A Winter Storm Wreaks Havoc on US Air Travel, Over 10,000 Flights Cancelled.
A massive winter storm has crippled the nation's air travel system, with more than 14,100 flights cancelled across the country since Saturday, according to flight-tracking data. The latest wave of cancellations hit Sunday, with over 10,000 of those scheduled for the day.
The National Weather Service warned that nearly 180 million people - roughly half the US population - were in the storm's path, stretching from the southern Rocky Mountains to New England. As a result, many major airports are experiencing significant disruptions, including Dallas-Fort Worth, Charlotte, Philadelphia, Atlanta, John F. Kennedy International Airport, and LaGuardia Airport.
Airlines have been particularly hard hit, with American Airlines cancelling over 1,400 flights, Delta Air Lines cancelling over 1,200, and Southwest Airlines cancelling more than 570. United Airlines had also cancelled over 860 flights, while JetBlue reported a cancellation rate of about 71%.
For those already at the airport, waiting for news on their flight status, the best course of action is to speak with a customer service representative. If you're still at home or at your hotel, contacting your airline's reservations staff via phone or online can help. Researching alternate flights while waiting to talk to an agent can also be beneficial.
In some cases, airlines may offer travel credits instead of refunds if you no longer want to take the trip. However, customers are entitled to a full refund, as well as reimbursement for any bag fees, seat upgrades, or other extras they didn't get to use.
A massive winter storm has crippled the nation's air travel system, with more than 14,100 flights cancelled across the country since Saturday, according to flight-tracking data. The latest wave of cancellations hit Sunday, with over 10,000 of those scheduled for the day.
The National Weather Service warned that nearly 180 million people - roughly half the US population - were in the storm's path, stretching from the southern Rocky Mountains to New England. As a result, many major airports are experiencing significant disruptions, including Dallas-Fort Worth, Charlotte, Philadelphia, Atlanta, John F. Kennedy International Airport, and LaGuardia Airport.
Airlines have been particularly hard hit, with American Airlines cancelling over 1,400 flights, Delta Air Lines cancelling over 1,200, and Southwest Airlines cancelling more than 570. United Airlines had also cancelled over 860 flights, while JetBlue reported a cancellation rate of about 71%.
For those already at the airport, waiting for news on their flight status, the best course of action is to speak with a customer service representative. If you're still at home or at your hotel, contacting your airline's reservations staff via phone or online can help. Researching alternate flights while waiting to talk to an agent can also be beneficial.
In some cases, airlines may offer travel credits instead of refunds if you no longer want to take the trip. However, customers are entitled to a full refund, as well as reimbursement for any bag fees, seat upgrades, or other extras they didn't get to use.