The strongest winter storm of the season so far is wreaking havoc on air travel across much of the country.
Snow, ice and bitterly cold winds descended on much of the Midwest, fueling thousands of flight disruptions that could worsen 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 FlightAware. Another 3,300 are delayed.
So far, Missouri’s Kansas City International Airport (MCI) has seen the worst flight problems, with nearly 90% of its scheduled departures canceled on Sunday amid storm-like conditions.
Those widespread cancellations come a day after the airport, at one point, had to close runways amid accumulating snow — something that briefly threatened the departure of the Kansas City Chiefs’ game in Denver on Sunday.
For days, forecasters had warned of major travel disruptions as the winter storm rolled in last week, with the National Weather Service warning of large amounts of snow possible from the Midwest to downtown Washington, DC.
“Accumulating snow, which could approach or exceed half a foot is expected to stop travel in places like Kansas City, St. Louis, Indianapolis and Cincinnati,” said AccuWeather meteorologist Brandon Buckingham on Friday, while also noting the conditions. across the mid-Atlantic states would be “high risk travel between Sunday night and Monday evening.”
On Friday, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) said the airport’s snow team will be monitoring conditions with plans to use snow removal equipment as needed.
The Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) similarly warned of potentially treacherous conditions heading into Monday morning.
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Many major US airlines have issued travel alerts, allowing passengers more flexibility to make travel changes amid bad weather. That includes waiving change fees even for travelers who fly even with their most restrictive fares.
Southwest Airlines was one of the hardest hit airlines on Sunday, leading all US airlines with more than 300 cancellations – about 7% of its schedule. Dallas-based Carriers has a large presence in both Kansas City and St. Louis – not to mention the DC area, which is expected to feel the storm in the coming hours.
American Airlines has canceled more than 100 flights so far Sunday, damaged by the winter storm and mid-day ground conditions caused by strong winds at its home port of Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Here’s what you need to know if you’re going to be traveling in the next few days:
View travel advice
Check your airline’s website. Your flight may be covered by one of the many travel advisories issued by major US carriers.
This can allow you to make travel changes easily from your airline app— even if you’re traveling on a regular restricted ticket like basic economy.
American Airlines, for example, has advisories covering thirty-two airports across much of the country, including its Philly and DCA hubs.
United Airlines has done the same at about a dozen airports, including its hub at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). The Southwest travel warning includes several cities where we have large footprints, including Kansas City, St. Louis, Nashville and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI).
Here are links to travel advisories for the four major US carriers:
It’s worth noting that several carriers have reissued travel advisories this past week after the Jan. 1 terrorist attacks. New Orleans.
See a good rebooking option? Don’t forget
If you’re struggling with flight delays and you see a decent booking option pop up on your airline’s app, don’t waste a second: lock!
As thousands of flights have been canceled from their regular schedule due to bad weather, a large number of passengers are simultaneously fighting for open seats on flights that depart on time. And those open seats can fill up quickly.
Read more: Flight canceled or delayed? Here’s what to do next
Staying at home? You may be eligible for a refund
If your flight is canceled or significantly delayed and you’d rather stay home than fly and face a winter storm, you should be eligible for a refund.
US Department of Transportation rules require airlines to refund passengers the full amount of their ticket when their flight is canceled or significantly delayed — but only if the passenger chooses not to travel, instead of accepting a rebooking.
Easy cancellation and miles back on award bookings
In the meantime, if Mother Nature wants to stay home and forgo that trip you booked with frequent flyer miles, you’re in luck.
In general, most US airlines will allow you to cancel an award booking and return all your miles at no charge. You’ll usually get a refund of any associated taxes and fees, too.
Use 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 to help you work out an itinerary – and there’s often a shorter wait than you’ll find at the airport, in the middle of nowhere. the masses.
Remember, though, this only applies to airline-branded lounges — not credit card-branded lounges.
Read more: 5 ways to make sure you have access to the lounge before your next flight
Getting compensation for a delayed flight
Airlines have made numerous promises to the DOT for meals, hotel accommodations and other guarantees in the event of flight cancellations and major delays. However, this usually applies to “manageable” disruptions (such as maintenance or personnel issues) – and generally not work if bad weather affects travel.
This is where a travel credit card that offers travel insurance protection can come in handy, helping you cover unexpected expenses when a flight problem leaves you in the lurch. One catch: in most cases, you’ll need to book your trip with that card in order to make a successful claim.
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