Extreme weather threatens the flights at the requested destination

Airlines in the United States and Canada are urging travelers to reconsider their plans, amid a severe winter storm that could disrupt aviation in large parts of the country later this week and into the weekend.

Forecasts of snow, sleet, freezing rain and ice accumulation have led major airlines to announce extensive travel change concessions, often the first clear sign that airlines are preparing for significant operational disruptions.

The expected storm track includes key aviation areas in Texas, the Southeast, the Mid-Atlantic Coast, and the Northeast, with the potential to impact major airports such as Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, Chicago, Washington, and New York. Delays and cancellations at these junctions could quickly spread to all airline networks, with passengers far from the center of the storm also likely to experience disruptions, they are now warning.

Major American airlines acted quickly and provided flexibility to passengers, while publishing concessions for changing and canceling trips, which cover large areas in the expected path of the storm, a step that indicates, as mentioned, an expectation of wide-ranging operational challenges; Delta Airlines cited “safety and early intervention” as the reasons for issuing the travel warning.

“Weather forecasts predict significant winter weather, including freezing rain, mixed snow and ice in Texas, in the southeast – including Delta’s center of operations in Atlanta, and up to the northeast in the coming days,” the company said. “The safety of Delta passengers and our people is a top priority, while we closely monitor the forecast to determine any necessary schedule adjustments.”

Delta will allow passengers with existing reservations to change flights without change fees, provided new tickets are issued by January 28 and the flight is completed by that date. The company stated that it would proactively re-book passengers whose flights were canceled or missed, and called to monitor the flight status on the app and website.

American Airlines has issued a similar waiver, covering nearly 36 airports for travel between January 23 and 25. Passengers who purchased tickets by January 19 can change without a change fee, if it is done by January 25 and the flight ends by January 28. United Airlines has also introduced flexibility for passengers flying to or from airports affected by the situation in the southern US, with passengers able to make changes without penalty, provided the new flight is completed by January 29.

Southwest Airlines also issued a travel warning covering a wide range of U.S. airports between January 23 and 26. Although the company has yet to announce widespread cancellations, it said it will make adjustments to schedules and issue additional updates as forecasts become clearer.

But low-cost companies are also joining the move; Spirit Airlines will allow passengers with flights to or through airports affected by the situation to change without penalty, between January 23 and 25, with a waiver of fare differences until January 28. JetBlue has also approved a change fee waiver, although terms vary by region.

Although airlines are not required to compensate passengers for disruptions caused by weather, federal regulations still provide important protections. According to US Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations, airlines must issue a full refund if a flight is canceled and the passenger chooses not to rebook, regardless of ticket type. Refunds must be made automatically to the original payment method.

“You are entitled to a full refund,” Clint Henderson, senior editor at the travel site The Points Guy, told CBS News. “It also includes extras like legroom, Wi-Fi and anything you purchased in advance.”

In the event of delays or cancellations due to weather, the companies are not obligated to provide meals, hotel accommodation or financial compensation. The policy changes when the disruptions are due to controllable problems, such as technical glitches or staff shortages.