U.S. airlines implemented broad travel waivers as a winter storm, forecast to bring heavy snow, sleet and dangerous ice to two dozen states, threatened to disrupt air travel across a wide swath of the country heading into the weekend.
The US National Weather Service has warned that the combination of freezing rain, sleet and snow could make travel dangerous and cause power outages and tree damage in some areas of the southeast, while heavier snow is expected further north. The winter storm is expected to bring cold temperatures not seen since 2021, according to AccuWeather, a weather forecasting company.
Delta Airlines canceled flights in five states Thursday afternoon, as airlines said the combination of ice, snow and high winds could slow airport operations, lead to delays and cancellations, and complicate new bookings during one of the busiest winter travel periods.
“This will likely result in thousands of flight cancellations on Saturday, Sunday and Monday,” said Dan DePodwin, vice president of forecast operations at AccuWeather. Travel booking app Hopper estimates that more than 15,000 flights could be delayed due to the storm.
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Major Airlines Offer Flexible Booking Options
Southwest Airlines said disruptions are expected in parts of the south and east, giving customers the flexibility to reschedule their flights or book them within two weeks. Delta said the bad weather could affect flights in the southern and southeastern plains, including its hub in Atlanta, and canceled flights in northern Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee. The airline said it will automatically reschedule its customers’ reservations to the next best itinerary and offered free changes to eligible customers who adjust their travel within the terms of their waiver.
American Airlines extended similar flexibility across a network that includes major hubs such as Dallas-Fort Worth and Charlotte, while United Airlines issued a waiver covering much of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast and parts of the Carolinas and Ohio Valley, including its operations in the Newark and Washington area, allowing affected customers to change trips within a set period without change fees or fare differences if they keep the same itinerary and cabin.
JetBlue issued a Northeast-focused waiver covering New York and Boston area airports, and announced it will waive change and cancellation fees for customers traveling to and from 11 cities.
Ultra-low-cost airline Frontier Airlines said that if flights are canceled or delayed more than three and six hours (both domestic and international), respectively, travelers can request a refund. Spirit Airlines said it is waiving change fees and fare differences in 13 cities for travel between Jan. 23-25.
Airlines urged travelers to closely monitor the status of their flights and use mobile apps and airline websites for the fastest rebooking options as the storm progresses. Travelers have already begun preparing for disruptions to their trips. Hopper said he has seen a 17% increase in travelers adding Disruption Assistance to their trips for next weekend. “Even in places far from the storm, such as West Coast hubs, Denver, Chicago and Minneapolis, the fallout from this widespread travel-stopping winter storm will be felt,” DePodwin said.
With information from Reuters
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