Winter storms caused thousands of flights to be delayed and canceled

The strongest winter storm of the season so far is wreaking havoc on air travel across a wide swath of the country.

Snow, ice and bitterly cold air are descending on much of the Midwest, disrupting thousands of flights and possibly getting worse as the system heads toward the East Coast.

As of 1 p.m. EST Sunday, airlines had canceled more than 1,100 flights across the US, according to data from Flight recognition. Another 3,300 flights were delayed.

Missouri’s Kansas City International Airport (MCI) saw its worst flight disruptions to date, with nearly 90% of scheduled departures canceled on Sunday due to blizzard conditions.

Those widespread cancellations came a day after the airport, at one point, had to close its runways amid rapid ice buildup — something of a fleeting moment. threatens the planned departure of the Kansas City Chiefs for a game in Denver Sunday.

For days, forecasters warned of significant transportation disruptions as the winter storm developed last week, along with warnings from the National Weather Service of significant snowfall totals from China. West to the Washington, DC metropolitan area.

AccuWeather meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said Friday: “Snow accumulation, which could reach or exceed half a foot, is expected to cause travel delays in places like Kansas City, St. . Louis, Indianapolis and Cincinnati,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said Friday, noting those conditions. across the mid-Atlantic states will pose “substantial travel risks from Sunday night into Monday night.”

As of Friday, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) said its airport snow removal team will monitor conditions with a plan to deploy snow removal equipment as needed.

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) similarly warned of possible hazardous conditions Monday morning.

Most major US airlines have issued travel warnings, allowing passengers more flexibility to change their itineraries amid bad weather. That includes waiving change fees even for travelers flying on their most restrictive fare types.

Southwest Airlines was one of the hardest hit airlines on Sunday, leading all US airlines with more than 300 canceled flights – about 7% of its schedule. The Dallas-based airline has a sizable presence in both Kansas City and St. Louis was hit hard – not to mention the DC area, which is expected to take the brunt of the storm in the coming hours.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, American Airlines has canceled more than 100 flights so far on Sunday, hurt by the winter storm and having to stop ground operations mid-day due to high winds at the National Airport. Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport.

Here’s what to know if you’re planning to travel in the next few days:

Follow travel advisories

Check your airline’s website. Your flight may be covered by one of many travel advisories issued by major U.S. airlines.

This can let you easily make free itinerary changes right from the airline app— even if you’re flying on a regular restricted ticket like basic economy.

American Airlines, for example, has consulting coverage of nearly three dozen airports across much of the country, including its Philly and DCA hubs.

United Airlines has done the same with nearly a dozen airports, including its Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) hub. Southwest’s travel warning covers several high-impact cities, including Kansas City, St. Louis, Nashville and Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport (BWI).

Here are links to travel advice for the four largest US airlines:

It is worth noting some carriers also gave travel advice this past week following the January 1 terrorist attack in New Orleans.

See a good reset option? Don’t delay

If you’re stuck with a delayed flight and see the moderate rebooking option appear in your airline app, don’t waste a second: lock it!

With thousands of flights canceled from their normal schedules due to bad weather, a large number of passengers are competing for seats on flights departing on time. And those vacancies can be filled quickly.

Read more: Flight canceled or delayed? Here’s what to do next

At home? You may be eligible for a refund

If your flight is canceled or significantly delayed and you choose to just stay home instead of flying and riding out the winter storm, you will be eligible for a refund.

Regulations of the United States Department of Transportation Ask the airline to refund passengers for untraveled tickets when their flight is canceled or significantly delayed – but only if the passenger chooses not to travel, rather than accepting a rebooking.

Easily cancel and earn miles when booking award tickets

Meanwhile, if Mother Nature makes you want to stay home and forgo that trip you booked with frequent flyer miles, you’re in luck.

In general, most US airlines will let you cancel your award booking and get all your miles back at no charge. You will typically also be reimbursed for any related taxes and fees.

Take advantage of airline lounge customer service

Stuck at the airport? If you’re a member of an airline lounge, don’t forget: there are usually customer service agents there who can help you make travel arrangements — and wait times are often shorter than wait times. in an airport lounge, in a mass setting.

However, keep in mind that this applies to the airline-branded lounges of the carrier you’re flying on – not credit card-branded lounges.

Read more: 5 ways to make sure you have lounge access before your next flight

Receive compensation when your flight is delayed

Airlines have made numerous promises to the DOT regarding meals, hotel accommodations and other services. ensure in case of flight cancellations and major delays. However, these generally apply to “manageable” disruptions (like maintenance or staffing issues) – and generally so. Are not Applicable when bad weather affects travel.

This is place one Travel credit cards offer travel insurance can be useful, helping you offset unexpected expenses when a flight crashes and leaves you stranded. One catch: in most cases, you will typically need to book your travel using that card to make a successful claim.

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