For the second straight week, millions of Americans had to contend with a major winter storm — and mass travel woes at airports.
And the disruptions aren't over.
By 9 a.m. EST Sunday, airlines had already canceled 1,200 planned departures for the day, according to data from FlightAware. That's after scrapping some 2,400 flights on Saturday, as the powerful storm — nicknamed "Gianna" by The Weather Channel — dropped heavy snow across a stretch of the East Coast, especially in the Carolinas.
American Airlines led the way Sunday with 425 flight cancellations, about 13% of all flights the carrier had scheduled for the day across its mainline operation.
Hundreds of additional regional flights operated by American Eagle regional jets were also axed.
Behind that disruption to American: significant wintry conditions at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), its second-busiest hub, where 86% of all departures for Saturday were shuttered, FlightAware showed. More than half of Sunday flights at CLT had already been canceled, too.
For American, this latest winter blast was poorly timed: the carrier had just gotten operations back on track after last weekend’s significant storm caused major disruptions at more than half of its hubs and led to days of operational trouble, well after other airlines had recovered.
Flight canceled or delayed? Here’s what to do next
But American was not the only carrier affected this weekend. Delta Air Lines canceled more than 500 flights Saturday, largely due to significant disruptions at its Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) megahub. The Atlanta-based carrier's cancellations dropped sharply on Sunday, as its operation began to rebound.
Beyond CLT and ATL, Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) in North Carolina was easily the third most significantly affected airport in the country this weekend.
Airlines had issued travel advisories ahead of this weekend’s storm; these waivers should allow passengers to easily make ticket changes, even when booked on a restrictive basic economy ticket.
- American Airlines
- Delta Air Lines
- United Airlines
- Southwest Airlines
- Frontier Airlines
- Spirit Airlines
Travelers with trips planned for the next couple of days should keep a close eye on the forecast at their departure, connecting and destination airports — and consider making itinerary changes.
Keep in mind that with a winter storm as significant as this, it’s likely that flight disruptions could affect a large swath of the country, since disruptions from airports in the storm's path can ripple out to other airports experiencing calm weather.
What you can do if you're traveling this weekend
If you're flying this weekend, here's what you should know:
Consider changing your flight using a travel waiver
If your travel includes a flight to, from, or through (via connection) the affected regions, consider changing your trip using one of the airline travel waivers listed above.
When carriers issue these advisories, it's generally easier to rebook yourself without a fare difference, change fee or cancellation penalty. That goes even for flyers booked on restrictive tickets that usually don't allow changes. Acting early can prevent hours of frustration at the airport.
New connecting city?
If I were flying Delta or American this weekend with a connection in Atlanta or Charlotte — two of the nation's biggest hubs for connections — I would certainly be checking with the airline to see if I could be sent through a different connecting hub; those airports are set to see outsized impact compared to the rest of the country.
Make use of your airline's app to avoid waiting on hold
Expect the phone queues and customer service lines at airports to be very long this weekend as droves of travelers look to change their flights. Keep in mind that in many cases, you can re-book yourself using your airline's app — often with just a few clicks. This can be a much faster and stress-free way to get on a new flight!
DOT refund rules: What to know
If your flight is canceled or significantly delayed and you choose not to travel, you're entitled to a refund for the unused portion of your ticket, under U.S. Department of Transportation policy. This would apply to cancellations and delays of at least three hours for a domestic flight, or six hours for international flights.
On the flip side: If you agree to take a later flight (even if it's a lot later), you generally would not be owed a refund.
How you can get reimbursed if you get stranded
If you do get stuck, keep your receipts. Some travel credit cards have built-in trip insurance protections, and may help you get reimbursed for hotel, meal and other costs if you get stuck somewhere.
The most common caveat: You often can only get paid if you booked your trip with that card. Exact terms and protections differ from one card and policy to another, so review your card's explanation of benefits to see if you might be able to make a claim.
TPG's favorites: 10 best credit cards with travel insurance
What about meal and hotel vouchers?
Airlines often promise certain things — like hotel nights, meals and ground transportation — when travelers get stuck because of flight trouble. But in most cases, those guarantees are for flight woes that are the airline's fault (like maintenance). Weather disruptions typically aren't eligible for these types of vouchers and reimbursements.
Related reading:
- The best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare
- Best airline credit cards
- What exactly are airline miles, anyway?
- 6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayed
- Maximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flights
- The best credit cards to reach elite status
