Thousands of flights have been cancelled across the northeastern United States today as Winter Storm Stella brings heavy snow and high winds to the region.
According to the latest forecast from Weather.com, blizzard warnings remain in effect for nine northeastern states ranging from Pennsylvania to Maine. More than a foot of snow has fallen in parts of the northeast, including 14 inches in New York City, where snowfall rates of 1 inch per hour were recorded at JFK and LaGuardia airports. Freezing rain was reported farther south in the mid-Atlantic, including parts of Washington, DC, leading to an accumulation of up to one-quarter inch of ice at Baltimore - Washington International Airport.
For Tuesday expect snowfall rates of 1 to 4 inches per hour across the northeast, with blizzard or near-blizzard conditions possible in coastal areas and parts of eastern Pennsylvania, eastern New York state, Connecticut and western Massachusetts. Tuesday night into Wednesday heavy snow is forecast throughout much of New England, while farther south the snowfall will begin to taper off.
Flight Change Waivers and Refund Policies
Airlines issued a number of change waivers ahead of the storm -- here are the latest updates.
United Airlines is offering travelers flying through Chicago O'Hare and airports in the northeastern U.S. through March 15 the chance to change their flight without fee for new flights departing on or before March 17 in the same cabin class between the original city pair.
Travelers on Delta are entitled to a refund of the unused portion of their ticket if their flight is cancelled or significantly delayed (90 minutes or more). They can also change their flight without fee if they were scheduled to travel through an affected airport through March 15. The new ticket must be reissued on or before March 17 with the rebooked travel to take place no later than that day.
American Airlines has also issued a change fee waiver for travelers booked through Chicago O'Hare or airports in the northeastern United States. Travelers must be scheduled to fly through March 15 and able to rebook for travel through March 17 between the same city pair in the same cabin. Travelers must have bought their ticket by March 12 if they were scheduled to fly through Chicago or by March 10 if they were scheduled to fly through the northeastern U.S.
Southwest Airlines is predicting that its service may be disrupted through March 15. Customers with reservations on those days can alter their original travel plans by rebooking in the same class of service or travel standby within 14 days of their original date of travel between the original city pairs without paying an additional fee.
JetBlue has issued a travel agent waiver code for customers affected by the foul weather. Travelers flying through Chicago O’Hare through March 14 can rebook their flights for travel through March 19. Original travel must have been booked on or before March 11. Travelers in the northeastern United States and the mid-Atlantic traveling March 14 can rebook flights through March 16 prior to the departure of their originally scheduled flight. Customers with cancelled flights may also opt for a refund. Original travel must have been booked on or before Friday, March 10.