US airlines have warned of considerable disruption ahead of a major winter storm this weekend, which is due to impact the South, Midwest, and Northeast regions of the country. A significant number of cancellations and delays are highly likely from Friday onwards, with most carriers already issuing travel waivers.

Although it can be difficult to predict just how significant an impact this storm will have, many passengers are being advised to change their weekend travel plans if possible. With waivers in place, booking change fees have been lifted, enabling travelers to alter their bookings at no extra charge.

Winter Storm Fern’s Air Travel Disruption

Airlines and airports are expecting major disruption this weekend as Winter Storm Fern threatens to blanket key regions of the United States. According to the National Weather Service Weather Prediction Center, a « large, long-duration winter storm » will arrive on Friday, bringing snow and freezing rain from the Southern Rockies up to the Mid-Atlantic and New England region. Passengers with bookings this weekend have the choice of rebooking their trip at no extra charge.

However, many will likely ride their luck, hoping their flights can avoid the disruption. The inclement weather will make all forms of travel more hazardous and is expected to have a significant impact on airport infrastructure. This will force airports to restrict capacity or implement ground stops, inevitably leading to scores of canceled and delayed flights. Although the industry is well-prepared for cold-weather operations, disruption to air travel is sometimes unavoidable amid storms.

For example, airports in and around New York suffered major disruption due to winter weather last weekend, forcing JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark to issue ground stops.The National Weather Service explains that:

« Over 160 million Americans are under winter hazards associated with the impending major winter storm. Disruptive snowfall is likely from the Southern Rockies to the Northeast, including dangerous ice from the ArkLaTex to the southern Mid-Atlantic. »

Airline Travel Waivers

It is common during periods of bad weather for airlines to issue travel waivers. These waivers will typically lift booking change fees to make it easier for affected passengers to change their travel plans, and may entitle customers to other benefits too, such as full refunds. This policy helps to reduce the chaos of rebooking passengers en masse at short notice, and also helps airlines avoid costly rebooking or refund costs. US airlines have issued various waivers, as detailed in the table below.

Whether passengers choose to exercise these waivers is an individual choice. If you do plan to travel on your original itinerary this weekend, you should be prepared for long delays or the possibility that your flight is canceled outright.

Know Your Passenger Rights

In the event of flight delays or cancellations, air passengers are entitled to certain rights depending on the context. Winter storms are categorized as weather-related disruption, which is distinct from airline-controlled disruption. This means that airlines are not legally required to provide benefits like hotels and meals, although some carriers will offer this to customers as a goodwill gesture on occasion.

In any case, an airline canceling or making significant changes to a flight for any reason is legally required to issue a refund to passengers or offer alternative travel options. However, other provisions, such as hotels, meal vouchers, or cash compensation, are up to the individual policy of each airline.

Under the Biden Administration, the US attempted to introduce new passenger rights rules that would have significantly expanded airline obligations to passengers. However, the bill was ultimately abandoned after a change in administration.