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Hits keep coming: More than 1,150 flights canceled today

Jan. 09, 2022
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3 min read
JFK Snowstorm
Hits keep coming: More than 1,150 flights canceled today
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Another day, another series of cancellations and delays for the airlines.

As we've been reporting, airlines across the board have been suffering operational problems for weeks now including the busy holiday period. It was hoped once January was underway and demand slowed down that the airlines would be able to get to some semblance of normalcy. So far, that hasn't happened.

Airlines had already canceled more than 1,150 flights in the U.S. on Sunday by noon.

(Screenshot courtesy Flight Aware)
(Screenshot courtesy FlightAware)

Of the major domestic carriers, Alaska Airlines is having the most trouble today with 12% of its flights canceled. United cut 8% of its flights and another 5% are delayed. Southwest is still struggling to recover after a series of bad days, cutting more than 230 flights today - around 6% of its flights. Southwest has delayed another 8% of its schedule. Frontier has cut 5%, regional carriers SkyWest, Republic and Mesa have cut between 5-17% of their schedules.

American Airlines is faring better Sunday with only 58 flights or 2% of its schedule slashed.

Better news from Delta Air Lines which has only canceled six flights Sunday.

Denver International Airport hit hard today with 13% of its flights canceled.

Related: Here's what to do if your flight is delayed or canceled

The omicron variant of COVID-19 has devastated airline operations and airline schedules for more than two weeks now. Airlines simply don't have enough staff to operate all their flights because of sick calls. A few major snowstorms haven't helped matters.

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Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst and president of Atmosphere Research, told TPG that COVID-19 was causing staff shortages at every airline and at every airport. "Obviously many cancellations occur at the last minute when a crew member is unable to work ... airlines have done the best they can to cope with a situation that isn't just fluid, but chaotic."

Related: 6 real-life strategies to use if your flight is canceled

Several airlines have preemptively cut their schedules back significantly. As we reported yesterday, Alaska cut 10% of its flights for January in an attempt to restore regular operations. JetBlue had previously announced similar measures.

Related: 1 in 13 flights was canceled during the holidays

The airlines are doing better this weekend than they did last week. Friday, airlines canceled more than 2,600 flights as a snowstorm hit the Northeast.

Harteveldt also told me the airlines were doing the best they could considering we are in the middle of an ever-changing pandemic:



"This is so frustrating for airline managers, airline employees and for travelers. Everyone is eagerly awaiting to see the broader number of case counts and start to see verifiable good news that allows us to confirm the omicron variant peak has been reached and has passed. But this isn't a situation the airlines can control."

Related: Delta doles out SkyMiles for canceled holiday flights; United and others remain silent

Data from Cirium and FlightAware. (Image by Bill Harkins/The Points Guy)

A TPG analysis found that one in 13 flights over the holidays was canceled. Still, 92% of scheduled flights did operate. How's that for a "silver lining"?

Featured image by REBECCA BUTALA HOW/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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  • Intro Offer

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  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended 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.