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Over 2,500 flight cancellations this week due to Winter Storm Olive, more likely

Feb. 23, 2023
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3 min read
Holiday Travel Crowds at Orlando International Airport
Over 2,500 flight cancellations this week due to Winter Storm Olive, more likely
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Editor’s note: This story has been updated with the latest information.

It turns out that the groundhog was correct. Winter is not over, and to prove that point, Winter Storm Olive is bringing more than 2 feet of snow, along with sleet, ice and hazardous travel conditions, to certain locations as it makes its frozen trek across the country.

From Wednesday into Thursday morning, U.S. flights experienced more than 2,500 flight cancellations, according to the website FlightAware. On top of that, anecdotally, TPG staffers in the air across the country Wednesday reported noticeably turbulent flights and longer-than-normal flight times due to strong headwinds, making for a bumpy day of travel all the way around.

Related: Maximize your airfare: These are the best credit cards for booking flights

On Wednesday, the most affected U.S. airports for delays and cancellations were Denver International Airport (DEN), Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), as shown by FlightAware.

As the storm continues to move east, affecting the western Great Lakes, New England and portions of New York with accumulating sleet and ice, Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) joined their ranks with 47 flight delays and 43 flight cancellations as of Thursday morning.

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That number is only expected to grow and spread to other Northeastern airports as the day wears on.

If you’d rather be proactive in changing your travel plans than be at the mercy of Mother Nature and the airlines, many airlines do have weather waivers available for affected areas. This should allow you to make certain changes to your flights without additional fees:

As always, if an airline cancels your flight, you are eligible for a refund. You can also book alternate flights or receive a credit voucher instead of getting your money back.

If you paid for your airline ticket with a credit card that comes with some built-in travel protections, remember that you may be eligible to have some of your unexpected expenses related to delays or cancellations covered by your card’s coverage provider.

Don’t forget to also follow TPG’s tips on what to do when an airline cancels your flight if you want to avoid getting stuck longer than necessary. Consider these real-life strategies, too, to minimize your travel woes as much as possible.

Related reading:

Featured image by PAUL HENNESSY/ANADOLU AGENCY/GETTY IMAGES
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Apply for American Express® Gold Card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants

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TPG Editor‘s Rating
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Rewards Rate

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  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

    Excellent to Good

Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.