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JT is a location-independent digital nomad traveling 250,000+ miles each year with his wife Katie.
January 4, 2018 • 12 min read
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Quick summary
A severe winter storm, referred to as a bomb cyclone, has caused widespread travel disruptions along the East Coast, resulting in blizzard warnings and hazardous conditions from North Carolina to Maine.
Thousands of flights have been canceled, with major airports in the Northeast and Southeast experiencing significant operational impacts and temporary closures.
Airlines have issued change fee waivers across dozens of airports, allowing affected travelers to rebook or request refunds within specified windows.
Travelers should be aware that airlines are not obligated to provide compensation for meals or hotels during weather-related delays or cancellations, though some travel protections may apply through select payment methods.
What to consider
Waiver eligibility varies by airline, with specific travel dates, affected airports and ticket purchase deadlines outlined for each carrier.
Rebooking and refund policies often require rescheduling within a set timeframe and typically restrict changes to the original route and cabin class.
Some travel protections may reimburse costs for weather-related delays, but coverage details and claim requirements differ by provider.
What you'll miss from the article
A comprehensive list of affected airports, detailed airline waiver policies and practical steps for managing travel disruptions during major winter storms.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Travel is being brought to a standstill up and down the East Coast as the bomb cyclone continues its path. Blizzard warnings are posted from North Carolina all the way up to Maine, as up to 14 inches of snow are expected in parts of the east coast. The National Weather Service is calling travel "very dangerous to impossible" throughout much of the Northeast. And more than 3,000 flights have already been cancelled for Thursday by 8:30am.
Charleston, South Carolina (CHS): 81 cancellations (46% of departures, 59% of arrivals)
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (MYR): 23 cancellations (44% of departures, 52% of arrivals)
Jacksonville, Florida (JAX): 39 cancellations (21% of departures, 11% of arrivals)
Already Thursday morning, flight cancellations far exceed Wednesday's totals. FlightAware's flight cancellation tracker has chalked up 3,000 cancellations for US flights — most of which are due to the monster storm.
Airline cancellations: JetBlue has already cancelled 337 flights or about 32% of its scheduled fights. United's mainline cancellations for Thursday were almost up to 500 already by 7am. Southwest has added 309 cancellations and American Airlines' mainline operations have already surpassed 283. Regional operators (Republic, Endeavor, ExpressJet, Envoy, CommutAir) add a combined 1,000+ cancellations.
Airline waivers: At least 11 airlines have issued change fee waivers stretching across 55 airports.
Airports affected: Boston (BOS); New York Kennedy (JFK); New York LaGuardia (LGA); Newark (EWR); Philadelphia (PHL)
Must have purchased your ticket by January 5
Rebooked travel must be completed by January 10
You may request a refund if you choose not to travel at all. Tickets must be exchanged or refunded on or before January 10, 2018. Rebook your flight or apply for a refund online.
Airports affected: Charleston, South Carolina (CHS); Fayetteville, North Carolina (FAY); Florence, South Carolina (FLO); Gainesville, Florida (GNV); Greenville, North Carolina (PGV); Hilton Head, South Carolina (HHH); Jacksonville, Florida (JAX); Jacksonville, North Carolina (OAJ); Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (MYR); New Bern, North Carolina (EWN); Norfolk, Virginia (ORF); Raleigh, North Carolina (RDU); Richmond, Virginia (RIC); Savannah, Georgia (SAV); Tallahassee, Florida (TLH); Washington Reagan, Washington, D.C. (DCA); Wilmington, North Carolina (ILM)
Must have purchased your ticket by January 2
Rebook travel anytime between January 2-7
You can’t change your origin or destination city. Must rebook in same cabin or pay the difference.
NORTHEAST
Travel dates: January 4-5
Airports affected: Albany, New York (ALB); Bangor, Maine (BGR); Boston, Massachusetts (BOS); Burlington, Vermont (BTV); Hartford, Connecticut (BDL); Long Island, New York (ISP); Manchester, New Hampshire (MHT); Montreal, Canada (YUL); Newark, New Jersey (EWR); Newburgh, New York (SWF); New Haven, Connecticut (HVN); New York Kennedy, New York (JFK); New York LaGuardia, New York (LGA); Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PHL); Portland, Maine (PWM); Providence, Rhode Island (PVD); Quebec, Canada (YQB); Westchester, New York (HPN)
Must have purchased your ticket by January 2
Rebook travel anytime between January 2-8
You can’t change your origin or destination city. Must rebook in same cabin or pay the difference.
Washington, D.C (DCA): Scattered cancellations this morning. No American Airlines Shuttle service to/from New York LaGuardia and Boston.
Philadelphia (PHL): Scattered cancellations due to inclement weather in the New York City-area and New England.
New York City-area airports (LGA/JFK/EWR): All departures/arrivals at LaGuardia canceled until 3 p.m. ET. No American Airlines Shuttle service from LaGuardia to/from Washington, D.C. and Boston. Scattered cancellations throughout the day at JFK and Newark.
Hartford, Conn. (BDL): All departures canceled throughout the day. American plans on resuming limited arrivals in the evening starting at 8 p.m. ET, based on airport conditions.
Providence, R.I. (PVD): All departures canceled throughout the day. American plans on resuming limited arrivals in the evening starting at 8 p.m. ET, based on airport conditions.
Boston (BOS): All departures canceled throughout the day. American plans on resuming limited arrivals in the evening starting at 7:30 p.m. ET, based on airport conditions.
American has also canceled many flights departing/arriving from Bangor, Maine (BGR), Long Island, New York (ISP), Manchester, New Hampshire (MHT), Newburgh, New York (SWF), New Haven, Connecticut (HVN), Portland, Maine (PWM) and Westchester, New York (HPN).
Airports covered: Augusta, GA (AGS); Brunswick, GA (BQK); Charleston, SC (CHS); Charlotte, NC (CLT); Columbia, SC (CAE); Fayetteville, NC (FAY); Gainesville, FL (GNV); Jacksonville, FL (JAX); Myrtle Beach, SC (MYR); Raleigh – Durham, NC (RDU); Savannah, GA (SAV); Tallahassee, FL (TLH); Valdosta, GA (VLD); Wilmington, NC (ILM); Allentown, PA (ABE); Baltimore, MD (BWI); Harrisburg, PA (MDT); Newport News, VA (PHF); Norfolk, VA (ORF); Philadelphia, PA (PHL); Scranton, PA (AVP); Washington-Dulles, VA (IAD); Washington-Reagan, VA (DCA)
Ticket must be reissued by January 7
Rebooked travel must begin no later than January 7
When rescheduled travel occurs beyond January 7, the change fee will be waived. However, a difference in fare may apply.
Final travel must be completed by end of ticket validity, one year from date of original issue. If travel is not able to be rescheduled within these guidelines, customers may cancel their reservation and apply any unused value of the ticket toward the purchase of a new ticket for a period of one year from the original ticket issuance.
NORTHEAST
Travel date: January 4-5
Airports covered: Albany, NY (ALB); Bangor, ME (BGR); Boston, MA (BOS); Burlington, VT (BTV); Hartford, CT (BDL); Manchester, NH (MHT); New York John F Kennedy, NY (JFK); New York Laguardia, NY (LGA); Newark, NJ (EWR); Portland, ME (PWM); Providence, RI (PVD); White Plains, NY (HPN)
Ticket must be reissued by January 8
Rebooked travel must begin no later than January 8
When rescheduled travel occurs beyond January 8, the change fee will be waived. However, a difference in fare may apply.
Final travel must be completed by end of ticket validity, one year from date of original issue. If travel is not able to be rescheduled within these guidelines, customers may cancel their reservation and apply any unused value of the ticket toward the purchase of a new ticket for a period of one year from the original ticket issuance.
Airports covered: New York LaGuardia, NY (LGA); New York Islip, NY (ISP); Philadelphia, PA (PHL); Trenton, NJ (TTN); Providence, RI (PVD)
Must have bought your ticket by January 2
Rebooked travel must be completed no later than: January 24
Customers who are ticketed to travel on Wednesday, January 3, 2018 or Thursday, January 4, 2018 may make one itinerary change – rules/restrictions regarding standard change fees, advance purchase, day or time applications, blackouts, and minimum or maximum stay requirements will be waived.
Airports covered: John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York (JFK)
Must have bought your ticket by January 3
Changes must be made and reticketed for new flights no later than January 11, 2018
In addition, for changes made on or before January 11, 2018, to new flights, any resulting difference in fare(s) will be waived provided that change is made to the same compartment (i.e. Coach to Coach or First/Business Class to First/Business Class) and there is no change in origin and destination.
For changes made to new flights after January 11, 2018, the change fee will be waived but applicable difference in fare will be collected.
Airports covered: Charleston, SC (CHS) and Savannah, GA (SAV)
Must have bought your ticket by January 2
Rebook travel anytime through January 10
To rebook travel or request a refund online, click here. If you are already checked in for your flight, call JetBlue at 1-800-JETBLUE (538-2583) for assistance with rebooking or a credit.
NORTHEAST
Travel dates: January 4
Airports covered: Albany, NY (ALB); Baltimore, MD (BWI); Boston MA (BOS); Buffalo, NY (BUF); Burlington, VT (BVT); Charlotte, NC (CLT); Hartford, CT (BDL); New York, NY (JFK); New York, NY (LGA); Newark, NJ (EWR); Newburgh, NY (SWF); Portland, ME (PWM); Philadelphia, PA (PHL); Providence, RI (PVD); Raleigh-Durham, NC (RDU); Richmond, VA (RIC); Rochester, NY (ROC); Syracuse, NY (SYR); Washington DC, (DCA); Washington DC, (IAD); Westchester County, NY (HPN); Worcester, MA (ORH)
Must have bought your ticket by January 2
Rebook travel anytime through January 10
To rebook travel or request a refund online, click here. If you are already checked in for your flight, call JetBlue at 1-800-JETBLUE (538-2583) for assistance with rebooking or a credit.
Airports covered: Baltimore-Washington (BWI); Charleston (CHS); Charlotte (CLT); Greenville/Spartanburg (GSP); Jacksonville (JAX); Norfolk (ORF); Philadelphia (PHL); Raleigh Durham (RDU); Richmond (RIC); Washington Reagan (DCA); Washington Dulles (IAD)
Travel dates: January 4-5
Airports covered: Albany (ALB); Boston (BOS); Hartford (BDL); Islip/Long Island (ISP); Manchester (MHT); New York/LaGuardia (LGA); Newark (EWR); Portland (PWM); Providence (PVD)
Customers who are holding reservations on these dates, and want to alter their travel plans may rebook in the original class of service or travel standby (within 14 days of their original date of travel between the original city-pairs and in accordance with Southwest’s accommodation procedures) without paying any additional charge.
Airports covered: Charleston, SC (CHS); Charlotte, NC (CLT); Columbia, SC (CAE); Fayetteville, NC (FAY); Greensboro, NC (GSO); Greenville-Spartanburg, SC (GSP); Jacksonville, FL (JAX); Myrtle Beach, SC (MYR); Raleigh, NC (RDU); Savannah, GA (SAV); Allentown, PA (ABE); Baltimore, MD (BWI); Charlottesville, VA (CHO); Harrisburg, PA (MDT); Norfolk, VA (ORF); Philadelphia, PA (PHL); Richmond, VA (RIC); Washington, DC — Dulles (IAD); Washington-National, DC (DCA); Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA (AVP)
The change fee and any difference in fare will be waived for new United flights departing on or before January 7, as long as travel is rescheduled in the originally ticketed cabin (any fare class) and between the same cities as originally ticketed.
NORTHEAST
Travel date: January 4-5
Airports covered: Albany, NY (ALB); Bangor, ME (BGR); Boston, MA (BOS); Burlington, VT (BTV); Hartford, CT (BDL); Manchester, NH (MHT); Montréal, QC, CA (YUL); New York/Newark, NJ (EWR); New York-Kennedy, NY (JFK); New York-LaGuardia, NY (LGA); Portland, ME (PWM); Providence, RI (PVD); Quebec City, QB, CA (YQB); White Plains, NY (HPN)
The change fee and any difference in fare will be waived for new United flights departing on or before January 8, as long as travel is rescheduled in the originally ticketed cabin (any fare class) and between the same cities as originally ticketed.
"Alaska Airlines and Virgin America operated flights into and out of Boston (BOS), Newark (EWR), New York – Kennedy (JFK), New York – LaGuardia (LGA), Philadelphia (PHL), are being canceled for January 3, 2018 and January 4, 2018."
Travel dates: January 4-5
Airports covered: Boston (BOS); New York – Kennedy (JFK); New York – LaGuardia (LGA); Newark (EWR); Philadelphia (PHL)
Tickets must have been purchased by: January 5
To modify an existing reservation during this period, you may contact [Virgin America’s] Call Center at 1.877.FLY.VIRGIN* (877.359.8474) for assistance. Or manage your reservation online: Change your flight.Cancel or refund your flight.
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
