Over 2,500 flight cancellations this week due to Winter Storm Olive, more likely
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.
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:
- American Airlines.
- Delta Air Lines.
- Frontier Airlines.
- JetBlue Airways.
- Spirit Airlines.
- Southwest Airlines.
- United Airlines.
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.
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