A Massive Winter Storm Threatens Widespread US Flight Disruptions
A powerful winter storm is poised to wreak havoc on air travel across the United States, with airlines issuing warnings of significant disruptions and cancellations at some of the nation's busiest airports. The storm, which is expected to affect nearly 180 million people—more than half the U.S. population—in a path stretching from the southern Rocky Mountains to New England, is set to bring heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain.
The National Weather Service reports that the storm will first sweep through the South before moving into the Northeast, dumping approximately 1 to 2 feet (30 to 60 centimeters) of snow from Washington through New York and Boston. This severe weather is already causing widespread travel chaos, with over 13,500 flights canceled across the U.S. since Saturday, according to FlightAware. The site predicts that about 9,600 of those cancellations are scheduled for Sunday, making it the highest cancellation event since the pandemic, with over 29% of all U.S. departing flights axed.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is among the hardest hit, with nearly all of its departing flights for the day—414 flights, or 97%—canceled. Significant disruptions are also expected at major airport hubs in Dallas-Fort Worth, Charlotte, Philadelphia, Atlanta, New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, and LaGuardia Airport.
Several major airlines have announced substantial cancellations for Sunday. American Airlines has canceled over 1,400 flights, Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines each reported about 1,000 cancellations, and United Airlines had more than 800. JetBlue had over 560 canceled flights, accounting for roughly 70% of its schedule for the day.
For travelers whose flights have been canceled, the advice is clear: get in line at the airport to speak to a customer service representative or, if you're still at home, call or go online to connect with your airline's reservations staff. While waiting, it's a good idea to research alternate flights.
Most airlines will rebook passengers on a later flight for no additional charge, but the availability of open seats will determine this. Passengers can also seek to be booked on another airline, although it's not guaranteed that airlines will transfer them to another carrier's flight.
In terms of refunds, passengers are legally entitled to a full refund if their flight is canceled and they no longer wish to travel or have found an alternative means of reaching their destination. This applies even if the ticket was non-refundable. The airline might offer a travel credit, but passengers are entitled to a full refund, including any bag fees, seat upgrades, or other extras they didn't get to use.
