Airlines prepare for winter storm disruptions with travel waivers

12 hours ago7 min read

A massive winter storm is bearing down on the continental United States, threatening to paralyze air travel for millions this weekend. Dubbed Winter Storm Fern, the system is forecast to bring crippling ice and heavy snow from Arizona to Maine, directly impacting over 30 states.In a preemptive move, major U. S.carriers have issued a flurry of travel waivers and alerts for airports across more than 20 states, though the specific terms vary widely. American Airlines, with its main hub in the storm’s crosshairs at Dallas-Fort Worth, has waived change fees for travel through next Wednesday.Delta, facing a lesser but still significant threat in Atlanta, is waiving fare differences for rebookings completed by January 28. United, issuing separate alerts for the Eastern and Southern U.S. , is waiving both change fees and fare differences.Southwest, operating from Dallas Love Field, offers impacted passengers a more generous 14-day rebooking window. However, travelers should temper expectations for compensation; the Department of Transportation explicitly states airlines are not federally required to provide amenities or payments for weather-related disruptions, a fact underscored by its public dashboard tracking carrier policies. The disparity is clear among smaller airlines: while Alaska, Hawaiian, Frontier, and JetBlue are offering fee waivers, carriers like Spirit, Allegiant, and Breeze provide vague or minimal accommodations, highlighting the stark operational leeway airlines retain during uncontrollable events.

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#winter storm

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#American Airlines

#Delta Air Lines

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#Southwest Airlines