Boarding passes for the flight did not state a departure gate number however, leading to irritation among some passengers lining up at BA's customer service desk to inquire about the status of the flight.

CNN: Software glitch delays London flights

In cases of delays of more than three hours "likely due to heavy winds impairing two of the available runways at JFK, airlines will be forced to return customers to the gate in great number and this will result in thousands of customers grounded with their flights canceled, " said JetBlue spokesman Mateo Lleras via e-mail.

CNN: Air traffic jams in New York likely to jump

Finally, the ID card is flashed at the gate no boarding pass needed and agents there hand the traveler a receipt with the seat number printed on it.

WSJ: Flying Through the Airport