Winter Storm Fern in the US: 15,600 flights affected. What to do if my flight was canceled?

The winter storm, which is already affecting around 200 million people across the United States, is leaving widespread disruption nationwide. But one of the hardest-hit sectors is aviation, with delays and thousands of flight cancellations rippling through the system.

According to FlightAware, 1,209 flights were canceled last Friday and 23,732 were delayed. On Saturday, the numbers climbed to 4,516 cancellations and 17,798 delays. Sunday has so far been the worst day of the year for airlines, with 9,796 flights canceled and 2,316 delayed. Those figures are continuing to rise by the hour as the storm intensifies.

Which airports are affected?

The main airports experiencing severe disruption are in Dallas, St. Louis, Nashville, Charlotte, Atlanta, Washington, DC, and New York. Travelers with flights scheduled for this weekend are being advised to rebook or cancel their tickets.

What should I do if my flight is canceled due to the storm?

Several airlines – including Delta, American Airlines, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines – have issued winter weather travel waivers for the eastern, central, and southeastern US. Passengers can change dates or routes, or cancel their flights, without additional fees for trips to, from, or through affected cities. JetBlue and Spirit have announced similar measures.

According to the US Department of Transportation, travelers are entitled to a refund if their flight is canceled or experiences a significant delay.

• Delta: Flights between January 23 and 25 can be rebooked without penalty.
• United Airlines: Flights between the 23rd and 25th with a ticket purchased on or before January 20th may be rescheduled.
• Spirit Airlines: Flights between the 23rd and 25th can reschedule to travel on or before January 28th.
• Southwest Airlines: Flights between January 23 and 25 can reschedule their flight for up to 14 days after the original travel date.

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