights at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) were scrapped, while William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) saw 60% of its flights canceled. It seems Hurricane Beryl had a particular vendetta against Houston’s skies!

United Airlines, which uses Houston as a major hub, found itself in the eye of the storm, with around 400 departures grounded on Monday alone. Meanwhile, Southwest Airlines grappled with more than 260 cancellations network-wide, turning what is usually a reliable travel system into an exercise in patience.

Compounding the chaos, widespread power outages affected at least 162,000 people along the Texas coast. For many, the term 'lights out' took on a whole new meaning, extending beyond the grounded flights to everyday life interruptions. At this point, it’s unclear what’s more disconcerting—the unplanned vacation at the terminal or the prospect of no morning coffee back home.

Airlines have tried to mollify irate travelers by offering waivers to rebook flights without penalty. The Department of Transportation's rules further mandate refunds if flights are canceled for any reason. United is largely suspending flights out of Houston on Monday but will waive change fees and fare differences to help mitigate the inconveniences. Similarly, American Airlines has suspended operations at Houston airports until about 3 p.m. Eastern Time and Southwest Airlines has canceled flights through noon across multiple Texas airports including George Bush Intercontinental, William P. Hobby, and Corpus Christi International Airport. So, if you're stuck in the airport instead of lounging on a beach, at least you can rebook without the extra fees adding insult to injury!

With airlines like Alaska, American, Delta, Frontier, Spirit, along with United and Southwest offering more flexible rebooking options, travelers might at least have some solace. However, the stress of rebooking amidst such large-scale disruptions means ticket counters have become the frontline for customer complaints and growing anxiety. Still, if nothing else, this experience might just provide the world's most unwelcome crash course in patience.

In between fielding calls from crashed-in travelers and rescheduling flights, airport staff have earned themselves a medal for patience. As torrential rains clashed with winds roaring at 80 mph, airline personnel experienced their own tempest of frustrated comments and last-minute appeals for compassion in rescheduling adventures gone sideways.

Hurricane Beryl’s impact extended far beyond travel disruptions. For thousands of people in Texas, the storm brought heavy rainfall, with up to 12 inches expected in some areas. Preparedness, it seems, now includes a mix of rain boots, umbrellas, and an extra serving of patience for those stuck either in airports or at home dealing with power outages.

As travelers, Texans, and airline staff alike wade through the literal and metaphorical storm, perhaps it’s worth noting that sometimes, the best-laid travel plans are no match for Mother Nature’s whims. Until power is restored and runways cleared, patience might just be the only boarding pass that matters.