Hundreds of flights canceled Sunday amid winter storm, with the worst yet to come

Air travel got off to a good start this long weekend, but it didn’t last long.

Early Sunday morning, airlines began preemptively canceling flights in anticipation of expected snowfall in the Northeast. Further disruption was possible Monday and Tuesday in the Deep South thanks to a second winter storm, this one a potentially huge one brewing off the coast of Texas.

However, the first problem was the threat of wintry weather in the Northeast.

Airlines had preemptively canceled more than 675 flights as of 8:30 a.m. EDT Sunday, most of them arriving at airports serving the New York, Washington and Boston metropolitan areas. Nearly three dozen Monday flights had also already been canceled.

Leading the pack in Sunday cancellations: Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), where a total of 110 departures were canceled, or about a fifth of the airport’s entire daily schedule, according to the airport’s flight tracking service. FlightAware flights.

Dulles International Airport (IAD) in Washington was in second place, with about 15% of flights scheduled for Sunday preemptively canceled. Both airports are hubs for United Airlines.

As of mid-morning Sunday, JetBlue led all U.S. carriers with about 160 canceled flights, or about a fifth of its schedule. A significant portion of the airline’s operations are based in the North East.

Further delays are possible on Sunday once the flakes actually begin to fall over the region.

Additionally, disruptions could continue next week, from the second of a double hit to air travel. This second storm could hit early this week. Already, airports across the Deep South have begun warning of a potential winter blast, which could wreak havoc in parts of the country where there is rarely snow.

That included the possibility of accumulating snow from Texas along the Gulf Coast to northern Florida and then north through the megahubs of Atlanta and Charlotte by Tuesday.

Weekend Flight Cancellations Begin, More Likely

The long weekend got off to a smooth start for most air travelers, with just 45 cancellations reported on U.S. flights on Saturday, after just 47 on Friday.

However, early Sunday morning, travelers faced hundreds of precautionary cancellations as forecasts of bad weather became more certain.

TPG’s choices: the most interesting new air routes for 2025

Cancellations and delays along the East Coast were likely to increase Sunday as the fast-moving winter storm was expected to dump snow on parts of the New York metropolitan area, New England and the region surrounding.

Most major U.S. airlines have issued travel advisories for the next few days, covering many of the Northeast’s largest hubs – from the New York area’s three major airports to Boston, Philadelphia and the Washington area, DC.

These waivers gave travelers additional flexibility to make free changes to their tickets, even when traveling on an ultra-restrictive ticket.

Northeast Winter Weather

Travelers should prepare for disruptions to or from LaGuardia Airport (LGA), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and especially John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), said the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on Friday.

The governing body of these airports urged travelers to check with their airline and allow extra time to travel to the airport, particularly JFK, amid ongoing construction at the city’s largest hub. the region.

DC region marked by bitter cold

Worse yet: Travelers at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) faced a heating system failure in the terminals, causing temperatures inside to plummet as travelers descended to the city – itself bracing for freezing temperatures – before the arrival of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA). Monday’s inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.

More winter weather possible next week

While disruptions from this weekend’s winter storm will likely affect air travel Sunday and Monday, parts of the Deep South are already bracing for the possibility of a winter storm that could cripple travel.

The National Weather Service warned of an “increasing potential” for a storm that could sweep through parts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia, possibly bringing “accumulating snow and of ice”. This could even include cities like Houston, New Orleans and Tallahassee. Florida, which rarely experiences winter weather.

United, which operates a major hub at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), had already issued an additional travel waiver for next week’s developing storm, covering a large number of southern airports, including its base in Houston.

Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) took to social media to highlight its preparations for the impending storm.

The region has already been marked by violent storms, snow and ice in recent weeks. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), the second busiest in the country, has suffered thousands of flight cancellations over the past month due to an avalanche of poor weather conditions.

Whether your travels take you to the East Coast this weekend or parts of the South next week, here’s how you can start preparing now:

Monitor travel advisories

Check your airline’s website. If you plan to travel to the Mid-Atlantic or Northeast in the coming days, it’s likely your flight will be covered by one of the many travel advisories issued by major U.S. carriers.

This could make it easier for you to make free itinerary changes directly from your airline’s app, even if you’re traveling on a usually restrictive ticket like basic economy.

American Airlines’ advisory, for example, covers four of its major hubs: LaGuardia, JFK, Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), and DCA.

Southwest Airlines covers, among other places, its busy base at Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport (BWI).

Here’s a look at current alerts from the largest U.S. carriers:

Note that United has two separate alerts: one for the Northeast weather system this weekend covering a large number of East Coast airports, including its hubs in Newark and Dulles International Airport (IAH) in Washington.

The Chicago-based carrier has issued a second advisory for the Deep South weather system next week, so you can start planning for potential disruptions now.

Keep an eye on your airline’s app

Be sure to download your airline’s app and monitor it closely. You can receive notifications about flight delays or cancellations, and you’ll be able to spot early signs of problems with your travel plans.

Plus: If your flight is delayed or canceled, your airline may allow you to book a new flight yourself directly in the app.

This could save you a lot of time that you would otherwise spend waiting with 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 experiencing flight delays and see a halfway decent rebooking option pop up in your airline’s app, don’t waste a second: lock it!

With thousands of flights likely to be affected by winter conditions in the coming days, many more passengers will be “competing” for seats on flights that depart on time. This means that these available places will fill up quickly.

Don’t forget the living room

If using your airline’s app to change your itinerary isn’t enough, you might consider visiting your airline’s lounge (if you’re a member, of course). Airline club customer service desks can often have much shorter waits for assistance than you’ll find in the airport lobby.

Just keep in mind: this only applies to airport lounges affiliated with your airline; Credit card-branded clubs like the American Express Centurion Lounge or Capital One Lounge – while a great place to waste time if there’s a delay – won’t be able to help you change your flights .

Check your reimbursement rights

Now is a good time to review your rights to a refund when it comes to air travel.

Under U.S. Department of Transportation policy, airlines are required to refund the unstolen portion of your ticket when your flight is canceled or significantly delayed – only if you choose not to travel (and do not agree to new reservation).

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

Obtain compensation for a delayed flight

Airlines have made numerous promises to the DOT regarding meals, hotel accommodations and other guarantees in the event of flight cancellations and long delays. However, keep in mind that these generally apply to “controllable” disruptions (like maintenance or staffing issues) and are usually not. not apply when bad weather affects travel.

That’s where a travel credit card offering travel insurance protections can come in handy, helping you recoup unexpected costs when flight problems leave you stranded. The only catch: In most cases, you’ll usually need to book your travel with this card to be able to claim successfully.

Related reading: