Major airlines are making it free to change your flights as a dangerous winter storm grips the US.
Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines, and JetBlue are waiving rebooking fees for flights to and from affected regions this weekend.
If your travel plans over the next few days include major cities such as Dallas, Austin, Oklahoma City, Nashville, Atlanta, Charlotte, Washington, DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston, you may want to contact your airline to avoid prolonged delays or cancellations at the airport.
The National Weather Service is warning that nearly 180 million Americans could be affected by the storm, which is expected to impact areas from New Mexico to Maine.
Even if you won't change your plans, your flight may still get canceled. Delta Air Lines said Thursday that it was canceling flights at airports in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Tennessee, citing safety concerns caused by heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain. The airline will also be bringing in cold-weather specialists.
With thousands of flights already canceled across Saturday and Sunday, it may be useful to know your passenger rights and your options when things don't go according to plan.
Know your rights as a passenger
If your flight is canceled and you choose not to rebook, the airline is legally required to provide you with a cash refund — not a voucher or credit.
However, things are different for delays. The Trump Administration recently killed a proposal that would have required airlines to compensate passengers for long delays, so flyers largely have to rely on airline goodwill or their credit cards to get anything for the inconvenience.
Some airlines have committed to providing accommodations, transportation, and food during a controllable overnight delay or cancellation, as outlined in the Airline Customer Service Dashboard.
Controllable disruptions include issues such as maintenance or crew staffing. Frontier Airlines is the only carrier that does not offer accommodations in the event of a controllable overnight delay or cancellation, but it will provide a meal voucher.
It still doesn't hurt to ask for a meal or hotel voucher when a non-controllable issue arises, such as the weather. The worst they can say is no.
Use your airline's mobile app to change or cancel your flight
During disruptions, airlines often allow you to make changes via their mobile app or website, rather than waiting on clogged phone lines or in long customer service lines.
If this isn't an option, try an online chat. Carriers like Delta Air Lines allow you to text a representative for help.
You can put yourself in the virtual queue and wait in line at the airport, potentially upping your chances of speaking with an agent sooner.
Here are the phone numbers for each airline:
- Alaska: 1-800-252-7522 or text 82008
- Allegiant: 1-702-505-8888
- American: 1-800-433-7300
- Avelo: 1-346-616-9500
- Breeze: No phone number to call, but you can text the airline at 501-273-3931.
- Delta: 1-800-221-1212
- Frontier: No phone number. The best way to contact Frontier is via online chat or email.
- JetBlue: 1-800-538-2583
- Southwest: 1-800-435-9792
- Spirit: 1-855-728-3555
- Sun Country: 1-651-905-2737
- United: 1-800-864-8331
Check if you have travel insurance through your credit card
Travel credit cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the American Express Platinum, offer built-in insurance that reimburses travelers for hotel, meal, and transportation expenses incurred due to certain flight disruptions.
The weather is typically covered. For this to work, the traveler would have needed to book their flight with that travel card.
If your credit card doesn't offer travel insurance, it may be worthwhile to purchase a separate trip insurance policy before traveling. This type of insurance can help reimburse costs you might lose due to flight problems, such as prepaid hotel stays or cruise bookings.
However, you must purchase this insurance before any travel disruptions occur — once you know a flight might be affected, it's likely too late.
