NASHVILLE (AP) — A massive winter storm caused a brutal travel day Sunday, with widespread cancellations and delays at some of the nation’s busiest airports.
Widespread snow, sleet and freezing rain threatened nearly 180 million people — more than half the U.S. population — in a path stretching from the southern Rockies to New England, the National Weather Service said Saturday night. After sweeping across the South, the storm moved northeast Sunday and was expected to dump about 12 to 20 inches of snow from Washington through New York and Boston.
More than 10,500 flights were canceled Sunday, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware. Aviation analytics firm Cirium said as of Sunday morning, the storm was the highest recorded event of cancellations since the pandemic.
By midday Sunday, most flights were canceled at busy airports in the Northeast and elsewhere. In Philadelphia, 94% of flights were canceled, 324 flights. Ninety-one percent of flights, 433 flights, were canceled at New York’s LaGuardia Airport. At John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, 436 flights, about 75% of flights, were canceled, according to FlightAware.
Washington’s Ronald Reagan National Airport said on its website that all airlines had canceled departures for the day, about 420 flights.
Major disruptions also hit major airport hubs in Dallas-Fort Worth, Charlotte, Philadelphia and Atlanta, home to the nation’s busiest airports.
Allan Lengel of Detroit planned to return Monday from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where temperatures were in the 80s. But it remains until Wednesday after Delta proposed rebooking because of the weather’s impact on flights.
“I can’t say I’m disappointed. To be honest, I was thinking about coming back later because of the freezing weather,” Lengel, 71, said, referring to the conditions in Michigan.
American Airlines canceled more than 1,400 flights for Sunday, about 46% of scheduled Sunday flights, according to FlightAware. Delta Air Lines reported over 1,300 cancellations and Southwest Airlines more than 1,260 cancellations for the day, while United Airlines had about 900. JetBlue had more than 570 canceled flights, roughly 71% of its daily schedule.
My flight was canceled, what now?
If you’re already at the airport, get in line and speak to a customer service representative. If you’re still at home or in your hotel, call or go online to connect with your airline’s reservations staff. Either way, it also helps to research alternative flights while you wait to speak with an agent.
Most airlines will rebook you on a later flight at no extra charge, but subject to seat availability.
Can I get a reservation on another airline?
You can, but airlines don’t have to put you on another carrier’s flight. Some airlines, including most of the major carriers, say they can put you on a partner airline, but even that can be a hit and miss.
Do I owe a refund?
If your flight has been canceled and you no longer want to travel, or you have found another way to get to your destination, the airline is legally required to refund your money – even if you bought a non-refundable ticket. It doesn’t matter why the flight was cancelled.
The airline may offer you travel credit, but you are entitled to a full refund. You are also entitled to a refund for baggage fees, seat upgrades or other extras that you could not use.
