A severe summer storm system swept from Alabama to New York on Monday, leaving a trail of toppled trees, damaged buildings and transportation headaches in its wake.

Phil Stringer was the only passenger on his long-delayed flight from Oklahoma City to Charlotte, N.C. He credits crew members for their positive attitude — and is planning a trip to visit them soon.

In ongoing contract negotiations, pilots at major airlines are pushing for changes in scheduling, to allow for more time at home and fewer missed birthdays and other celebrations.

No airline currently offers cash compensation in addition to refunds or amenities. The White House plans to change that. The move comes after a chaotic holiday travel season.

The airline's CEO says the company is hoping to be "back on track before next week." But until then, it's continuing on a reduced schedule.

The British airline said U.S.-based flight delays are being caused by a technical issue. Delays on some flights were nearly 24 hours.

More than 100 U.S. flights were cancelled altogether, according to tracker, FlightAware.

Thousands of flights have been canceled, leaving travelers scrambling to figure out how to book new seats and get reimbursements for added expenses.