Despite the chaos, some travelers were still able to make it into Raleigh, including Ivy Ward, who flew in from Philadelphia for her grandson's birthday. Her flight back to Philadelphia is on Monday.
"I don't want to get stuck, and I am leaving on Monday. I'm going back. So hopefully they will have cleaned up everything so that we can fly in and we get there quickly," Ward said.
Other families were forced to change plans at the last minute. A family of six from California is in Raleigh for a funeral, and they weren't scheduled to leave until Sunday.
"We were watching our flight. Our flight was supposed to be tomorrow, but it got canceled. So my parents were looking all night, all night refreshing, and this morning they got a flight for today," said Leanne Z.
Meanwhile, traveler Cielo Kramer is hoping to get out of RDU Saturday night as she prepares for an international trip to visit family in Copenhagen. "Well, I just hope that, you know, this weather will not delay my travel because I'm looking forward to this, and a little excited, it will be my first time in Copenhagen," Kramer said.
Looking ahead to Sunday, travel experts say it could go down as one of the worst days for weather-related flight cancellations in U.S. aviation history. More than 8,000 flights nationwide have already been canceled.
On Sunday, American Airlines canceled 37% of its total flights, and 85% of flights at LaGuardia Airport have already been canceled.
Airlines offering flexibility
Several major airlines are offering flexibility for travelers affected by the weather. Carriers like American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit, and United are dropping change fees for flights in and out of impacted airports, meaning passengers may be able to rebook without paying extra. Travelers are encouraged to check their airline's specific travel waiver online for details.
What to know if your flight is delayed or canceled
Under federal law, if your flight is canceled and you choose not to rebook, you are entitled to a full refund, even on non-refundable tickets. That refund must be returned automatically to your original form of payment, not a voucher. The rule also applies to add-ons like seat upgrades or Wi-Fi. Airlines are not required to provide hotels or meals for weather-related disruptions, but passengers can still ask.
How RDU prepares for an ice storm
At RDU Airport, the runways were treated on Friday to prevent rain from freezing, and when the weather hits the airport they have thousands of gallons of de-icing to use on planes. Crews work 12-hour shifts during weather events.