Foul weather continues to disrupt air travel across the United States — ahead of this week’s big storms, airlines are issuing cancellation waivers and refund policies.
According to the latest forecast from Weather.com, Winter Storm Stella will bring snow to the Midwest through Monday before advancing to the northeastern coastal region, where blizzard warning are in effect for areas including New York City, northeastern New Jersey and southern Connecticut. Snowfall totals of a foot or more are expected, disrupting highway and air travel across the northeast.
Snow is expected to begin falling Monday night in the mid-atlantic region, including Washington, DC, Baltimore and Philadelphia, moving into New York City and southern New England late Monday night or early Tuesday morning. The snow will continue across the northeast Tuesday, with blizzard or near-blizzard conditions possible in coastal areas.
Travel Waivers and Refund Policies
For travelers with flights booked March 14 - 15 in the northeastern United States, United Airlines is waiving change feels and fare differences for new flights departing on or before March 17. Travel must be rescheduled in the same cabin (any fare class) and between the original city pair.
United has also issued a separate change fee waiver for flights booked through March 15 at Chicago O’Hare, with the same restrictions.
For travelers on Delta, the airline will refund the unused portion of a ticket for flights cancelled or significantly delayed (90 minutes or more). Travelers can also make a one-time change to their ticket without fee if they are traveling through affected airports. The travel must take place March 14 - 15, with the new ticket to be issued on or before March 17 for travel to begin no later than March 17.
American Airlines is also issuing a change waiver for fliers booked through Chicago O’Hare through March 15. Travelers must have bought the original ticket by March 12 and be able to travel through March 1 between the same city pair. Travel must take place in the original cabin, or travelers can pay the difference.
American Airlines travelers flying through the northeastern United States and Canada, the original ticket must have been issued by March 10, with travel to take place March 14 - 15. The new flight must take place through March 17 between the same city pair in the same cabin, or travelers can pay the difference.
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 15. 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.