Winter blast: Half of DFW flights canceled; Atlanta and Charlotte are next in line

Some blasts of winter weather wreak havoc on air travel. Two active areas in Texas are already disrupted, and could spread to the South and mid-Atlantic on Friday as the nation’s latest storm moves east.

As of 11 am EST, flight 530 was canceled at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), according to data from FlightAware. That’s about half of all scheduled flights Thursday at the nation’s second-busiest airport and the home base of American Airlines.

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More than 40% of departures were canceled at nearby Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL), home to Southwest Airlines.

According to FlightAware, more than 1,300 flights across the country were canceled as of Thursday morning, with disruptions concentrated in Texas.

Forecasters expect the winter storm affecting airports at DFW and DAL to cause more problems for much of the southern US in the coming days.

Airlines are bracing for a winter blast in the Southeast

Many major US airlines have already issued travel advisories for dozens of airlines from Texas to Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Such waivers allow travelers more flexibility to make ticket changes free of charge to avoid traveling during a major weather event. (Airlines have also issued similar waivers in parts of Southern California affected by the ongoing wildfires.)

Amid this latest winter storm, Delta Air Lines has issued a travel advisory for much of the Southeast, including its largest hub operation at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).

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The world’s busiest airport this week took to social media to confirm it is preparing for the aftermath of the storm – which is expected to hit the region on Friday.

American Airlines’ major travel alert includes several Southeast airports, including its hub at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT).

The National Weather Service on Thursday warned the storm will intensify and spread a mix of snow, ice and freezing rain to the South and Southeast. Snow and “hazardous travel conditions” are expected from Atlanta to North and South Carolina.

That same storm system could bring wintry conditions and additional flight disruptions to the mid-Atlantic and Northeast over the weekend, Accuweather added.

This latest round of weather-related flight disruptions comes after a previous winter storm disrupted thousands of flights between Jan. 4 and Jan. 6 and led Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to close its runways on Monday.

Meanwhile, the hundreds of cancellations at DFW on Thursday are just the latest setback for a major hub and American, the flagship airline. The airport has had to ground flights several times this week due to high winds, and experienced severe storms due to the holiday rush late last month.

What to do when you fly this week

Whether you’re flying in and out of DFW or DAL on Thursday or worried about travel plans coming up on Friday or this weekend, here’s how you can prepare.

Review your options

Now is a good time to check and see if your trip is covered by the airline’s travel advisories.

Specifically with this approaching winter storm, you’ll want to review the information posted under “Winter Storm Cora.”

These tips can give you more flexibility to make travel changes, even if you’re flying on a standard limited-edition ticket.

Here’s a summary of the current notices for the major US carriers:

Check your airline application

Be sure to download your airline app, and keep your reservation up-to-date. Check for notifications about your flight and any signs of a potential problem with your itinerary.

If your flight is delayed or cancelled, the airline may offer you the option to rebook through the app, eliminating the need to wait to speak to customer service.

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

Review your refund rights

Now is a good time to sort out your refund rights when it comes to air travel.

Under US Department of Transportation policy, airlines are required to refund the unfilled portion of your ticket when your flight is canceled or significantly delayed — only if you choose not to travel (and do not accept rebooking).

This rule applies even if the flight disruption is due to bad weather, and it can help you if you choose to stay home instead of taking a late flight during a winter storm.

Think twice about checking luggage

Finally, you might think twice about checking a bag — if you can avoid it, at least. Often times, flying between major cancellations and delays means you need to switch to a new flight at the last minute. It could also mean that that 90-minute connection window you planned for Charlotte is getting tighter.

Keeping all your luggage on hand means fewer wrinkles if you need to rebook later – and it eliminates the risk of your bags not making it onto the connecting flight.

Just remember: Packing all of your belongings in a carry-on bag means that everything in your suitcase must comply with the Transportation Security Administration’s 3-1-1 alcohol policy.

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