{"id":142143,"date":"2025-01-05T19:19:04","date_gmt":"2025-01-05T19:19:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/05\/winter-storm-fuels-thousands-of-flight-delays-and-cancellations-the-points-guy\/"},"modified":"2025-01-05T19:19:04","modified_gmt":"2025-01-05T19:19:04","slug":"winter-storm-fuels-thousands-of-flight-delays-and-cancellations-the-points-guy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/01\/05\/winter-storm-fuels-thousands-of-flight-delays-and-cancellations-the-points-guy\/","title":{"rendered":"Winter storm fuels thousands of flight delays and cancellations &#8211; The Points Guy"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>The season&#8217;s most potent winter storm to date is wreaking havoc on air travel across a large swath of the country.<\/p>\n<p>Snow, ice and bitter cold air are bearing down on much of the Midwest, fueling thousands of flight disruptions that could get worse as the system heads toward the East Coast.<\/p>\n<p>As of 1 p.m EST Sunday, airlines had canceled more than 1,100 flights across the U.S., according to data from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flightaware.com\/live\/cancelled\/today\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">FlightAware<\/a>. Another 3,300 have been delayed.<\/p>\n<p>So far, Missouri&#8217;s Kansas City International Airport (MCI) has seen the worst of the flight troubles, with close to 90% of its scheduled departures canceled Sunday amid blizzardlike conditions.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"jsx-1853040249 tpg-figure\">\n<div style=\"padding-top:0\" class=\"jsx-36530878 full-width-auto-height-image\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;overflow:hidden;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;position:relative\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;padding-top:66.6875%\"\/><noscript><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\" sizes=\"100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2025\/01\/kansas-city-snow.jpg?width=640 640w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2025\/01\/kansas-city-snow.jpg?width=750 750w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2025\/01\/kansas-city-snow.jpg?width=828 828w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2025\/01\/kansas-city-snow.jpg?width=1080 1080w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2025\/01\/kansas-city-snow.jpg?width=1200 1200w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2025\/01\/kansas-city-snow.jpg?width=1920 1920w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2025\/01\/kansas-city-snow.jpg?width=2048 2048w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2025\/01\/kansas-city-snow.jpg?width=3840 3840w\" src=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2025\/01\/kansas-city-snow.jpg?width=3840\"\/><\/noscript><\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"jsx-1853040249 figcaption\">CHASE CASTOR\/GETTY IMAGES<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Those widespread cancellations come a day after the airport, at one point, had to close down its runways amid rapid ice accumulation \u2014 something that briefly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/sports\/nfl\/chiefs\/2025\/01\/04\/kansas-city-chiefs-plane-stranded-tarmac-inclement-weather\/77460817007\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">threatened the Kansas City Chiefs&#8217; planned departure<\/a> for a game in Denver Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>For days, forecasters had warned of significant travel disruptions as the winter storm took shape last week, with the National Weather Service warning of potentially significant snowfall totals from the Midwest to the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The accumulating snow, which could approach or exceed a half of a foot is expected to bring travel to a standstill in places like Kansas City, St. Louis, Indianapolis and Cincinnati,&#8221; AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said Friday, while also noting that conditions across the mid-Atlantic states would pose &#8220;a major risk to travel between Sunday night and Monday evening.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>As early as Friday, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) said its airport snow team would be monitoring conditions with plans to deploy snow removal equipment as needed.<\/p>\n<p>Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) similarly warned of the potentially treacherous conditions headed into Monday morning.<\/p>\n<div class=\"&#10;        EmailSignUp_container__qYzYT&#10;        undefined&#10;        EmailSignUp_isLoading__i_qm0&#10;      \"><picture class=\"EmailSignUp_graphic__zgpFm\"><source media=\"screen and (max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"\/images\/EmailSignUp\/daily-mob.svg\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/images\/EmailSignUp\/daily-dt.svg\"\/><\/picture>\n<div class=\"EmailSignUp_form__C8FWb\">\n<p>Daily Newsletter<\/p>\n<p>Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter<\/p>\n<p>Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG\u2019s experts<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Most major U.S. airlines have issued travel alerts, which allow passengers extra flexibility to make itinerary changes amid the bad weather. That includes waiving change fees even for travelers flying on even their most restrictive fare types.<\/p>\n<p>Southwest Airlines was one of the hardest-hit airlines on Sunday, leading all U.S. airlines with more than 300 cancellations \u2014 about 7% of its schedule. The Dallas-based carrier has a sizable presence in both hard-hit Kansas City and St. Louis \u2014 not to mention in the D.C. area, which is expected to feel the brunt of the storm in the coming hours.<\/p>\n<p>American Airlines has scrapped more than 100 flights so far Sunday, hurt both by the winter storm and by a mid-day ground stop fueled by high winds at its Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) home base, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.<\/p>\n<p>Here&#8217;s what to know if you&#8217;ll be traveling over the next couple of days:<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"watch-for-a-travel-advisory\" class=\"jsx-2362441780 anchor\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"jsx-2362441780\">Watch for a travel advisory<\/h2>\n<p>Check your airline&#8217;s website. Your flight may be covered by one of the many travel advisories issued by major U.S. carriers.<\/p>\n<p>This could allow you to more easily make complimentary itinerary changes right from your airline&#8217;s app\u2014 even if you&#8217;re flying on an ordinarily restrictive ticket like basic economy.<\/p>\n<p>American Airlines, for instance, has an advisory covering close to three-dozen airports across a large portion of the country, including its Philly and DCA hubs.<\/p>\n<p>United Airlines has done the same for nearly a dozen airports, including its Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) hub. Southwest&#8217;s travel alert covers a handful of cities where it has a major footprint, including Kansas City, St. Louis, Nashville and Baltimore\/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI).<\/p>\n<p><strong>Here are links to travel advisories for the four largest U.S. carriers:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s worth noting, several carriers <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/news\/airlines-travel-waivers-new-orleans\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">also issued travel advisories<\/a> this past week in the wake of the Jan. 1 terrorist attack in New Orleans.<\/p>\n<h3>See a good rebooking option? Don&#8217;t delay<\/h3>\n<p>If you&#8217;re battling flight delays and see a halfway-decent rebooking option pop up in your airline&#8217;s app, don&#8217;t waste a second: lock it in!<\/p>\n<p>With thousands of flights knocked off their normal schedule 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.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Read more: <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/airline\/how-to-not-get-stuck-during-airline-delays-cancellations\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Flight canceled or delayed? Here&#8217;s what to do next<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<figure class=\"jsx-1853040249 tpg-figure\">\n<div style=\"padding-top:0\" class=\"jsx-36530878 full-width-auto-height-image\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;overflow:hidden;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;position:relative\"><span style=\"box-sizing:border-box;display:block;width:initial;height:initial;background:none;opacity:1;border:0;margin:0;padding:0;padding-top:66.6875%\"\/><img alt=\"\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\"\/><noscript><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"responsive\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;border:none;margin:auto;display:block;width:0;height:0;min-width:100%;max-width:100%;min-height:100%;max-height:100%\" sizes=\"100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2025\/01\/flight-delay-board.jpg?width=640 640w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2025\/01\/flight-delay-board.jpg?width=750 750w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2025\/01\/flight-delay-board.jpg?width=828 828w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2025\/01\/flight-delay-board.jpg?width=1080 1080w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2025\/01\/flight-delay-board.jpg?width=1200 1200w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2025\/01\/flight-delay-board.jpg?width=1920 1920w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2025\/01\/flight-delay-board.jpg?width=2048 2048w, https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2025\/01\/flight-delay-board.jpg?width=3840 3840w\" src=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.global.ssl.fastly.net\/us\/originals\/2025\/01\/flight-delay-board.jpg?width=3840\"\/><\/noscript><\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"jsx-1853040249 figcaption\">MEL MUSTO\/BLOOMBERG VIA GETTY IMAGES<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><a id=\"staying-home-you-may-be-eligible-for-a-refund\" class=\"jsx-2362441780 anchor\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"jsx-2362441780\">Staying home? You may be eligible for a refund<\/h2>\n<p>If your flight is canceled or significantly delayed and you choose to simply stay home instead of flying and weathering the winter storm, you should be eligible for a refund.<\/p>\n<p>U.S. Department of Transportation rules <a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/guide\/refund-for-canceled-flight\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">require airlines to refund passengers<\/a> for the unflown portion of their ticket when their flight is canceled or significantly delayed \u2014 but only if the passenger opts not to travel, instead of accepting rebooking.<\/p>\n<h3>Easy cancellation and miles back on award bookings<\/h3>\n<p>Meanwhile, if Mother Nature has you wanting to stay home and forgo that trip you booked with frequent flyer miles, you&#8217;re in luck.<\/p>\n<p>Generally, most U.S. airlines will allow you to cancel award bookings and get all of your miles back with no fee. You&#8217;ll typically get a refund for any associated taxes and fees, too.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"make-use-of-airline-lounge-customer-service\" class=\"jsx-2362441780 anchor\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"jsx-2362441780\">Make use of airline lounge customer service<\/h2>\n<p>Stranded in an airport? If you&#8217;re a member of an airline lounge, don&#8217;t forget: there are typically customer service agents there who can help you work with an itinerary \u2014 and there&#8217;s often a shorter wait than you&#8217;ll find on the airport concourse, amid the masses.<\/p>\n<p>Keep in mind, though, this applies to airline-branded lounges for the carrier you&#8217;re flying \u2014 not credit card-branded lounges.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Read more: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/airline\/ensure-lounge-access-next-flight\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>5 ways to ensure you have lounge access before your next flight<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a id=\"getting-compensation-for-a-delayed-flight\" class=\"jsx-2362441780 anchor\"\/><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"jsx-2362441780\">Getting compensation for a delayed flight<\/h2>\n<p>Airlines have made a wide range of promises to the DOT for meals, hotel accommodations and other <a href=\"https:\/\/www.transportation.gov\/airconsumer\/airline-customer-service-dashboard\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">guarantees<\/a> in the event of flight cancellations and major delays. However, these typically apply to &#8220;controllable&#8221; disruptions (like maintenance or staffing issues) \u2014 and generally do <em>not<\/em> apply when bad weather affects travel.<\/p>\n<p>This is where a<a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/credit-cards\/travel-insurance\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> travel credit card that offers travel insurance protections<\/a> can come in handy, helping you recoup unexpected costs when flight trouble leaves you stranded. The one catch: in most cases, you&#8217;ll typically need to book your trip with that card in order to make a successful claim.<\/p>\n<p><b>Related reading:<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/thepointsguy.com\/news\/winter-storm-flight-cancellations-delays\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The season&#8217;s most potent winter storm to date is wreaking havoc on air travel across a large swath of the country. Snow, ice and bitter cold air are bearing down on much of the Midwest, fueling thousands of flight disruptions that could get worse as the system heads toward the East Coast. As of 1 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":142144,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-142143","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-travel"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/142143","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=142143"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/142143\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/142144"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=142143"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=142143"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=142143"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}