Winter blast: Flight delays and cancellations top 20,000 since Thursday

Another blast of winter weather is wreaking havoc on air travel. The storm that first caused a travel mess in Texas Thursday now has flight delays and cancellations piling up across parts of the South and mid-Atlantic as the weekend gets underway.

Airlines canceled more than 3,500 flights Friday, according to data from FlightAware. Another 6,700 were delayed.

By mid-morning Saturday, another 750 flights had been canceled, per FlightAware, and it's likely the disruptions will keep building this weekend.

Help! Here's what to do if your flight is canceled or delayed

For a second straight day Saturday, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) has been the hardest hit, with 125 departures scrapped so far. That's after Atlanta – the world's busiest airport — saw more than three-quarters of flights canceled Friday.

As of mid-morning Saturday, the Federal Aviation Administration reported significant ground delays at the hub, the home base for Delta Air Lines.

Following Atlanta in the cancellations tally is major southeast hub Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), with close to 110 flights shuttered Saturday. The airport saw over 40% of its departures scrubbed on Friday.

Also heavily affected the last couple of days: Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) and Nashville International Airport (BNA), among others.

Friday was an especially messy day at airports across the country.

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At one point mid-morning Friday, the Federal Aviation Administration halted air traffic both at Atlanta and at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD) due to wintry conditions.

All five of Atlanta's runways shut down earlier Friday, Delta said, to allow crews to clear snow and ice.

The carrier cautioned additional disruptions were possible throughout the weekend.

"The safety of Delta customers and employees is our primary focus as we manage disruptions to our operation," Delta told TPG Friday.

Adding to the mess, a Delta Boeing 757 jet bound for Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) had to suspend takeoff in Atlanta after the pilots received indication of an engine issue. The 201 passengers on board had to evacuate the aircraft using the emergency slides, before returning to the terminal via ground transportation, a spokesperson for the airline confirmed.

Four passengers reported minor injuries, the airport said.

Meanwhile, it was another rough end to the week at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), which saw more than 1,000 cancellations between Thursday and Friday.

This winter blast was just the latest hurdle for the major hub and American Airlines, its dominant carrier. The airport had to halt flights multiple times this week because of high winds, and battled persistent severe storms over the busy holiday travel rush late last month.

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In all, well over 6,400 flights nationwide had been canceled since this winter storm first brought wintry conditions to North Texas on Thursday.

That tally is expected to rise Saturday due to residual disruptions from Friday, and as the storm affects other parts of the East Coast.

Airlines prepare for Southeastern winter blast

Several major U.S. carriers have issued travel advisories for dozens of airports ranging from Texas to Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Such waivers allow travelers more flexibility to make free ticket changes to avoid travel during a major weather event. (Airlines have also issued similar waivers for parts of Southern California affected by the ongoing wildfires.)

Amid this latest winter storm, Delta issued a travel alert for a large section of the Southeast, including its massive ATL home base.

American's vast travel alert covers a slew of southeastern airports, including its Charlotte hub.

On social media Friday, that airport said it had close to 40 snow removal and de-icing trucks involved in responding to the storm.

The National Weather Service on Thursday had warned the storm would strengthen and spread a mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain across the South and Southeast.

That same storm system could bring wintry conditions and more flight disruptions to the mid-Atlantic and Northeast over the weekend, Accuweather added.

This latest round of weather-fueled flight disruptions comes after a previous winter storm scuttled thousands of flights between Jan. 4 and Jan. 6 and led Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to shut down its runways on Monday.

What to do if you're flying this week

If you're concerned about upcoming travel plans this weekend, here's how you can prepare.

Review your options

Now is a good time to check and see if your trip is covered by an airline travel advisory.

Specific to this impending winter storm, you'll want to review the information listed under "Winter Storm Cora."

These advisories can offer you more flexibility to make itinerary changes, even if you're flying on an ordinarily restrictive ticket.

Here's a rundown of the largest U.S. carriers' current alerts:

• American Airlines
• Delta Air Lines
• United Airlines
• Southwest Airlines
• Alaska Airlines
• Frontier Airlines
• JetBlue
• Spirit Airlines

Keep an eye on your airline's app

Make sure you download your airline's app, and keep your reservation pulled up. Look out for notifications about your flight and for any signs of potential trouble with your itinerary.

If your flight is delayed or canceled, the airline may offer you an opportunity to rebook yourself right through the app, eliminating the need to wait on hold to speak to customer service.

Read more: Flight canceled or delayed? Here's what to do next

See a good rebooking option? Don't delay

If you're battling flight delays and see a halfway decent rebooking option pop up in your airline's app, don't waste a second: Lock it in!

With thousands of flights knocked off their normal schedules by bad weather, a huge number of passengers are simultaneously vying for open seats on the flights that are getting out on time — and those open seats can fill up quickly.

Review your refund rights

Now is a good time to brush up on your rights to a refund when it comes to air travel.

Under U.S. Department of Transportation policy, airlines are required to refund you for the unflown portion of your ticket when your flight is canceled or significantly delayed — only if you choose not to travel (and don't accept rebooking).

This rule applies even when the flight disruption is due to bad weather, and it can come in handy if you opt to stay home instead of taking a later flight in the midst of a winter storm.

Think twice about checking luggage

Finally, you might think twice about checking a bag — if you can avoid it, at least. Oftentimes, flying in the midst of mass cancellations and delays means needing to pivot to a new flight at the last minute. It can also mean that that 90-minute connection window you'd planned in, say, Charlotte, could become a lot tighter.

Keeping all of your luggage in hand can mean fewer wrinkles if you need to be re-booked on the fly — and removes the risk that your bags won't make it onto your connecting flight.

Just remember: Putting all of your belongings into a carry-on bag means everything in your suitcase must be compliant with the Transportation Security Administration's 3-1-1 liquids policy.

Getting compensation for a delayed flight

Airlines have made a wide range of promises to the DOT for meals, hotel accommodations and other guarantees in the event of flight cancellations and major delays. However, keep in mind, these typically apply to "controllable" disruptions (like maintenance or staffing issues) and generally do not apply when bad weather affects travel.

This is where a travel credit card that offers travel insurance protections can come in handy, helping you recoup unexpected costs when flight trouble leaves you stranded. The one catch: In most cases, you'll typically need to book your trip with that card in order to make a successful claim.

Related reading:

• When is the best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare?
• The 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
• What are points and miles worth? TPG's monthly valuations