Cancellations return: Monday storms snarl air traffic on East Coast
After a quieter couple of weeks for flight cancellations following the chaos travelers experienced for much of June, those at airports Monday got a stark reminder of the problems a round of summer thunderstorms can cause.
As storms hit the East Coast Monday — packing a particular punch in the New York area — cancellations and delays rapidly mounted.
By late afternoon, nearly a quarter of flights had been canceled at New York's LaGuardia Airport (LGA), with close to one-fifth of flights canceled at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), according to data from FlightAware.
Those airports, along with others to the south, saw delays quickly pile up by the hundreds.
The impact of Monday’s storms threatened to escalate into further disruptions, too.
Around 4:30 p.m. Monday, the Federal Aviation Administration reported ground stops in place at LaGuardia and Newark, along with John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York; Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) in the D.C. area; along with Philadelphia International Airport (PHL).
Related: What to do if your flight is delayed or canceled
At one point during that ground stop at LaGuardia, departing planes ended up in long lines on taxiways; around 3 p.m. Monday, there were more than 40 jets waiting for takeoff, according to FlightRadar24 and TPG's analysis.
As flight operations resumed, things got off to a rocky start.
Several aircraft attempting to land performed go-arounds on the final approach, and some even diverted to nearby airports. One jet, a Southwest Boeing 737 from New Orleans, tried two times to land at LGA but was unsuccessful. The plane finally made it in on its third try, but then waited for a gate.
Out west, Denver International Airport (DEN) was also in a ground stop late Monday afternoon in the midst of storms there.
Throughout the summer, we’ve seen how a round of storms around one key East Coast hub — especially in New York and Florida — can snowball into mass disruptions throughout airlines’ networks.
There have been modest signs of improvement in recent weeks, though, dating back to the Fourth of July weekend. While multiple carriers have still had single weekends in which thousands of flights saw delays, cancellations have not risen to the level seen in June.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg pointed to improvements in a recent interview with Fox News, while mentioning he’d still like to see more resiliency on the part of airlines.
Some major airlines have reduced flight schedules in recent weeks as they continue to deal with the impacts of a pilot shortage — a problem that can exacerbate the logistical challenge of planes being in the wrong cities after weather forces schedule disruptions.
That said, given Monday’s mass disruptions, if you’re flying in the next day or two, it’s a good idea to pull up your airline’s app and monitor your flight closely.
Start looking at your flight’s incoming plane: Where is it? If it’s experiencing a cancellation or significant delay, there’s certainly a chance your flight in the next day or two could be affected.
Additional reporting by Zach Griff.
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- 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.
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| 4X | 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. |
| 4X | 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. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
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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.