South of the border, flights are being cancelled and airlines are issuing travel waivers as a winter storm moves across the country.
As reported by USA Today, 1,212 U.S. flights were cancelled and another 676 were delayed on 22DEC as of 6:30 a.m. ET, according to the flight-tracking web site FlightAware. Southwest Airlines has the most cancelled flights with over 450 and United Airlines follows with 93.
The bad weather in the U.S. Midwest and Northeast regions leading to what the country's National Weather Service says is "bomb cyclone," described as a "once in a generation type event" when a storm rapidly intensifies in atmosphere pressure in 24 hours.
According to CNN, 22DEC is predicted to be "the most difficult day for travel," with the storm hitting the Midwest with heavy snow and strong winds, with cancelled flights impacting ORD, DEN and MDW in particular. 23DEC is when the "bomb cyclone" is expected to form, affecting the Midwest and Northeast areas of the country.
Travel Waivers
Ahead of the storm, U.S. carriers offered travel waivers to try to limit the storm's impact on one of the busiest travel periods of the year, with 28.8 million pax predicted to depart from U.S. airports between 18 and 26DEC, reports Simple Flying. As the storm rolls in, U.S. carriers are waiving rebooking fees to allow for more flexibility, with some conditions.
American Airlines is offering pax booked on existing tickets for travel for almost 30 airports Midwest between 21-23DEC and around 30 destinations Northeast between 22-24DEC. Pax can push their flights back to as late as 30DEC without paying change fees or fare differences. For more information, visit American's web site.
Alaska Airlines has issued a winter weather waiver only for flights to and from Seattle due to heavy snow. Tickets needed to have been purchased on or before 18DEC for travel on 20DEC. For more information, visit Alaska Airlines' web site.
Delta Air Lines has issued multiple waivers covering travel through 25DEC for the Midwest and Central Plains, Atlantic and Northeast region and Northwest Mountain region. Depending on which airports are included in the original itinerary, pax may be able to change their ticket to fly as late as 28DEC without paying fare differences. Delta does not charge change fees, except on basic economy tickets. For more information, visit Delta's web site.
Frontier Airlines is allowing pax scheduled to fly through 24DEC through select airports in the Northeast, Midwest and South can change their travel dates without paying a change fee. For more information, visit Frontier's web site.
JetBlue is offering pax travelling in the Midwest (ORD, MCI, MKE, MSP) or select Northeast airports through 23DEC to move their trip to 25DEC or sooner without paying a change fee or fare difference. For more information, visit JetBlue's web site.
Southwest Airlines is offering pax the ability to change their tickets for travel through 26DEC in the Rockies, Midwest and Northeast without needing to pay a fare difference. The airline does not charge change fees. For more information, visit Southwest's web site.
Spirit Airlines is offering pax travelling through select airports in the Midwest through 23DEC and Northeast through 24DEC the ability to move their flights to 28DEC or sooner without paying a fare difference or change fee. For more information, visit Spirit Airlines' web site.
United Airlines is offering travel waivers for the Midwest, Text, Coast Coast, Central and Northwest U.S., giving pax the ability to move their travel plans to 28 or 30DEC depending on the region without paying a change fee or fare difference. Exact waiver applicability dates and locations vary by region. For more information, visit United's web site.
As conditions change very quickly, for the very latest advisories and updates, it's recommended to go directly to an airline's web site.
