Closer to home, the outages are grounding major airlines, including at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport on a day expected to be the busiest departure day of the year.
Early Friday morning long lines were forming in the ticketing area. A pair of friends traveling out of town for a Brewers game said they were told all flights had been grounded.
Watch: Travelers wait in long lines at Milwaukee Mitchell —
Internet outage affecting major airlines
Harold Mester, the Director of Public Affairs and Marketing for the airport, says many of the airlines at the airport have been affected, and some airlines are not able to process passengers.
As for the airport itself, Mester stated that none of its systems have been affected. A TSA baggage screening system was disrupted, but Mester says those bags are being screened with "alternative methods" and are still making it through for travel.
Mester advised passengers to get in direct contact with their airline — including downloading their app. If your flight is delayed or canceled, he recommends you do NOT come to the airport, as there are long lines.
The good news is there are plenty of staff on hand because of the RNC preparations, but delays are still inevitable.
Watch more of his remarks below:
Global IT outage causing disruptions at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport
"This is affecting a lot of different things so people just have to be patient. Once we go to all computers we all pay the price if they go down," said Denesa Rains who visited Milwaukee for the RNC.
Comedian Roy Wood Jr. was also in Wisconsin for the convention. Wood told TMJ4 that after a late night he arrived to airport early for an 8 a.m. flight to get to New York that he was looking forward to. With the delays and cancellations, Wood ended up rerouting to Pittsburgh a day early.
Watch: Flyers react to airport delays caused by computer outage
Flyers react to airport delays caused by computer outage
"You get to rub shoulders with a lot of people you make friends when you’re in lines for three hours. It is what it is. There has been vendors coming selling Trump merch," Wood explained.
TMJ4 News Roy Wood Jr., 8am flight was cancelled.
In a message on X, the airport announced that while most airline restored their systems or turned to alternative procedures, travelers should be ready for lingering delays and cancellations.
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